Matters of Public Interest

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 17

Matters of Public Interest

. Editor Witness,— -"^ery goon the ele6tofa will have another chancfe a.uorded them' of rising the power bestowed upon thSm by the' constitution and the laws of the country 1 . Whether they will use that power with judgment and discretion will remain an open question until after the elections, and even then it will not be known of what material , or what mental calibre the elected possess. Time alone will solve such a question; Tho duty of using with intelligent discretion the franchise' bestowed on the people of this country by wise {legislators, and for the good of the country the vote ac^ corded to every free bubject — the political rights enjoyed by the adult; male population of this colony — should be a sacred obligation,- but how few construe duty thus? Sufficient for most people is the often repeated axiom, that from evil good often results. Ever since the abolition of the provinces political morality has been on the wane in this country, until at the present time there is not one particle of principle in the whole political fabric of this colony not subject to local interest, ■and consequently individual influence. Each separate constituency has its possible or im- , possible claims agaiust the public treasury. Prospective representatives for any ot the constituencies know full well that it is local wants that propel the electors towards the polling booths, and also that the man who promises to get the most money expended in the district is ■ certain of election. ' It is a most distressing fact to acknowledge ■ such to be the case, but experience teaches us, and we must fain acknowledge what we cannot .otherwise dispute. Now, if this state of liberty of action is in anyway conducive to the wellbehig of the colony, the ; sooner • the liberty is curtailed the better for the future welfare of the people. When a wise and just law is subject to such debasing influence, there is no other remedy left but to try and educate the electors in the func- j tions and duties of elective government, or repeal the law that tends to produce the evils so manifestly widespread in this colony. That manhood suffrage is an unmixed blyssing in this country is very doubtful. Indeed, with a shifting population can it be otherwise ? With no interest at stake, but few of the free electors care two straws for the welfare of the country, and even among those who have interests at stake, how few rightly interpret the duties of an elector? In the same category may be placed the people's representatives." "Self" is the keystone in all their actions, and the constituencies that elect them are [only stepping-stones in the direction of self-aggrandisement. In , this colony it may be said there are no real public men, for truly such is the case. We have abundance of what is called political men, but they have an important private object to ■ gain either in one form or other, and their entry into Parliament is productive' of little real advantage to the country. Looking at constitutional government in this light it cannot be con- ■ sidered otherwise than a failure. With no ' public disinterestedness and a total want . of patriotic sentiments and aspirations,' is there any wonder that party government has degenerated : to little else than " self" government, Oligarch- • ical government would be, under existing,con1 ditions, far superior to constitutional representation on the population basis under which the ; people of this colony are governed. It would be , far easier to find tec or a dozen able men to take i charge of public affairs than it is to find 80 or 90 ' capable of fulfilling the functions of representa- , tives in a disinterested manner and for the well- , being of the country at large. With your per- '< mission I shall return to the subject in a future ■ issue. — I am, &c. J. Gordon. Chatton, June 13.