THE Cromwell Argus WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1870.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 16, 2 March 1870, Page 4

THE Cromwell Argus WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1870.

Representation in parts of New Zealand seems to have been degraded into a mere burlesque of the great principles upon which it is based. The gold-fields constituencies of Otago have especially cause to feel that they have been most recklessly dealt with by the designing politicians who unfortunately represent them at present. The electors have been for the last two years treated with supreme indifference and contempt. They have been looked upon as mere nonentities creatures without wishes, opinions, or ideas ; their duty being simply to vote the lucky member into

an arena in which pay, place, and power can be secured. For this, and this only, are they considered worthy of any thought or consideration. The duty of the goldfields representatives to meet their constituents after each session, has been ignored by them ; and yet all of the several mem bora have tasted the sweets of office. Mr Vogel has been most singularly fortunate; he has never been out of office, or off some commission or another. Thanks to his seat

in the Assembly—the gift of the mining community—he it entitled to be dubbed a colonial " Honorable," and has power and patronage ;it his control. Yet his advooticy of gold-fields interests has beon of a moat damaging kind. Once—two yoars ago —when the war reigned as to which power should manage tho gold-fields, and tile Tuapoka Court-house was besieged, he addressed the gold-fields residents of that, centre upon the benificent rule of the Otago Provincial Government; but inrno other portion of the gold-fields has he shown up. Mr Hauguton has also been fortunate in obtaining power and emolument: Chairman of Committees, member of Royal Commissions, whip to the Stafford Ministry, tfec, &0., he has also to be grateful to a confiding constituency, which he has for the last two years never visited. Mr C. O'Neill is a perfect gem of the rough diamond class. His first session was a very

unfortunate one. He divided with the side that secured him at the happy moment, and voted without rhyme or reason; in the next one he was memorable for opposing, in conjunction with Mr Hauguton, the Divorce Bill. He has a knack of professing devotion to a constituency, which he is always promising to visit, and yet never has done so. Pie also has secured pay, and finally obtained the important position of engineer-in-chief to the Province of Auckland. His position is a good one socially too, for we notice that whether at levees, public entertainments, gubernatorial visits, or visits to the theatre, C. O'Neill, Esq., C.E., of Auckland, always appears as one of the suite of his Excellency. Mr Bradshaw has also tasted the honey, and had at one time the gold-fields at his command ; and then J. B. B. was a very important personage, as certain events at the time showed. Mr Main—though not representing a gold-tields constituency —will no doubt in time have his share of the good tilings which his colleagues are now enjoying. He may, however, even

now be one of the favoured solicitors whom the Pastoral Association delight to reward when they require their peculiar land measures, or any other enactments affecting their interests, carefully dra>vnout and carried through. All these gentlemen are, we believe, residents of the Auckland Province, and all personally interested in its welfare, and that of the gold-fields there. The Southern Cross, edited by Mr Vogkl. assigns as one of the chief reasons why the next Assembly should meet at Auckland, j that it should have the opportunity of studying personally 5 the aspect of affairs on the Thames—important measures in reference to that gold-field being promised. So it would appear that the Northern goldfields are to be patted, and are to monopolise attention, if the editor of the Southern Cross speiks the mind of the Government. Under such a state of tilings, the electors have a right to complain of the way they have been treated, and we are glad to hear that four of these lion, members are likely to be called upon to resign the trust .placed in their hands for the public weal, but sacrificed by them at the shrine of personal advantage and personal ease.' No time should be lost in demanding their resignations, and electing men who will secure to Otago and her gold-fields that share of the revenue and that amount of attmtioi

which is equitably and justly her clue. Unfortunately, the division amongst the Otago members has had the effect of lessening her influence in the Assembly. Not that we are the advocates of the salfish line of conduct that actuates the Auckland party, who seek only the aggrandisement of their own Province, heedless of the cost or the injury inflicted upon other portions of the Colony. Still, in the ensuing session very grave matters, affecting the interests of our gold-fields, were intended to be brought forward, and we suppose such is the intention yet. First and foremost is the water supply question, a select committee touching which is supposed to be now sitting. ■ The defining of a policy which will do something to promote an efficient supplyof water to our gold fields is of paramount importance. Tf thesession isheld at Auckland, and the Thames gold-field is to claim leading attention, we shall probably go to the wall in this matter, for the members whose names we have mentioned are more largely interested in the progress of those goid fields than in that of ours. Then there is the proposed amendment of the Gold-fields Act, repeal of the gold export duty, the encouragement of native industries, the repeal of the Hundreds. Act, the local government or shire county measure, and other matters, that require special consideration, apart from an Auckland view of the matter. Other and larger sub jects of colonial policy also require to be discussed. How can Messrs Vooel and O'Neim,, who have not visited the goldfields, be in accord with their constituents on many of these questions On several of

them they hold different opinions to the electors. Messrs Bradshaw and IJaughton may have an opinion of their own that they are infallible, and know all about the people's wishes on these subjects. "We deny this assumption if it exists, and say that such long intervals between the meeting of the represented and the representative are unsound and inimical in principle, especially when non-residence for years is added to the evil. The subject is one of such serious moment that we have felt impelled to deal with it at greater length than

is our usual cußtom. A great danger exists, and every effort must be used to remove it. Wo are not in so good a position on the gold-fields that we can longer afford to act so magnanimously to our representatives as we have done in the past. We Must have more personal representation ; wo must have our true interests more zealously promoted. No one will* pretend to say for one moment, that such is the ,t»m as mattors at present stand. : Wo cribe the existence of many drawbacks-&> shortcomings on the part of our representatives. We do not grudge them their personal gains and prominent position, but we cannot afford to carry on this kind of thing any longer, when the gain is all on one side and the loss on the other. It is not the constituencies that are to blame : they have not withdrawn themselves from their members, but the members have deserted them. They must now be content to pay the penalties for so flagrantly abandoning their duties.