The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1884. THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1209, 26 July 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 26, 18 84. THE ELECTIONS.

The elections "are now over, and the result is not at all satisfactory. Whenever one turns there he finds representatives of land rings, monetary institutiohsi ’and other- interests antagonistic to the well-being of the people as a whole, elected to Parliament. The contemptible element of which the late Parliament was made up, has had a great deaf to-; do> with this. A large proportion of the last ’ Parliament was composed of men who were devoid of either honesty or ability, and who thought they could keep their seat* by talking clap.trap nonsense, and appealing to class prejudices. Like the pragmatic jackdaw, however, their own words and actions betrayed their real characteristics—meanness, selfishness, and regardlessness of the country’s good —and they disgusted their formsr supporters to an extent that they were ready to accept anyone who offered himself in preference to them. Above all they behaved disgracefully during the last session, especially as regards the honorarium., It is to that the change is principally 1 due,-and it is a change we regret very much, foruntil Parliament is composed of men independent of money-rings, we must expect nothing but class legislation. There is one thing we want in this colony above all others, and that,is common sense. We want capacity for distinguishing between the meritorious and the meretricious, for that is what most of us are deficient in. Wo have the grandest country on the face of the earth ; we have plenty of capital in it ; we have everything necessary to rakke u# rich and prasperous, but we have not brains enough tp make a proper use of the extraordinary blessings which a bountiful Providence has bestowed on «s. This assertion is proved liy the result of the elections. In ono instance a wealthy man—it would serve no purpose to give names—offered himself as a candidate, and made a speech composed principally of slang and nonsense, After the speechwhich did not refer to ono single political question—was over,he answered every question asked him by saying ha was not prepared to say. If any one thinks we are exaggerating let him look up the Christchurch papers, and he will find the speech referred to. He cannot fail to notice the same thing. And yet this man, who knew no more of politics than a cat does of prayers, was elected by an immense majority. He was the representative of money, and the almighty dollar dazzled the unthinking. In another instance the manager of a land company was elected. He is a man who a few years ago occupied a subordinate position in the serrice of the same . company, but by intrigue he succeeded -in working the former manager out of the billet, and in getting himself into it. Such are specimens of the new Parliament. Brains were wanted in th<»se instances, for if the constituents had had any gensc they would have chosen some bettef men. But it is useless to moralise over the matter. It is as it h as. ever been and ever will be—money must rule.