The Press. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1890.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7528, 18 April 1890, Page 4

The Press. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1890.

It is to be hoped that the electors will remember that a general election is near at band, and prepare for it. Would-be-members are alreadyon the alert, and are watching with much concern the drift of popular opinion. But if the constituencies rightly understand their duties and responsibilities they will not allow the list of candidates to be settled in this manner. The/ electors have a great duty to perform prior to the day of uom mation. When that period h.__ amved it is frequently too late tod. aty-thing. The electors are helpless. They fifid that one or two candidates have succeeded in getting nominated, and all they can do is to make a selection from a moat unsatisfactory list. A. little forethought and reasonable consideration might in most cases have obviated this evil, and enabled the.electors of a district to secure tho services of a representative in whom the majority had the most perfect confidence. ..;. In countries where party lines are clearly defined, and where, consequently, party organisation is perfect; the electors of any particular district are as a rule powerless to enforce their Own wishes. The machine is set going, and they have to vote in accordance with instructions. In this oolony there are no permanent party lines. Fpr a time one great question may divide the publio into two opposing parties, but when it is settled and removed from public attention, the division disappears. - And when another large problem presents itself it is probably found "that tne enemies of the previous Parliament are the fast | friends of the next. When no great question is occupying Attention, party contests simply resolve' themselves into struggles between the Ina and the Outs, and too frequently measures are opposed and supported from that point of view alone. The changing character of our New Zealand political battles has, therefore, rendered anything like permanent party organisations impossible. Few who take au interest in /the welfare of the colony will regret this. It has prevented to a large extent the coming into existence of political organisations' which destroy the individual freedom of electors. Notwithstanding tins freedom, as we have just said/constituencies too frequently neglect their duty prior to a general election; The selection of candidates in many cases is left almost to the chapter of accidents, and when the polling day comes round, ail that the electors can do is to give their Votes to the best of several undesirable candidates, or stay at home. Now, we think that steps should be at once taken to guard against such an evil aa this. If we know the opinion of the majority of the electors correctly, there are one or two questions regarding which they have decidedly made up their minds, and it is moat important t_u_t their views should be correctly .represented in the new House of Representatives. It will not be enough to extort pledges from a nurhber of pliable politicians whose only object? is to get a seat in the... House. Such men will promise anything, and break their pledges on the first convenieuc oppor-,

ttumtj. We have a conapiououa raatance of this in connection with tho reduction .to.' the siz. of the House. At the last general election an overwhelm*, ing majority of members went to Parliament solemnly pledged to reduce the number of members. Knowing too well the ways of some of these persons the Government wisely resolved to carry the Bill giving effect to the views of the country in the very first session, and before members had time to invent excuses for j breaking their pledges. Had Ministers waited till the following session the ohancea are that the Bill would have i been rejected Not that the opinion of the country had altered, for public opinion is as strong as ever in favor of the reduction, butj simply because the selfish aims of members would have been in the ascendency. Men who make promises under pressure of public opinion simply to get seats and for no other reason are not the class of persons who should be Bent to the new House* Wo want representatives therewith strong and decided oonvictiqns on all the great questions of the day. We'are sure, for instance, that throughout New Zealand a great majority of the electors hold very positive views on the question of borrowing. Why should these views not be represented by men who are as earnest and determined on the question as the electors themselves ? Why should it be necessary for the public and the press to be constantly on the alert to keep the representatives of the people to their solemn pledges ? Simply because the electors, in too many instauoes, return men who have no settled convictions, and who have won their seats by making lavish promises which they never intended to fulfil.

The approaching general election will enable the eleotors of the colony to give permanence and stability to the,. policy adopted at the last general election. On that occasion the contest was conducted, as far as the Ecouo__i-ts were concerned, under serious disadvantages. All the devices which had, since 1870, been so successful were adopted to win support to a continuation of the *• progressive policy." Economy was then only on its trial" Since then it has proved effective beyond the most aauguine expectations. What the electors, a few months hence, have to do is to prove beyond tbe possibility of doubt that economy and non-borrowing are the " settled policy " of the country. This can best be accomplished by selecting only men for seats in tbe new House of Representatives who have clear and decided views on the subject. It is also of importance that tbe members who will shortly be returned to Parliament should bo opposed to rash scheme- of taxation. On the question of the tariff, for example, we ha-ve no wish to see hasty changes made one way 'or the other. Even were it possible to elect a House pledged to freetrade, it would be a blunder to at once set about revising the tariff in a freetrade direction. Constant changes in the incidence of taxation disorganise trade, produce distrust, and for a time at any rate retard progress. The same remarks apply to direct taxation. Even if it were proved to our satisfaction that a land and income tax was preferable to the property tax, we would oppose tha cb,!wgo to the present circumstances of; the■; country. We do not, <want changes in the form of taxation, but a reduction in its amount as opportunity presents itself, and that, object t will never be secured if the country is engaged in constant strife over the form of taxation itself.