MR. SHAW'S CANDIDATURE.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 126, 26 November 1881, Page 2

MR. SHAW'S CANDIDATURE.

TO THK BDITOB OF THB BVBNINQ POST, Sib— lt is with some regret that I tcel compelled to reply to the letter of " Te Aro Hector." If I passed it by in silence some of your readers might give credenoe to its statements. Allow mo to Bay that it was only at the urgent request of the meeting in the Princess Theatre that I made the few remarks I did ; and at that meeting I was carefnl to state that I was not an elector in Te Aro, and that I declined to even hint to the electors how they should vote. Mr. Shaw had been assailed, and I answered some of the attacks made on him. I told the mooting how, when Separation was popular in Dunedin, Mr. Shaw had the courage of his opinions and publicly voted against it ; and I also said what everyone who knows Mr. Shaw must admit that for a wide knowledge of politics and history he has few equals ia New Zealand. I wa3 so careful not to point out to the Liberals how they should vote that I advised them to seleot the candidate they thought the most certain to win, and to " run " him, pointing ont that by Liberals splitting their votes a Tory mi?ht be returned. These facts, I think, disprove one part of " Te Aro Elector's " letter. As for the wasteful extravaganoe of the Grey Ministry, I think I have read the tame charge before. Would "Te Aro Eleotor " name tbe items and amounts? When these are published perhaps it may be 6 eon how they caused the trade depression New Zealand suffered. Of course I need not point out that the wave of depression that visited ns in New Zealand was felt in Britain, in Canada, in Australia, in the United States, and on the Continent of Europe. Did the influence of the Grey Ministry reach to these countries ? Whether he sudden cessation of public works, and the deducting of ten par cent, off many underpaid Civil servants did good to the colony, might be deemed problematical were it not that " Te Aro Eleotor " and the party he represents think otherwise. lam called a Soparationist. If being & Provincialist is being a Separationist, theu am I one. I believed, and s ill believe, that the way to preserve the uoity of the colony is to hay« Provincialism. What is the problem democratic countries have to solve

Is it not to preserve on tho one hand true national life, and on the other to allow a free play of individual and sooial life? Do not imagine that we have solved this d ffieult problem. The Local Government ory is but the distant drum tap 3of the invading army We have to moet this question. It is coming. When the Southern increased population and increased votes and vigour begin to tell on the Central Government, perhaps the colonists in the North will see that Provincialism was neceßßary. I wonder what the people of Nehon think of the Central Government they voted for. And as the South will, I believe, increase for some time faster than the North, perhaps this question of Provincialism will be differently viewed by some who erstwhile were Abolitionists. As for Mr. Shaw, he and I hare always been opposed on this question. He has always been anti-Provincialiat, as his able article in the New Zealand Magazine in reply to one of mine shows. For, however, the faith that is in him, Mr. Shaw can give a reason. I see none in "To Aro Kleotor's" letter. And now as to religion. It is not new for politicians who cannot pick a hole in a man's political creed to accuse him of hereßy. Is heresy a crime ? Ihe religions cry waa used against John Stuart Mill in Westminster, and I regret to say waß successful. I am not at all ashamed of my religious opinions, and have never oloaked them. What Mr. Shaw's position is, I can hatdly say. This I know, he has been pure in life, honest, and sincere. I believe in the teaching of One who taught men not to "repeat creeds," but to "live the life." If "Te Aro Elector" thinks that " repeating creeds" is more important than living a pure life — and he is not " narrow-minded"— he ia entitled to his opinion, and I who think " life" of more importance than " belief" am, I suppose, entitled to mine. lam, &c, Robert Stout.