A West Coast Wail.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 20, 17 March 1894, Page 17

A West Coast Wail.

(By L. De Bakker, Nelson Creek, Grey County, West Coast.)

In all ages tha greatest enemy of progress has teen corruption. Even the institutions already gained by democracy are rendered nearly obsolete by reason of the infidelity of our elected administrators, local and parliamentary. This is apparent in all lands. It is therefore absolutely essential that the most stringent measures should be adopted to prevent fraud, and to punish all who rob the people of justice. The detection of offenders would be a comparatively easy matter. Under a system of well paid auditors, one checking the other secretly, and all responsible to the State, every public body would be compelled to show how it had disbursed the uttermost farthing of its revenue. Such distribution should receive the earnest scrutiny of the legislature, many of whom at present badly need a little auditing personally. Take a lesson from Europe—France. The democracy of a constituency in that country elects an apparently suitable candidate as its representative. He goes to the Chamber, and for a few weeks his voice is heard stingingly on behalf of the people. Gradually he quietens down, and the electorate presently learns that he has been decorated with the ribbon of tho legion of honour as the price of his vote. He has wearied of standing almost alone in the midst of rottenness. What, then, is wanted are men who will sternly remain politically pure, till the whole House is the embodiment of justice. Justice and impartiality are the same thing, remove the necessity for dishonesty. Once the bugbear of misappropriation in its thousand forms, glossed by bribery in a million varied mantles from a dinner to a cheque or to soft soap even, becomes impossible, then the easily - practical policy set forth in the head line will result in a bright and satisfactory condition of government. It is because the Seddon Ministry is ploughing earnestly into socialistic questions that

it deserves the support of the masses. In finishing this paragraph it may bo well to remember that the horrible outrages reported as the work of anarchists, and which all true democrats regret as it gives the enemies of our cause an opportunity to bracket us in hell’s category, are a last and awful protest against corruption.

Keal Protection—tlie present protection is not a protection at all. It is an admitted fact that the welfare of the people in a country is of more importance than the prosperity of outsiders. Tho resources' of the country therefore should bo studied and classed, and a linn tariff based upon such classification, and enforced (minus corruption) with an earnest purpose should bo adopted as a compulsory part of the people’s happiness. The necessaries of life in the wav of imported foods as tea and sugar should have no impost at all placed upon them, but every article capable of being readily produced in the country, should be crusliingly banned from entering from without. It is contended that this conduct enriches the manufacturer —well, if it docs, cannot the Government, as the price of this enrichment, demand by legislation, that his employees shall receivo a decent wage ? This would give our artisans labour, and take the tradesman out of tho ranks of those who are not mechanics. Turn now to land. I cannot he a single taxer, as the preceding remarks make it impossible. I am strongly of opinion that all strugglers should only pay nominal rental as under the singlo tax. Single taxers should be careful to correct the impression so readily imbibed by the small farmer’ viz., that the single tax is aimed directly at him. i vigorous progressive land tax (by progressive is meantincreasing with quantity, and quality, i.e., value) always exempting improvements sufficient to bringin arevenueof about 5 or 6 million pounds at presept would meet tho case. This would guarantee the cultivation of the soil. Now, mark what would follow: This revenue supported by the customs, post offices, &c., would swell on towards ten millions sterling per annum. Think of it. Ten millions of money to be disbursed locally by supervised local bodies in tho prosecution of public works for the benefit of the toilers out of whom the artisans have been already weeded. Immigration would be placed under strong control, and aliens prohibited. Where then would bo tbo unemployed? And then there would lo time found in the midst of the general prosperity to consider tho question of taking over every company and mine upon an issue of state notes, a proceeding simple enough in a country where the Government is the guarantee of its own stability. These companies and properties would be taken over for purposes of revenue or cheap supply to consumers as necessary. This would indicate the approach of the socialistic idea, namely, the adoption of a country by its people

and tho nurturing of its people by its Government- not a party one at that. Call it a dream if you like a sweet delusion oft tempers a misery.