re of the State is extravagant--quite 40 per cent,
could be saved, I am told. The reforms lately mentioned by the
Industrial Commission, if granted, would reduce the cost of working
expenses by 4 shillings per ton, and be the means of re-opening mines
which were closed as being unprofitable, as well as bringing several
miles of the reef into the payable degree. But Mr Kruger's idea of
increasing the prosperity of the State is by raising the taxes on the
mines that continue to pay dividends, in order to compensate the
Treasury for the loss of revenue incurred from the collapse of the
poorer mines. If, as one mine after another succumbs to the burden of
taxation, he increases the taxes on the richer mines, every mine must
become closed, because no gold mine was ever discovered that did not
cost much money and high-priced labour to extract the gold from it.

THOSE WHO PAY THE PIPER.

Mr Kruger's ideas of government are to divide the people into two
classes--those who get their living from the surface soil and those who
get it underground. He himself favours the former. According to him
they only are entitled to have any voice in the Government, and to be
considered as citizens of the Republic. As for the other class, they
have no rights, and the country would be relieved if they departed.
Yet, according to the last Budget, I find 3,799,913 pounds of the
State's revenue were derived from the class who labour underground,
while only 1,086,586 pounds were obtained from the other class.

KRUGER'S CANT.

But if we wish to know and realise Mr Kruger thoroughly, we should pay
attention to his last election address, issued about a week ago. He
says: "As I have before told you, I aim, as instructed by the
Scriptures, at justice and righteousness to all men--to by down on our
political territory the eternal principles of God as the foundation of
our State. The taking to heart of the lessons of that Word enables us
to be certain under all our difficulties. These lead us to a
recognition of our absolute dependence, not on the great ones and power
holders of the world, but upon Him who sent that Word to us."

"Burghers and fellow-countrymen, the times are such that a wise and
judicious development of our sources of aid requires the most earnest
consideration. Therefore these must be protected and advanced, and
while we lend a helping hand to the mining industry we must not lose
sight of the agriculture and cattle farming