The New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 1870.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2107, 22 October 1870, Page 2

The New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 1870.

\\ r E arc glad to see that various count it uoneiea are beginning to show signs of activity in connexion with the question of who shall represent I hem in the next session of Parliament. Auckland is not particularly noted

for great political activity, but too generally is content to care little as to ] who is sent to the General Assembly, | there to represent the interests of this province. And even when a little interest is shown in the matter, there is a great want of unanimity as to the policy which our representatives shall carry out. The consequence has been that we have sent members have each had their own peculiar idiosyncrasies, but they have had no common bond ; division of a most fatal character has constantly existed among them, and through this want of something like unanimity on general questions, this province has on more than one occasion been practically disfranchised. The Auckland members are few enough in tli© House to requir© n. common policy and bond of union among them. They have powerful opponents against which to coutand, and it is as humiliating as it is suicidal, to see one half of our members on a division go in one lobby, and the other half in the other. The in evitable result is political weakness; our members on such occasions might just as well never vote at all, for they have no influence, inasmuch as the votes so given neutralise one another. If this thing i 3 to continue, it would be wiser perhaps not to go through the trouble of electing members, or if we do so for appearance sake, to let them pair off for the session, and leave the Parliamentary business to be done ostensibly as well as really by the representatives of other provinces. And yet, although we thus destroy our power by our own acts, we are for ever growling about Southern' members doinuc this thing and the other to the disadvantage of Auckland. It appears to us that the wisest course would be to work, instead of indulging in lamentation; to clearly make up our min Is as to the general policy which should be carried out by the Government of this country, and then to send men to the House of .Representatives who will support that policy, and not exhibit the miserable spectacle of disunion which, has been so often witnessed in the House of Representatives among the Auckland members.

There lias been in the past too little of anything like statesmanship displayed—understanding by that term a careful consideration of the general policy as to fiscal regulations, immigration, public works, and colonial industries. The native disturbances have attracted all our attention, absorbed the thought and time of our legislators, and the taxes we have had to pay. It is said that Russia has a settled line of foreign policy marked out, which every succeeding Emperor and Government keep in view. One period after another thus does something to forward the realisation of that policy, and it is gradually more and more carried out. We want something of the same kind here. Instead of legislating only for the Maoris, and in a loose hand-to-mouth sort of way for ourselves, it is now high time for us to consider what should be the general principles which should guide the legislation of this country. And it appears to us that the present Ministry lias done a good deal in this direction. Their successful native administration, securing a general peace, has left time for the consideration of what should be the line of conduct pursued generally by the Government, in order to promote the advancement of the colony. And that time has not been wasted. If we understand the matter aright, the measures introduced by the Ministry during the last session sufficiently indicate a general policy specially adapted to secure the safe ami gradual progress of the colony. One of tho cardinal points of that policy is to employ the natives in road-making through native territory, instead of a large artny in fighting the Maoris. We need not point out the great advantage of this system over one of war. The Maoris are gradually induced to labor to earn money to buy luxuries. Their wants thus become increased, and one of the very best aids to civilisation is to increase the wants of the uncivilised. By that means they have new desires to be satisfied, and tli<iy can only be satisfied by the expenditure of money, which must bo obtained in some way or other. And, in addition to thus ercploying them, and multiplying their wants, and so making employment to be a continuous necessity with them, wo get the impenetrable forest opened up with roads, and so increase to an enormous extent our power of dealing with the, natives should they wtr against us. W"e suppose there is ro constituency in Auckland which will oppose this line of policy. It has already given us peace, and bids fair to continue that blessing to us, while it puts leas and less within the power of hostile Maories to injure us. The native policy of the Government, then, should be placed distinctly before the people, and their opinion should be specially asked in respect to it. I Another portion of the policy of the Government is to aid in the development of the agricultural resources of the country, and that in two ways. No Auckland constituency need be told of the vast hindrance to progress by the absence of roads and bridges in so many parts of this province. It is simply impossible for the province to make substantial progress under the existing state of things. Thosa who are settled on the land must ba able to send their produce to market, and get their stores from town at a very much less cost than they can at the present time. As it is, the cost of transport acts as a protective tariff to foreign farmers. We have ahown tlm clearly over and over again, and therefore merely refer to it now. The present Government has set aside a distinct sum to aid Highway Boards, ami it has made arrangements to gradually carry out a railway system as the wants of the colony show themselves. Aa tho first fruits of this policy, we are to have the Waikato and the districts intervening been it and Auckland connected with the city by rail, and Kaipara and Biverhead are to bo

