MR. CLARK AND SEPARATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4405, 25 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. CLARK AND SEPARATION.

To the Editor of the Herald. Sir, —As the Herald- has -wisely given : opportunity for the expression of differing (opinions in regard to our preßent and future [political position, I beg you will give this letter insertion. It appears to me that the [cry for Separation is practically dropped. (Sir George Grey omits this cardinal point in !hi» speech on the bastings; Mr. Reader jWood candidly admits that Wellington will ;never submit to have its domestic affairs '.managed at Auckland under insular separation, and that if separation were obtained, [there would be another separation, that of. jail the other provinces" of the North Island [from Auckland. But why should separation istop hpre, Why should not the North of jAuclUand, which under Provincialism has jbeep'grossly neglected, go in for separation ; jwby should not Tauranga and the East Coast jdo the same, and refuse to have the proposed ,centralised Auckland Goveniurieat, —and that jfor the same reason, the sacrifice, as they fdlege, of their interests by the Central Provincial Government. It is clear from the election addresses and the results of election that separation is utterly, repudiated at jTaranakS, 'Hawke's Bay, and Wellington, yvhile in the Middle Island the feeling against it is very strong in some quarters. This cardinal point given up, what are the great differences of opinion between Sir George Grey's and his more moderate supporters and Mr. Clark. ' The latter gentleman has carefully abstained from building up a reputation on mere bunkum/ He is the only candidate on any side who has looked the great financial question fairly in the face, and attempted an explanation. Sir George Grey is stoutly opposed to the.present Ministry ; Sir George Grey's supporters know that if he~ upsets the Ministry, there will be offices to be filled from the ranks of the Opposition. Is it not natural that this may, even imperceptibly, influence persona 1;, Sir George Grey desires reform in administration, in land buying, and in other abuses. He desires economy, he wishes for such an adjustment cf taxation as will make it fall equitably on the people. But Sir George Grey, it is noticed, lias not gone in heartily for making the land fund colonial revenue. The latter,. Mr. Clark, has done, and I maintain that it is the main difference between him and Sir George. Mi-. Clark, while not insanely opposed to the present Ministry, while not seeking a change that any party may occupy the Ministerial Benches, states explicitly that he is strongly opposed to the Ministry on certain fundamental points, And will join any one in forcing a change of Ministry in regard to matters; but he is honest enough to say that the public works policy, for instance, as a policy, has his approval, the carrying of it out being another matter. Mr. Clark, haying denounced mis-government, pledged himself to go in as a reformer, and stated hiß opinion' that the taxation should be so fixed that property bears its fair share, and the duties on tea, sugar, and Such-like be reduced, and 'and jobbery ha is opposed to. Carefully analyse the principles enunciated, and it will be seen that there are many points of agreement, indeed practically thorough agreement .in essentials. Now, without saying one syllable in disparagement of Mr. JRees, Mr. Clark,will bring to bear upon the questions submitted to Parliament p. calm judgment, not liable to be biassed by the hopes and feaTß of a mere politician, who has always a desire to get one party in, and another out, solely for party purposes. His commercial experience will be of very great value in the House ; his'integrity and singleness of purpose are undoubted ; his independence unquestioned ; and these qualities in a Parliament, as in a community, add immensely to a man's influence. How happy cou'd Ibe with either, were the other dear charmer away. Boih Mr. Clark and Mr. P.ees would be valuable members, each in their way, but Mr. Clark is the man for City East, and Mr. Rces should visit Eden, the electors of which would doubtless be glad to hare him as their representative.—l am, &c., Elector, i