THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, November 13, 1860. "ATTENTION"!

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1471, 13 November 1860, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, November 13, 1860. "ATTENTION"!

The Writs for the General Assembly have come down earlier than was anticipated, and the Constituencies, after a long spell of " Stand at Ease," are suddenly called to " Attention." The elections must take place during the next six or seven weeks and will do so probably in about a month. Doubtless both parties are already considering the best men to bring forward. To one thing we hope the electors will at once make up their mmd — either to return all of one party or none. To send up some members of one party and some of another, is the most suicidal policy they can adopt. Of the disadvantages resulting from sending a mixed representation, this province has felt the full effect — of the advantages resulting from sending all the members of one party, the session just closed affords an illustration. When that session commenced, three short months ago, the Stafford Ministry were all-powerful ; when it closed they held their seats on sufferance, having been thoroughly and repeatedly defeated. The most casual reader of the debates, cannot fail to have observed that our members constituted the very life and soul of the Opposition, both as regards speakers and numbers. One of them was its acknowledged leader, and to Mr. Fox'g abilities and exertions as such, the House bears willing testimony. Other Provinces have largely contributed to his success — in how great, a degree our Assembly Correspondent's "letter amply testifies. The support which the members from Auckland, Canterbury and Otago have given during the past session, they are prepared to give again. Their prejudice against what is generally called " a Wellington Ministry" has been dissipated ; and they are determined to continue the existence of the Stafford Ministry no longer than they can possibly help. From the best of their men and the best of ours, a strong Government can readily be formed — a Government which will at least have the recommendation of being friendly to this Province as well as to all the others. We have had painfully to feel how an unfriendly Ministry has thwarted us at every point ; it rests with the electors, by sending men of one mind, to afford opportunity for the formation of another Ministry, which being friendly may help us in many. The Stafford Government must indeed be in bad odour amongst us, when it can find no one to say a good word for it. No portion of the Wellington press has anything to say in its favour. Whatever may be the virtues of the ministry in the eyes of those provinces which it has delighted to honor ; the press of this province would be untrue to our every interest did it fail in condemning the Stafford Ministry as one cruelly inimical to the well-being of Wellington. That the party of the three Fs condemn it no one needs to be told ; and that the Radical party now condemn it as strongly is unequivocally and publicly announced. The Radicals have been taught by bitter experience what the others long since learned to their cost. The Stafford Ministry coquetted with the Radicals and made fair promises in Recess which they have not attempted to fulfil in Session — the deadlock which the ministry vaunted their determination to pick, remains a deadlock still. We do not exult in this ; on the contrary we are sorry that Mi - . Stafford shirked his promise. But we are glad that both parties are now fully alive to the fact that this Province, no matter by which party it may be g6verned, will have a deaf ear turned to its requirements so long as the Stafford Ministry is in power. Ought it not to be our great aim to get rid of tho Stafford Government ? Doubtless it ought ; but who are the men most likely to do it — such men as have just returned from Auckland, or those whom it is intended to bring forward against them ? Major Trafford was lately announced as the intended oppo-

nent of Mr. Fox ; and we hear that Mr. Bowler is again to contest the City with Dr. Featherston. Wo wish to avoid comparisons as much as possible ; but every honest elector must compare them with each other before he decides to vote. When this has been done, no other conclusion can be arrived at than that Major Trafford would feel himself more at home facing danger at the cannon's mouth, than in " smashing " an iniquitous Government Militia Bill on the floor of the House, as Mr. Fox is described to have done by a single speech — that in fact, hoAYever qualified for the performance of ' his professional duties in camp or field, j Major Trafford is totally unfitted to take ! up an influential position in Parliament. Nor can the result of the electors enj quiry fail to shew them, that wide as is the gulf between the political merits of Mr. Fox and Major Trafford, there is an equally wide one between the political abilities of the other two. If the results of the last three months' struggle in the Assembly are not to be lost, the former members must be returned. They will take that place in the Opposition to be brought against the Stafford Ministry, which their talent, influence, and united action .have secured for them. If the General Government is to be for the next five years as unfriendly to Wellington as it has been during the last, no easier method can possibly present itself of bringing about such a result, than that of returning members of opposite parties — they cannot work together, and those who do not support the Opposition of which Mr. Fox is the acknowledged leader, must support and help to retain the Stafford Government in power. If, on the other hand, it is desired to oust the Stafford Government, then the party of the three F.s must be strengthened by the return of i's own Members. Minor differences must sink in this alternative; either elect Major Trafford, Mr. Bowler, ani those who intend coming forward on the same side, and retain an unfriendly Government in power ; or elect Mr. Fox, and the other gentlemen who though just returned from a three months sitting at Auckland, see the advantage that has been gained and for the interest of Wellington are' willing to follow up in another session the success they have so recently won. * ■■ *— * * * It is generally understood that all the Assembly members intend offering themselves for re-election. Two additional candidates will have to be brought forward ; one for the Oity in the stead of Sir Charles Clifford, and the other for tho now district formed by the division of the Rangitikei and the Wanganui.