RESIGNATION OF THE HON. MR. WHITAKER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 355, 31 December 1864, Page 5

RESIGNATION OF THE HON. MR. WHITAKER.

Oxe of our oidcst and ablest politicians whoso public career commenced with the earliest days of Government in jS'cw Zealand, yesterday resigned his seat as a member of the Legislative Council in consequence of the combination in the legislature of this Colony which lias rirtunlly excluded the voice of Auckland men from any voice in its councils, and because of the hurried slipshod tray in which legislation has been carried on during the present session, a session made available for but one object the spoliation of Auckland, and a general scramble by the South for political loaves and fishes, Mr. Whitaker has felt that any longer to retain his seat was to retain the mere semblance of the exercise of power in the councils of the Assembly, was to mislead the people of this Province into believing that they were represented in the Councils of the Colony, when really they were excluded from all power by a majority of either House whose plans of combination and action were laid down and arranged at private meetings out of doors.

Mr. Whitaker lias taken a course which will meet with the unqualified approbation of the people of tliis Province. He has placed on record, and in llie most resolute and dignified manner in which it could be done, a protest against the tyranny of the South. By one and all of the Auckland members of either House we irust the same course will be pursued. Auckland has been virtually disfranchised, and men who now retain their seats in doing so can. only serve, not Auckland and the colony, but themselves. We trust that no Auckland member will be found attending the Assembly at Wellington. We had hoped that, so far as the House of Representatives is concerned, that Legislative body would not have been prorogued betore the Auckland members had with one voice tendered their resignations to the Speaker. 31 is a duty whichthey owe to the insulted and injured constituencies which thev represent. It is their last and strongest protest against Southern tyranny and spoliation. 11 is sueli men as . those, who, like Mr. Whitaker, shall have laid down the fruits of llieir public career on the altar of their country, will, when this country is an independent colon}-, receive them back with double honour from the hands of a grateful people. Till then let Auckland, as she is now virtually, remain literally disfranchised in the General Assembly of JS'ew Zealand.—December 13.