MEASURES NOT MEN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 25, 18 October 1873, Page 12

MEASURES NOT MEN.

(An Auckland contributor.) This is a common cry with politicians of a certain class. It appears to me to involve a great fallacy. For my part, I should aay let us have .honest men first, then wo shall have good measures, or at least our money -will be safe. Public measures are very complicated affairs, and few men are competent to judge of them properly. But a man's general character for integrity is what all men can judge of pretty wellIn America it seems public affairs have got, and are still more getting, into the hands of a class of men not remarkable for their high moral character, but quite the reverse. The consequence is that the respectable part of the people try to steer clear of any connection with public affairs. If they did otherwise they would be brought into contact or collision with many -whom they could not respect. Are we not in a Bomewhat similar position in this colony P I was told the other day that a gentleman of education and high character, and great scientific attainments, and good social position, was solicited to stand as candidate for a seat in the H.lt. fora certain important district in the North Island. He rejected the proposal with scorn, and felt almost affronted at the idea of his mixing with such a class as formed the bulk of our colonial M.P.'s and officials.