WELLINGTON REFORM ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1285, 25 November 1857, Page 4

WELLINGTON REFORM ASSOCIATION.

The following Letter lins been written by the Chairman of (ho “Wellington Reform Association,” to the Chairman of the “ Ahuriri Settlers’ Association — Wellington Rkeoum Association’s Rooms, Crown and Anchor Tavern. Wellington, 23rd November, 1857. Sir. —A number of the newly elected members nf the Provincial Council, together with several <»f their most influential supporters, who are favorable to a “ Radical Reform of the Provincial Government, have formed themselves into a Society for the purpose of organizing the measures by which such a Th form is to bo effected. by the name of the Wellington Reform Association. The Association ■•.'.ready comprises the 12 members for this City. 4 of thme. for the Hutt, and 3 of those for the Country Districts. Mr. Georec Hart, the sth member far the Hutt, has been absent from the Province since the elections ; but we have every reason to believe, from the declaration of principles on which he-was elected, that he will on his return, co-operate with the other 19 in their general efforts for a Reform in the legislation and executive administration of the Province. The Wellington Reform A -ocintHi have done me the honor to appoint in*- their Chairman, and they have directed me to .•• > '!-h<- you. as the (T.mrt.v.n <>t the Ahiuiri Settlers* A : i •:>. with nucr tn a fr.ink interchange of thoughts ?•! public alfi'is between the representatives «'f public ; ; »a in the Ct ntrnl portion of the Province inhabitants of your important District. I beg to enclose yon a Copy of the lAsointion unanimously passed at a numerous public meeting held in this City on the 22nd of October; which describes the. chief objects of the propose:! “ Radical Refonn,” and on their general acceptance of which as a politic;:’ creed most of the. members in whose name I address yon have been elected. 1 need hardly say that. as to the details by which such ce.'.er.i! propositions ac Ij be cini.d into ( Ifrct, there cannot fail to be minor differences of opinion. In the course, however, o: consul'ntions which have taken place., it has beron.a evident that a n.ij uity of the Provincial Connell nr-: disposed to agree on many most impmtant changes in accordance with tlmse general principles, and especially in opposition to the dictatorial position recently assumed by Dr. Featherston as Superintendent, in threatening to obstruct the action of such of the Rtprtsentaiives of the people as maybe conscientiously opposed to his individual policy. It is impossible yet to communiente to you, in any detail, the proposals already derided upon as agreeable to the whole of the above-mentioned members. In- I deed, we are anxious, with regard to all t f them, to have the benefit of the wcil-asccrtr.ined opinions of the majority of the Ahuriii settlers. We especially invitfc you to furnish v.s with a declaration of such opinions with regard to the -l-h. sth. and Gth sections ui the Resolution, lefcning to the -posal and occupation oi the public kinds, mid the Bih section which relates to the establishment of elected local boards. There is no disposition mi our part ; o treat th'.* land question in any spirit but that of justice and f.iirue** towards the nmholder as well as towards the pub.ic generally. While anxious to piiveni and guard against such undue monopoly of the public lands, and such favouritism in their distribution, as would injuriously check the pr< gr< i-s < i indu -u-y and population, we are quite prep.iit d to encourage the investi;u nt of capital in list ft:! ocrnp;.:i n of those lands, and to extend to the |.torn er: of settk nunt a fair r> rompen'-j for their enterprise in t’.e sbnpe of secr.ri'.y fir sin h investment. We believe th'.' a wise system of selling some of the public lards on crcdi*. in portions of varying extent, —coupled, perha; v.li’i some conditions of occupation and improv?) at, —will gx-.v’y ten I to the attainment of stub an oiij.