Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1840, 7 December 1869, Page 3

TO JAMES MACKAY, JUN., ESQ.' SIR, —We, the undersigned Electors of the Thames Goldficld, respectfully request that you will allow yourself to be put in Nomination for the forthcoming Election for the Provincial Council, and we hereby pledge ourselves to do the utmost to secure yom cturn. P.tTErCKT COYLE MICUAIvL MtTCIIF.LT. F. Lii'SEV RICHAKD FaKIJALL William Bkimiy/ Joseph F. Mourns James Reid And seven hundred and nine others. TO MESSRS. COYLE, MITCHELL, LIPSEY, FARREI.L, BERRY, MORRIS, REID, AND THE OTHER GENTLEMEN SIGNING THE REQUISITION. GENTLEMEN,— Some time having elapsed since you did me the honour of presenting the above requisition to me, and reports having been circulated that although I formerly agreed to allow myself to be put in nomination as r candidate for election as a Member of the Provincial Council for this district, that it is now my intention to withdraw from that position. 1 therefore again beg to thank you for this great mark of your confidence, and to assure you and the other Electors of this District that it is my intention to be nominated as a candidate, and if necessary, contest the Election. In the previous reply to the Requisition I did not place before you at. any length my views on the most important, political question of the day, but 1 consider it to bo due to the Electors aud myself that. 1 should do so. Although my ollicial connection with tho Goldfields of New Zealand has extended over a period of nearly twelve years, and I am probably well known to many of the Electors in that capacity, I would beg to point out, tliiit in my oMieiul position 1 had frequently to act contrary to my own political convic'ions aid principles, and was bound by the rules of the Civil Service to express no opinion on (lie proceedings of the Government of the day. In consequence of raj leaving the service, I am at liberty 10 enunciate my own opinion, and I think my ollicial experience may be found advantageous in working reform in some of the departments of the Public Service. There are certain political questions which cannot be dealt with by the Provincial Council—as, for instance, Vote by Ballot, the delegation of the Governor's powers under tho Goldfields Act, the Reduction of the Export Duty on Gold, and the alteration or amendment of the agreements with the natives under which this Goldficld is leased to the Crown. I shall, however, be prepared, if elected, to briiiij forward resolutions in the Provincial Council, reques'ing the General Government to take the necessary steps to bring all these subjects under the consideration of the Parliament of the colony at its next session. I may say that I advocate Vote by Ballot, the repeal of the present Goldfields Act, which is quite inapplicable to this Goldfield, and tho passing of such a measure as would confer on the resident population of every Goldfield in the Colony tho fullest amount of self-government and local legislation, subject to the control of a Minister for Mines, the duty of whom it would be to attend to the great and important gold mining interest, which has hitherto been neglected, and not properly appreciated in this Colony. Viewing the low value of gold in this district, I consider that there shonld bo such a reduction in the export duty on gold as should be in proportion with the difference of the value in the gold obtained here and that procured in other districts. If the Colony was in a better financial position I would advocate the immediate repeal of the " Gold Export Duty Act." I would suggest to the Government the desirability of making an arrangement with the native owners of this goldfield to pay a fixed yearly rental for it instead of the miners' right- fees ; the advantage of this would be that the Government, would then introduce here the same system as regards miners' rights as is in force within the other goldfiulds of the Colony, and to reduce the amount n<, pr.-scnt. paid by the miners in that behalf. As regards mining leases, I am of opinion that the present regulations are very defective, and that every facility is given by them to look up and hold unworked large tracts of country, to the injury of the capitalist and the individual miner. I would suggest that .•ill mining claims should, in the first instance, be; taken up under miners' rights, and afterwards, if found necessary, be amalgamated I with others and leased. Also, that all applications for leases now in the hands of the Government should be at once either granted or refused ; and pending the framing of a new code of regulations, no further applications should be received by the Government. To the defective regulations and the undue monopoly which oblains on the goldficld, maybe ascribed the present depression and stagnation in mining and other business. I am prepared, if elected, to support and assist every effort made to secure local self-govern-ment, whether in the share of Municipal Councils, Mining, Highway, or Education Boards. I consider the present Education Act should be repealed, and one enacted that would provide schools and teachers in every district of the Province, while schools should be open, free of charge, to all children between the ages of five and fourteen years, and in which no religious instruction should be imparted except at stated hours, and then any parent objecting to the same could withdraw his child at tho time so fixed. I shall certainly, if returned, advocate such proportional increase of representation for this district, both for the Provincial Council and House of Representatives, as is required from the number and importance of our population and interests as compared with other electoral districts of the colony. I consider that every facility should be given for the expenditure of revenue within the district in which it has been raised, and would desire to see the general revenue apportioned on the basis of population, and not by Provincial scrambling in the General Assembly. Tn conclusion, I can assure you, gentlemen, that, if elected, I will, to tho best of ray ability, support all measures which arc for your benefit and tho welfare of the electoral disIriet and Province, especially the carrying out, of the necessary public works for the development of the resources of this wealthy, but hitherto misgoverned Province. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your most, obedient servant JAMES MACKAY, Jun. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE THAMES GOLDFIRLD. OENTLEMEN.-I redeem the promise \J made you, that I will CON lEST the next, Election as one of your CANDIDATES lor the Provincial Council. My political opinions and interests in the lie-Id are well known to you, and I hope soon to address you at a public meeting. Tours very truly, : W. H. OLDREY.