The Akaroa Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 183, 18 April 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18.

We observe that Mr Richard Turnbull has had awalk over for the seat for Timaru, lately vacated by the Hon. E. Stafford. It is somewhat singular that, in these times when most important questions have to be solved in the next session of the Assembly, no contest should have taken place for the representation of such an important constituency as Timaru. The fact that there was none, argues either a wonderful unanimity in political matters, or an unfortunate apathy. We are afraid that the latter is the true solution, especially as we learn that Mr Turnbull was not even called upon to give an outline of his political creed prior to his election. The South Canterbury Times of the 10th inst. says : —" It was not to be expected that Mr Turnbull would enlighten the electors at very great length on the election day as to his opinions regarding the many important questions which agitate the political atmosphere. It seems a pity almost that —previous to his nomination and while publicly announced as a candidate—he was not requested to give the constituency a slight sketch of his ideas on the leading topics of the day. The community, however, seems to have had so great a confidence in the honesty of purpose and independence of mind of the new candidate that they allowed him to be returned in a somewhat speculative manner." This returning of representatives in a " speculative manner" is a very dangerous experiment. It has been to a great extent the bane of New Zealand of politics, and until the electois awake from their apathy and remember their responsibility, we fear that there is little hope the character of our legislation will improve. We have nothing whatever to say against the return of Mr Turnbull. He may prove to be all that is desirable as a repre sentative, but, if so, from the little pains that appear to have been taken in the matter, it will be more by good luck than good management.

The petition heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday last, against the election of Mr P. Callaghan to a seat on the Okain's Road Board, on the ground of want of proper qualification on the part of one of that gentleman's constituents, is the first case under the " Local Elections Act" that has been tried in this district, and, if its hearing has not served the purpose of proving to the public the efficacy of the Act in question, it has, at any rate added the notoriety, in a degree by no means to be envied, of the Okain's Road Board. The facts of this remarkable case are, briefly, as follows : —Mr P. Callaghan is returned as a member of the Okain's Road Board by a large majority. At the first meeting of the Board after the election, the Chairman learns from another member that one of the persons signing Mr Callaghan's nomination paper was not legally qualified to vote. The matter is accordingly discussed by the Board, the result being that Mr Callaghan, on his arrival, is told by the Chairman that he cannot take his seat as a member of the Board, as his election is illegal, and the case must be tried. All this seems on the face of it to be nothing more than is correct ; but the reverse side oi the picture shows either an amount of gross ignorance on the part of the Board, or characterises the whole proceeding as a flagrant case of sophistry and chicanery, urged on, it would seem, by personal animus or party spite, for incredible as it appears, even while refusing to allow Mr P. Callaghan to take his seat on the Board, the Chairman, Mr J. B. Barker, as well as the Clerk to the Board, Mr D. Wright, were aware that the person whose qualification to vote they disputed ivas actually at the time on the Electoral Roll, and had paid all rates. That a Chairman of a Road Board should be ignorant that this was in itsself sufficient qualification seems so improbable that we can only put the other construction on the action of the petitioners, and stigmatise it as a disgraceful attempt to oust a member from his justly won position on the Board to gratify personal motives. The evidence of Mr Old ridge, another of the petitioners, speaks for itself. He says : —" I was told that Mr Callaghan was illegally elected. I have no personal feeling in the matter at all. I signed because I was asked to, but know nothing about the matter." This shews ; very conclusively that Mr Oldridge was, as the Resident Magistrate aptly remarked, merely a catspaw, but at the same time it does not reflect much credit on that gentleman's astuteness in allowing himself to be made so ready a tool of by Messrs Barker and Co. The care with which the rates were collected from Mr Fluerty, the gentleman whose signature to the nomination paper was objected to, stands out in bold relief against the carefulness with which

the Board, that is the Clerk, for these two'are synonymous; we understand, who received those rates, denied his qualification to vote, an instance of memory, combined with forgetfulness" that ispositively startling, but not without parallel. The whole matter, though trivial, may be productive of some good in exposing certain phases of character comprised in the human machinery, working the Okain's Road Board, and should open not a little the eyes of the ratepayers in that district to whose lot at some time or other it may chance to fall, in the face of the poivers that be to contest an election for a seat on the Board. Some such ruh.--.as obtains in other countries with regard to petitions against elected candidates, viz., that the objector shall at the time of laying the objection deposit a sum of money, which sum in case of the election being sustained is forfeited, might with advantage be brought into force in this colony also, and serve as a wholesome check to such paltry and disgraceful attemps as the above. It would be hard indeed to find a more convincing argument for the necessity of some such protection to candidates from similar disagreeable, and apparently malicious, persecution and annoyance.