-ct. Wr dvi-ire especial y to suite that it is not in r.v.rt . mpl rt’m: to propose any alteration of the pi ices for !..:.! fixed by Sir George Grey’s regulations, viz.., ID ;. :::» acre generally, and :•:» upset price of 5 s. per a :r.; fur such laud as may he ccrtilivd by surr.e ci'inpi u-nt. ;ulh..:ity > be iini’.t for agricultural parpn-v:. W.t we impressed with t/e belief ti at the objections raised by Dr. Eeathciston mid his suppm teu to a sj.j-tim of land s.aks on defur. d payment:;, can 1..• met sitDfactorily to the General Government ;:•. ' < il .to tin* people. The • u: 1fund of (he Province is ;•< :r-.!'v ;.l<dgel a- a cm ity, o:.ly for such portion - • th-.- :f.,;.-..y's loan . I half-a-million, as may be imr.ov.id from tl.e Colony by the Provii.cc. in ord.-r t<> . ..ingr.i-h H c intive till;:. It j therefore, reasonable to use that err:- gena ots c:m be made with the, U n .al Government, by which the. I may p.-rfive .-nil:'. • -•.•by for er um-may I be borrowed for th ’ •;'.rp‘ , -<*. v.i , l:<mt ha ling it nt--cesstiry to ’niertc.. •.. ii t; de.-'ue which tl.e people of tiie Province m. - ./ .;..-i \> try the c pmiment of f.fi-ilkating the ac-:,u;' : .*’..m a:. I impvwemmit of inml by selling some cf it -’•; c.rd.lt. There arc vnrious be guarded from the ! risk ol’l. -ing sot:..’ of the instalments through : -. ;.•<■*! it ; .ou cn the part of nur-cha-ers. We i-sper.iallv . - i tn express your opinions as to some scheme l»y which the licensed occupier and the public may birth feel secure that the fl.rmer shall pay for the advan'sc-.i s wlii.'.i lie may enjoy neither more nor less than a fair seen ; by uhich the varying qualities of lam! <>.runic.’, under Ixem-• .’.mil be estiimitcd, and paid i. :• atcar liimly. We should also gladly avr.i! • iie.-cl,,'s ?i' year suggestions as to Inw far tiie runh ;i :er .. ’ • ’ •’••'i.'lrt, •.vithont crippling bis 1 pursuits, umb.-r a.-' a share of the liability to fence. , erndici'tv. thi.-lles, and contribute to tl.e making and repair of roads.— on-g ns he derives benefit from hi- oeeep'i ion and n : long- r.) —:is any .-I'joining freeholder. It h is become of t'.z utmost, inqio-taiicc. in the present state of popular ferlmg, ’hat die runholder should not even appear lo ’»;• unjustly protected, with ivg.ird to .-urh details, at ihii e.xpensc of tin iuteiiuiirg iri'cliohuT. By g -nermis concessions on th:. e pein’s, the rtinb.o! !i’’g chi-s will both d- serve ard <»b: dn the cmi-1 fi-L nreuf the p < p .• •• rally, uml may be able I •.< e'rtr.m reciprocal imnev.-:•?>:.. ’o the nature of a pru-emjdiv-right over certum p oions <>i tb.ir ium. i; ay he rdtigair••’ dis o- itieii to ci.,,: ;;c in a i war of class init.v.'-- ' f which thiv 'ippcur> t » he; !<;»• some tun.; tn eon ■•. with a • i’ im. .:iiii!y whirl) would act 'u e . rmvhimmisty ?. the ;?■?- -rcssof the IWxhh c We !.;vwb,.cn i. ’ '*■ : i- • ■<- isit ; I t • dl-ie ' i rd t l -.‘ .. if he pref." it,’ to ml’ ■■ * tha .' i of W . Gi.-e.Yli-.g rm>-h hi’r mi. ht. still >m timd- pY ‘/y Mibri-qa. ui l.i'.-iticu. a -I’m prop<>rtiin : tienal l.<! ! n fits eo’.ite.r.ed nn him bv • .'lm i':o > i ’ . I government and public I .r rovcniem- : and in ■ ol neec--.-:ity, any of ibe km ! f.>r w'.hm - mm ! hre.iiw occupation oa d’dh-reut itrras. 1 1:.: <l.-. t'-.-. :i < <>!- out be held to li.sfraiu v. from rrf.i-mg :■> ..ek v.-w-. ledge in ’be iiitegovy c.f .. r.v.i- ; , ~ -e-j ;• iii f - for land.