THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 3

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,—The whole of Otago, especially the working men (its bone and sinew), is to be congratulated on the advent of the " National Association of New Zealand." Its objects are esrefnlly enumerated under nine headings, which each elector will do well to study carefully. In the past our rights and liberties have been unduly interfered with; our confidence regarding the buna fide settlement of the lands of the colony has been betrayed; all legislation has been with the object of Betting class agninat class. The Government and the Labour members, who have climbed on the backs of the workers of the colony *nd blindly followed the Government, havo by their past actions estranged themselves from us, have forfeited our, conn1- ] dence. Unfortunately for us their evil actions are written in brass, and it will be only by careful discretion on the part of each elector that confidence will be restored, and our once prosperous country will be abla to go on its way rejoicing. What is past is past. There is a future left to us. Let us then— Ne'er sit and wail our loss. But cheerily seek now to redress our wrongs. With this object we welcome the association, b.ut in every action, Look before you leap, if you like, but if You mean leaping, don't look long, Or the weakest place will soon grow stiff And the stronger doubly strong. Let each one who joins the association do so in no half-hearted manner. Let their deliberations be discussed with fairness and common sense, apart from all party feeling. We want no party Government—no party members. What we do want is a Government who will conserve the interests not of one party, bnt of the whole colony. In order to get such we must pick and choose men of sterling qualities, of education, and sound judgment, who will be prepared to raise the colony, and not any member or particular party. It must be distinctly understood that a Government or men on party lines ate a detriment to any country. They consist of men without principle, who are grovelling and pandering by skle issues to the working men with one distinct object in view—viz., their own advancement. Once for all, then, let us he done with such men in our next Parliament. We have several questions of vital importance to be brought before the electors —questions not to be decided on party lines, but which affect the advancement of the whole. We therefore wane no meu of one-sided opinions.

In conclusion, I would appeal to the working J men. Do not allow yourselves to be led away I during this coming election by the utterances of a party Government, of party men, of party papers, which justify and laud everything which one side does, while they censure and i ridicule every act of the other. Hewing is believing. Make it a point to reuse yourselves and afctsnd every meeting, not only those who are asking for yout suffrage, but those of your '• association.' Try and educate yonrselvej to a standard of being able to distinguish right I from wrong. Do not be led away by side issues by men who will try to make themselves popular by referring to iha past actions of a Government or of men. We do not want that, because we learn more from men's errors than we do from thsir virtues. We want those who will look ahead, who will propound questions of the nc«r foture which immediately affect übc and who will bring their sound judgment to bear on every question which is for the advancement of the colony as a whole.—l am, &c, Dnnedio, March 17. _ Jonius.