united by a railroad. This policy is J distinct and clear. It contemplates the improvement of the country by obtaining railroads where they may | be really required, and by assisting 1 country settlers to make the ordi- ; nary roads in their district. The ; electors will do well to consider j this scheme ; it is one that will . take years to carry out ; and those who are opposed to laying those foundations of prosperity a;;d ad- j vancement—good roads, and railroads 1 where necessary,—must let that | opinion be known by bringing out j men who are opposed to such a policy. ; We must also refer to what appear j to be the ideas of the present Govern- i ntent on the fiscal policy which should • be adopted and regularly carried out, ' and the line of conduct which sluuld j j be pursued in regard to local indusI tries. There are evidences in what I the Miuistry has already done, that | we may expect careful attention will ( be paid to fostering, in a legitimate manner, local industry. AVe perceive this, for instance, in "the remission of taxes on certain articles extensively used in making up saddlery and harness, at the instance of persons encaged in the manufacture of harness. The enlargement of that principle, and extending it generally to our Customs tnriff, would result in very great benefits to the country. Restrictions would be removed which now tend to check local industry, and, therefore, clu-ck j the progress of the colony. The rewards offered in respect to the flax business, calling for tenders to supplv colonial-made cloth for Government use, are other evidences of a correct appreciation of what ought to be the industrial policy, so to s.peak, of a Government. We shall only just mention the immigration scheme, and say that it is designed to aid provinces in obtaining such addition to their population which they may consider best.

We have thus placed succinctly before our readers tho native, the road, railroad, the industrial, and the im migration policy of the present Government, and we trust tho constituencies of this province will fairly consider these matters, and that the province generally will be able to come to something like unanimity on these questions. We have shown the utter absurdity of Auckland sending men to the General Assembly, halt'of whom will vote on one side and half on the other. And yet in two adjoining electoral districts this foolish system is to be pursued in tho present election. City East haa sent a very numerously signed requisition to Mr. Vogel, one of the Ministry, to represent it. Mr. Clark, an old and highly respected settler, declined to contest the seat, and in so doing deserves the thanks of the electors. But the adjoining electoral district of Parnell,is to bring out Mr. Reader "Wood in opposition to the Ministry. That is, suppose Mr. Wood and Mr. Vogel to be elected, Auckland will virtually lose two votes, and her voting power will be exactly the same as if neither Parnell nor City East had a representative in Parliament. Now we ask the electors to pause. A\ r e implore them not again to make Auckland ridiculous, and powerless comparatively, by sending representatives who will in equal numbers take opposite sides on important public question. If the policy which we have imperfectly sketched is a wrong one, let us have the subject thoroughly discussed, and let us decide to oppose it, and substitute something in its place ; but if we are convinced that, properly carried out, it will be the salvation of the colony, then let us heartily support it with such modifications as practise may prove necessary.

We have not a syllable to say against Mr. Reader "Wood, and he requires no praise from us. lie is known to be able, shrewd, experienced, and respectable ; but we must strongly urge, that at the present time Mr. Wood going into the House as a determined opponent of the present Government, and the principles and line of policy we have sketched, would be preeminently the right man in the wrong place. For ourselves, we believe in the policy we have sketched as being that of the Government; and, believing in it, we are prepared to give the Government an independent and general support, and, therefore, must support those whose views coincide with our own. We cannot but think that the electors, generally, if they put aside clap-trap, and examine tho subject for themselves, will see that their support ought to be given to those who will assist in carrying but the great principles referred to in this article. The electors will not have another opportunity such as that which will be shortly presented to them, and it will be entirely their own fault if they let it slip through their fingers unimproved. Hence the importance of first calmly and carefully considering the future requirements of the province and the colony, and of throwing aside pan ty-feeling, and every other consideration in regard to this important subject. Wo advise caution therefore; there is plenty of time before the election for a full and careful consideration of tho Government policy, which ought to form the test at the election. If it is believed to be the best for promoting the interests of the colony, then let it be heartily supported; if a different opinion is generally arrived at, then lot us sink minor differences ; put aside past feelings in respect to individuals, and elect men solely on the ground that they will give their best assistance in carrying out the policy we are discussing, and to make it, what we believe it may become, a great and decided success.