Page 9 Advertisements Column 3

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 98, 15 February 1866, Page 9

ELECTION ADVERTISEMENT. TO ARTHUR JOHN BURNS, ESQ., DUNEDIN. CJIR, — We, the undersigned Electors for the Taieri District, respectfully request that you will allow yourself to be put in nomination as a member of the House of Representatives for this district. We consider that the part taken by j'ou in the Assembly last Session lias met the views of the majority of the Electors in this district. By acceding to our wishes, we promise to use cur influence to secure your return. James Allan Peter Grant James Cullen 'James Pryde William Jaffray Charles M. Taylor John Andrew W. G. Taylor Alex. M'Kay Tlios. Cuddie William Allan John M -Master Joseph Allan James Chiistie Alex. Callender William Brooch John Law John Allan Ivobt. Blair W. L. Christie James Barclay John Anderson William Adams Richard Irvine Thomas Christie John Biackie George Corrans James Fowler George ilurray ytlex. Gebbie Tlios. 11. Simpson Thomas Harrison Kobt. Dovie Alex. Mollison George Ford Samuel Stephen Peter M'Laren Andrew Dickson &c, &c. To Messrs. Allan, Cullex, and the other Gentlemen signing the Requisition. Gentlemen, — I have great pleasure in acceding to your request to become a Candidate for your suffrages at the forthcoming Election. It gives me great satisfaction to rind that the course I considered it my duty to adopt during the last session of Parliament, has met with your approval. It is not my intention at present to lay before you in detail the line of policy which I intend to adopt; but as 1 hope ta meet you ere long, face to face, I will then tike the opportunity of stating my views. In the meantime, 1 will confine inyse'f to the placing before you of a Tow of the leading subjects which will require your serious attention. We are now the heaviest taxed community, I believe, in existence ; and it behoves every member who has the welfare of Otago at he irt to resist to the utmost any fresh burdens for General Government purposes. If fresh taxation is required (though I hold it; is not), then lot us tax ourselves for our own purposes, and that can only be done in a just and equitable j manner by our own Provincial Council. It is lamentable to look kick upon the .".mount of money literally lost to the Province, not one! penny having been spent in any manner for the good of Otago ; but spent by men whose '■ ambition led them to believe they could gain a reputation for themselves in the management ' of Native affairs, entirely ignoring the fact that ivhiNt doing so, the great work of colonising the country, by the introduction of men and women, .iud the execution of Public Work? was ■ entir-.ly stopped from the withdrawal of the very funds tint omjht to have l*een spent f«'r these gnat and fundamental pn*-j)o?os. I had the distinguished privilege in the last Parliament of takiuir a course that prevented Otago being more hemi y burdened than at present — a course I intend still fo adopt, should you again re-elect me. It is highly desirable that Otago should return to Parliament fifteen members pledged to one great cardinal point, viz., to act together as one man for" the interests of Otago. For this great object, my course of action would be Ist. To obtain for Otag.i the entire control of our own Revenue, always of course deducting our fair proportion for past liabilities, and the expenses of the General Government. 2nd. To have complete financial Separation from the Northern fsl-ind, and to reduce t'^e General Government expenditure to the lowest ' point. 3rd. To free Otago from tiny further liability in Native affairs. 4th. To have Otngo made the Port of Call for the Panama Steam Service. These I consider to be the leading points for my future policy ; but there is one great point still which concerns the whoie Cohmy, viz., the sternest opposition to any further burdens of taxation. lam informed that I am to be opposed on what I understand to be pu-rely personal grounds. I have always endeavored to do my duty, and if, in the discharge of "this dut}', I have unintentionally offended any of the electors, I can only saj' that it was done unwittingly ; and that my only aim and object has been to faithfully represent the interests of the district and the Province to which I belong. If lam objected to personally, I trust you will accord to me the privilege of a British subject, and allow me to be heard before judgment is passed. I therefore hope that the Electors of Taieri will give me a fair hearing, and allow me to explain any portion of niy past conduct that seems to require it. I am, &c, A. J. BURNS.