WHAT IS LIBERALISM?

Marlborough Express, Volume XIV, Issue 1136, 24 May 1879, Page 7

WHAT IS LIBERALISM?

Sik, —Judging from the tone and tenor of your leading columns for some time past, 1 should say that your answer to the above question would be that liberalism in New Zealand ought to mean the cause of settlement as against the monopoly of land, and nothing more. —that its one essential principle ought to be the abolition of the ruinous system which makes the public estate a mere source of revenue, and the adoption of the policy which regards that estate as held in trust by Government on behalf of those who are willing to settle upon and cultivate it. If I rightly understand yon, sir, you support the present Government on the ground that it is the avowed champion of liberalism in this sense—a liberalism which does not advocate constitutional changes, except so far as it can be shown that they are inseparably bound up with the cause of settlement. Herein, I think, your view is that of every constituency in the colony, nor do I believe for a moment that the public mind is ripe for such measures as an elective Upper House, a representation of minorities, an extension of the franchise, and triennial parliaments. As i’egards the first mentioned of these measures, it would bo strange indeed if New Zealand had set her heart upon having an elective Upper Chamber, with such an example as that of Victoria before her. Some of us seem to be blind to that example, but this blindness is easily accounted for. Our longing gaze is so revitted on that model of perfection, the American Republic, that we have no eyes for anything else. We, consequently, fail to perceive that there is simply no analogy between the American Senate and the Victorian Council. The former represents the principle of nationality. It means that certain independent states, when they united for the purpose of resisting oppression, exacted as a condition of the union, a distinct recognition of their national existence ; whereas the Victorian Council represents class distinctions, and can never represent anything else while it continues to be representative at all. I have no, intention, however, of discussing this question, and I merely draw attention to the fact that we are not warranted in assuming the affirmative of it, and asserting the advisableness of substituting an elective Chamber for our present nominee Council, as if it were morally certain that the former would be more compliant, in the matter of liberal measures, than the latter. There are those who do think that the probability is all the other way, and, at any rate, the opposite opinion is by no means selfevident. Then as to Hare’s representation, of minorities —I venture to think that not one in a hundred of the electors of this Colony has the least idea what it means. In short, the public mind is at present too full of the oue great question of settlement, and its necessary corollary, railway extension, to have any insure for the discussion of organic changes. An occasional re-distribution of scats may be necessary, inasmuch as every sane person admits that the elective Chamber ought to represent population and not territory ; but this is a measure of conservation and not of change. I would fain hope therefore that those who speak of the intended programme of the Government as including an elaborate measure of Parlimeutary reform have been misinformed. Such a measure would be premature for two reasons : Firstly, because public opinion is not ripe for it; and, secondly, because the Government being a weak one, only courts defeat by extending its front, when it ought to concentrate its whole force on the one point where it is sure of having public sympathy with it. We hear also of schemes for an elected Governor and a Cabinet composed of persons who are not members of the Legislature, but I should hope that such schemes, if they exist at all, are merely excentricities on the part of one or two members of the Government, and that there is no danger of Government ensuring to itself prompt, ignominious, and well-deserved expulsion from power by making either of them a Cabinet measure. lam, &c.. Nobody.

Sir, —At the last Agricultural Show held in Blenheim there was a mare shown, which was acknowledged by all who competed and impartial judges as the one entilted to the first prize. The said mare was the property of Mr Alexander Monro, Bank House, but unfortunately for him Messrs Redwood exhibited horses, and therefore the destination of the prize was a foregone conclusion. In fact, I mean to maintain that in competition with Messrs Redwood it is useless to exhibit the best animal ever bred, for were they to introduce the assinine genus into the yards, and swear they were thorough-bred horses they would undoubtedly be awarded the prize. I am, &c., Daniel Wiley.