A PEW WORDS FOR INTELLIGENT THINKING ELECTORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 255, 3 September 1879, Page 2

A PEW WORDS FOR INTELLIGENT THINKING ELECTORS.

To tin Editor of tin Waira hapa imilt,

Silt—We have now heard the political views of all the candidates, and as far as one can make out from their addresses and speeches, its pretty much of a muchness. " Liberal!" Aye, Liberal with n vengeance; consequently the electors have no opportunity of giving their votes to candidates of particular views, The test questions asked to two of the candidates whether, if returned, they will support Sir George Grey's administration, they skilfully evaded answering, Unfortunately the choice resolves itself on men not measures, It is therefore our duty to scan carefully the capabilities, character, means, and position of each candidate. As an old resident I take the liberty of stating to my fellow-electors, my opinions and my reasons for lame of each candidate. I will do so seriatim. First comes Mr Bunny. He states that he has a claim on the electors for his past sixteen years' services, and lays claim to a great deal of them, viz., roads, bridges, and railways, Now, let us calmly examine his claims, Mr Bunny is now an out-and out supporter of Sir George Grey—the great friend of the working man and a bitter foe to large landholders, Unfortunately for Mr Bunny, we can remember when he did not advocate those pop ilar high-pres-sure principles, when he was a large landholder himself. At that time Mr Bunny was Chairman of the Featherston Highway Board. During a term of four years his Board did not strike a rate, in consequence of each individual member of the Board being a sheepfarmerand large landowner, The Provincial Government was then subsidising the Boards with two pounds for every one raised by the ratepayers, He was at that time a member of the Provincial Council, therefore lie must have known that other portions of the province were availing themselves of the opportunity to improve their districts. At that time Mr Bunny's pursuits did not require roads or bridges. Now, let us see when was it that lie saw the error of his ways and became a convert to Liberal principles and progress and a bitter enemy to large holders of land. It was after lie had parted with the largest portion of his estate. Comment upon such conversion is needless.

Second claim, on the ex-Volunteers for obtaining their land, He monopolises the whole of the credit, which is hardly fair or just, inasmuch as our old and useful member, Mr A, Renall, first moved in this matter, and when lie asked Mr Bunny to assist him in passing this measure he (Mr Bunny) threw cold wator 011 it, telling Mr Renall that it would never be carried. When he saw that Mr Renall was about to succeed, he came to the fore and took the wind out of the other one's sails; consequently his claim on the Volunteers will not bear investigation. Third claim, roads and bridges, Mr Bunny's (now) great trump card. Now, let us see if Mr Bunny deserves all the credit he claims for the above. At that time we had other members representing the district in the Provincial CouncilRev Mr Andrew, Mr Pharazyn, and, 1 think, Mr Beetliam—who strived to obtain the expenditure of money justly due ti this district Mr Bunny at that time becamo Provincial Secretary and Treasurer at a salary of £GOO a year (by-the-by, his predecessor's salary was £400), and it was only reasonable and just that a portion of the money then borrowed should be spent in making bridges and roads, especially as it is in the remembrance of the majority of the electors how many lives were lost in those rivers. One would imagine on heaving Mr Buiiny blowing his trumpet that the Wairarapa got more than its fair share of roads and bridges during that gentleman's term of office. Facts prove such was not the case. The Rangitikei and Manawatu districts had far more money expended in them during his administration ; in fact, in commemoration of his fatherly affection for them, a town is named after him. We now come to the abolition of provinces. Let us see what Mr Bunny lias done since then, viz., he got a billet to wind up Provincial affairs as Government Agent, which was profitable to himself, no doubt. The benefits accruing to the dis- . trict were nil; In fact, since the provinces were abolished Mr Bunny has only represented one person, and represented that person well—"that was himself." His cavalier treatment of the Wairarapa has become a byword and reproach. His blind following of Sir George Grey, his placehunting, and unreliable political character utterly unfits him to represent an important and respectable district like this. His past services have been over-rated and considerably overpaid. We owe him nothing. If we do, let us ascertain the amount due to him and pay him in money, which will meet with the wishes of his supporters, who say that we ought to return him because he is very poor, but not cast a stigma on the Wairarapa by electing him as our representative again. I am sure I am expressing tho views of the majority of the thinking electors. It will be a serious wrong if our suffrages are swamped by the block votes of our Scandinavian and Maori fellow electors, who are, unfortunately, ignorant of our language, and merely obey the biddings of paid agents, to foist an undesirable representative on us. Mr Beetliam deserves our confidence, inasmuch as his actions have been consistent, and honest. He is essentially a representative of the district,

and lias always identified himself with-it. If he lacks the plausability and oratorical powers of Mr Bunny, he, on the other hand, is not tricky, nor a place-hunter. He does not pretend to be the working man's friend, nor Le emancipator of the 70,000 serfs (discovered by those modern Apostles, Grey, Macandrew, Bunny, & Go). He has always worked hard for the welfare of his district and the good of the Colony. He deserves to be elected again —he will not deceive us,

I now come to the only ether candidate in the field—Mr Charles Pharanyn (Mr Carter wisely retiring from the contest)— who solicits our auifrages upon certain distinct grounds, which lie has the courage to enunciate in a bold, frank manner, and in a concise and cogent form, which im-

presses the reader that Mr Pharazyu is an individual who acts and thinks for himself and doej so iii a clear and logical manner, proving that he is a fit and proper pcrsou to represent üb, The objections raised against him are that he is not liked, he is not popular; he is not the working man's friend; he is not liberal enough (for the present fashion), These objections are simply absurd. While a member of the Provincil Council, he proved himself a clear, cool, and able debater, and easily defeated Bunny and prevented an illegal act being perpetrated, Mr Pharazyn occupies the highest offices in the Wairarapa and no one can say he does not administer them well.

Tlie great question before us now is this —lf we elect and approve of Mr Beetluim we must also approve of Mr Pharazyn, whose political views are in accord with Mr Beetli,mi's, If, oil the other hand, we elect Mr Bunny we stultify ourselves, and we might as well be not represented, inasmuch as Mr Bunny follows Sir George Grey and Mr Beotham is opposed to him. It is a matter of vital importance to all olectors who -have by their industry acquired property; who have children to inherit it; who have decided to make New Zealand their home and the future Fatherland of their children to return to Parliament men of good sterling character who have sufficient means of their own to enable them to be independent in their actions, and have no need to toady to the Government of the day for patronage or billets.

I am confident my fellow electors will think for themselves and vote in accordance with their convictions. The result will be that Messrs Pharazyn and Beetliam will be duly returned, The electors will laugh to scorn the efforts and arguments of paid electioneering agents.—l am &c, Anti-Humbug.

P.S.—The Wellington and Masterton Railway was included in the schedule of Vogel's Public Works Scheme.