Page 3 Advertisements Column 5

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1925, 5 March 1875, Page 3

THE STT^RINTENDENCy. , TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PRO- ■■'*"■ VINOE bF AUCKLAND. UENTLEMEN,— Upon mature consideration, and after having conferred (with my friends and supporters at those points within reach, I have felt it my duty to put away all thoughts of retiring from this Candidature in favourof Sir George Grey—rand for the following reasons :—^ ; j : 1. That gentleman, in effect, states that his object in entering the arena of politics is to bolster up, and if possible, perpetuat9 provincialism, which form of Government I am of opinion should be entirely abolished hroughout the Colony. 2. Sir George eh awed an utter disregard tcv the welfare of this Province when be offered, with. a view to strengthening Mr Weld's lianas in forming a Ministry, that the seat of Government should be removed from Auckland, and when he asserted that he would yet see this Province at such a low ebb that grass would, grow in the streets of the 3ity. „ . . .3 He has been looking on quietly for the .last seven years, while Auckland has been uuffering from neglect, the Province treated with injustice, and almost starved out of ■ political existence, and during that, time he lias not manifested the slightest interest in her welfare nor used either his influence, his .pen, or his tongue on her behalf. 4. It is fell*, that even were he elected Superintendent he would concern himself chiefly, if not entirely, with' largo theoretical questions of constitutional Government, leaving tbe present Executive to administer the affairs of this Province as they are at present doing, and with su"h wretched results. It is now a?certained that for the above reasons, amongst many others, tbe candidature of Hit George Grey for the Superinteudenoy will not be acceptable to the electors of the Prorince generally, and that, therefore, a certain political party on the occasion of their recent lisib to Sir George, atKawau, misrepresented -to Mm tke wishes of the electorate as well as lay intentions in the matter of this contest.. An important question—the reform of the Constii ution—is now occupying public attention, and will have to be dealt with shortly by tbe House of Representatives, where I hope to have a scat lam of opinion, as already stated, that the time has come when Provincialism should bs entirely abolished, and aUo that the lands of the colony should be dealt with by the House of only, all land revenue becoming colonial revenue, rot only for the better security of the public creditor, -but also; in order to facilitate the more equitable distribution of any surplus fiand s, after providing for loans, that may be available for such purposes as education and the building of school-houses, for public works, grants in aid to-road boards, &c. In abolishing Provincialism, much of the representative element in the Government of the' country will'of course be swept away; and to compensate for that, it will, I think, be necessary to alter the Constitution of tne Upper House, by making a large proportion— suy tfro-thirds, if not all—the members of that branch of the. Legislature' elective, instead of nominee, as at present. I think; also, that it would have a salutary effect if -the term fcr which members are elected to the House of Eepresentatives, were re duced to. three years, and if mem* burs of either House, who accepted" office, were compelled to . come back to their -constituents for re-election, as in England, in Victoria, and elsewhere. As to what should be substituted for Provincialism, • I think little, will be -required beyond a re-arrangraent of certain departments of the General.Governmentj and an increase of powers and grants of money to road boar. s. Such amendments of the Con . Btitution Act a* I have briefly sketched afcove, would place in the hands of the people fa p more real power than they now possess. Would promote puVic spirit, of which we stand much in need, and would impart to public opinion throughout -the country.-such force and effect that, no government would dare to disregard it. . . With regard' to'matters more immediately I relating to the duties of Superintendent, y©u will remember tha^during the last session«of Council I joined in successfully opposing the Education Act introduced by Messrs Sheehan, Dignan, and Reed, iwhich Act proposed to abolish the Central Board of Education and vect the powers in the hand of a commissioner to be appointed by the Provincial Council. I also opposed the present houee-tas and man*, hood-tax for education, and defeated the Groverumentof Mr Sheehan on the question of the transfer of the control of the police from the General to the Provincial Authority. 1 think the Thames foreshore should bo given as an endowment to the local governing body theie. - • - If elected, I shall endeavour to cooperate iv i% friendly spirit with the General Government, and so watch over the interests of the Province that, as regards finance at all events, its declining years shall bo less of a struggle for existence than the years just'past. _^J I shall also endeavour to seethaJ^^^^^J new state of things is bemxJM^^^^^^^^M portion of New Zeakud^fl^^^^^^^^^H at any disadvantaj^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H South, and U^g^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J utiluuiri^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H