THE SUPERINTENDEDCY ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1054, 1 April 1867, Page 4

THE SUPERINTENDEDCY ELECTION.

Tun turn which the election meetings, held at Otahuhu and again on Saturday evening at Newton, on the Supcrintcndency question liave taken, is not such as will satisfy or 'please the electors of this province as a body. Irrelevant matter, and much that had better have been left unsaid, has been brought forward, and the subject matter of discussion has been—not the policy of any future Superintendent—but the particular merits and private affairs of a gentleman who is not as yet a candidate for that office ; and who may, looking at the action taken by certain parties on Tuesday and Saturday last, exclaim, " Save me from my friends !"

The truth is the conveners of the meeting of Saturday last were not only acting prematurely in calling that meeting, but were placing the gentleman they professed to serve in a false position, begging the question in fact. They were, to use the words of a speaker there present, " dragging a '' great man through the mire." There is, indeed, no need that such meetings should be held at all. Mr. John Williamson's political opinions are too well known that they need ventilation; at any rate it will be time enough for his friends to defend his views when they are severally objected to. Upon only one point do, we believe, any expression of decided opinion need be obtained from Mr. AVilliamson, and that is his opinion in respect to the sale and purchase of native land. No man will be acceptable to the electors of this province an Superintendent who will not advocate and uphold free trade in native land, who will not oppose any obstacle to the state of things to which we must come, if this country is to prosper, that of placing the native on an equality with the European in right and privileges as well as in responsibility as a British subject. We have reason to believe that Mr. Williamson feels with the public on this matter. On one point we trust the meeting of tomorrow will amend the previous error, and that is to leave out of all discussion the private affairs of thoSe whose qualifications tor the oflice of Superintendent may come before it. We doubt much if there could be found many men of all those present who would have liked to have had the question put to themselves—" Were their "paid?"

11l our issue of Wednesday, we have, we should think, satisfactorily cleared up this matter.

In. concluding our remarks on the matter before us, we cannot do better than quote the following sensible observations which appeared in the Cross of Saturday hist, addressed to the editor of that journal. The writer has gone to the root of the matter in a tew words, which we earnestly recommcnd to our readers perusal:— .

The Otahuhu meeting met for a specific object, but it is very much to be regretted they did not confine themselves to that object, instead of discussing the private affairs of'a gentleman. Bali!

It was of persons boasting of the name of Englishmen, and I am only surprised that some one honourable enough did not stand up in liis place to protest against such an outrageous proceeding. If the private affairs of every one who would thus talk were known, I would ask how many among them could cast stones? But I apprehend very much that, if Mr. Williamson should contest the Superintendency, the people, in whose hands it really is to return him, will not endorse the opinion of the few small talkers at the Otahuhu meeting.

I imagined, when I read the advertisement in your columns, calling that meeting together, that the object was first to canvass the real merits of what a Superintendent ought to be— to put the right man in the right place—and then to call upon that person to allow himself to be nominated, and then to throw the weight of their influence into the scale to secure his entrance. The Otahuhu meeting have not done this ; therefore, the result of its assembling was a failure. Sir, whether Mr. Williamson does or does not come forward as a candidate for the Superintendency, injustice to that gentleman it must be said of him that lie was the employer of a great amount of labour in Auckland, that his capital was spent in that direction, and that he was the cause of making many homes comfortable and happy. Of Low many of his slanderers could the same be said ? Fiat, justifcia, ruat ccelurn.—l am, &c., Anthbopos. March 27, 1867. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the writ for the election of the Superintendent has been issued, and that the day of nomination is fixed for the lGtli instant, in the Mechanics' Institute.