-, not yet i, ;c ' • dm ■■ !;• however, nf immy ; - ■•me.- v.'.m are emu -by m .•.-•.■•»s• ition of sue!) kind n. . vt.’i i, sp< . • -a -ptmiis which the m tu.i! or : m .i'O •< sidcrul Ihe lin-t.np; I'm.id - lb ’he lam! win a im ."ght. pnriionsni ’•■<! Ihovmr.’ r.uxy riv ll:'.' tan’s cf tlio.-'i portions th? p- .»> , u'-i m‘•p..;id La-tl ami self-impm-::.-1 ra;.-, : . i-n ’ i l ir.v ’heswma'xnn local ivu in'i.v ■rm-i'i ■ ;• :h :••? of ir-e Prnvmci.-t bul j.Mi. V.'e are .'i'.v.'M ' .ai ibu Ahuriri -ef!; r* nave .•ilready declared opi:.m::s in arctirddr.re •■ >.!’ nur •nvn on that subject: be'’ to li.:v-.- ti c i.dvr.rJagi! <•! their experiir.ic.r, iu h e.! .I'qmrcir.tnrts, to si'tlki both the principle.; «’ *’ <i..< i !; :<f s .ch an t M . ;i-!on of the advantages of true ■.• ! s/lf-g ,vcri.i;.ei:t io every portion of ibe Proven Should we'no ci' "’d-<i, by r.’m.u,s of frank amiimreserved vH.'imuir ■ . tn agree wi'iivmi on t’.e.-r .subjects which r •■•• iikf .mdi st.-ly wmuern you :is an hupotUnt ‘vclic.b '>■' ’he. Ci'u.nu.mity. we h r e 1 tiie far of ■ m cm t'.?. -.Jh.r mat to rs’of pi’icy v Lic/ rah'-tr t-- ' ■ ''■>< <■! iu ’be i.'i.i* hincry of Govcvimient,

’o an improved system of Immigration, ami other matters in which every inhabitant of the Province is equal y interested. We place confident reliance in your co-operation with us t • establish more amicable relations than have hitherto existed, us well with the General Government, ri'i with our .sister Provinces individually : believing that you will feel, as we do, that only by means o’ such rehrtions can the City and Province of Wellington hope to obtain that permanent residence of the Gene nil Gove nment within its limits, to which it is entitle:* by its central position in these Islands. Mr. Valentine Smith, your Representative in the General Assembly, bus fortunately been associated with us in the discussion of these subjects; and when h delivers to you this letter, he will lie enabled to explain more fully :>••. well the general nature of the views on which we arc already agreed, as the disposition which the individual members display respectively in the consideration of all necessary reforms. We are as yet unaware on what gentlemen your choice has fallen to represent your district in the Provincial Council; and we venture, therefore, to suggest that, should that ehcice have been unfortunately made ia misapprehension of our views and objects, of which this letter will afford you a general knowledge, you should depute some one or more persons from among yotu number, instructed to confer with us on all the matters in question. Wo cannot conclude without calling your attention Io the serious nature of the crisis which is impending e.vcr the Province, in conrcquence of the declaration of Dr. Featherston on the hustings that he would not submit to he advised by persons opposed to bis policy, even though the electors should return a majority of such per-oiis to represent them. It appears highly prol able that, in consequence of petitions which have been addressed in due form to the Governor, the election of Dr. Featherston may be disallowed, and a new writ issued for the election of a Superintendent. We trust that, under these circumstances, you will be dis-, posed to unite with us in *upporting a new Candidate: for the ollice, whose previous career and declarations of prim lile shall a Hord ample assurance thrt he will faithfully adhere ’o Responsible Government in its integrity, by consenting to be guided by aivisers who may possess the confidence of the majority of the Legislature. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most obedient, servant, W. Bowler, Chairman of the Wellington Reform Association.