THE OTAGO POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1953, 9 August 1869, Page 2

THE OTAGO POLITICAL ASSOCIATION.

To the Editor of the Evenxnq Star

Sir, —The “Political Association of Otago,” recently planted in Dunedin, is already presenting unmistakeable symptoms of decay. Leaf after leaf is silently dropping off, and, ere long, nothing will remain but the cheerless aspect of the sapless trunk. It is rapidly fading away before our eyes, and no friendly hand or friendly advice is volunteered to arrest the progress of decay. The Association is evidently not a tree indigenous to our cold and ungenial climate ; and to have enabled it to take root kindly, and bring forth fruit, its early management should have been committed to hands sufficiently experienced or possessing the necessary aiboncultural skill. I confess I felt a deep interest in its successful development; I had hoped it would have taken root, and acquired in time the graceful proportions of a full-grown tree, vigorous and strong, so that beneath its firmly-knit branches the people might, in times of future storms, have found safe shel er and protection. It is painful, therefore, to contemplate it in its present blighted and stunted condition. But, sir, it is tune to descend from the realms of metaphor to the realms of common j-ense. The association in which we were all interested, must be* emphatically pronounced a failure. The apathy of the people

on political subjects has to the members themselves—the fire by which they wore first animated has burnt out. To no one of the many useful objects for which these associations are ordinarily formed has its attention been directed ; and when it has presumed to dabble in little unimp riant matters, it has been clone in such a spiritless spasmodic aod desultory manner as to forfeit all claims to respect. Such conduct can never awaken public sympathy or support though it may possibly excite public contempt. It is, sir in no unkind spirit that I proffer these remarks ; I am really interested in the “ Otago Political Association” becoming a powerful and permanent institution in New Zealand.

It occurs to me, Sri, that the chief faults with which the Association is chargeable, are :

Ist. That it has no definite course of action marked out; no distinct programme embodying latent or notorious public grievances. 2nd. That its action should, instead of being faltering and desultory, be energetic and continuous. 3rd. Tha: it fails to give sufficient publicity to its proceedings. Those practically acquainted with the working or effects of cognate associations in the old country will see at once the fairness of the charges I have here preferred. Look at the Anti-Corn Law and the Reform Leagues, and see how from small beginnings and amidst much difficulty and discouragement, they struggled on, battling with a mighty mass of ignorance, pride, and prejudice, until they finally overcame all opposition and assumed a national importance, making their once-detested doctrines the laws of the land. And how was this achieved ? By constant agitation, by well sustained energy, by the free use of the pen and the free use of speech, by lectures, by pamphlets, by the aid of the Press, by their very persistency arresting attention and commanding respect, until the enthusiasm of the few infected the millions, and reluctant hearers became the zealous advocates of their principles and doctrines. These are the means, or some of the means, by which the Political Associations referred to established their power, and won the respect, the admiration, and the gratitude of the people. What claim has the Otago Political Association established to public respect t What has it done ? But in charity I will ask no questions. Knowing, as its members have reason to know, the popular indifference on subjects political, they should, to stimulate a healthy enquiry into political subjects, din their doctrines into the public through the medium of the Press There are alwa> s good principles to enunciate, errors to correct, abuses to reform, public hardships to ameliorate, or legislative absurdities to repeal;—let them embody these in an int lligible programme, and keep them constantly under the public eye, and they must necessarily exert an influence upon the people. There are two papers in Dunedin, both powerful to effect good ; and I imagine, sir, that their columns would lie cheerfully opened to the free consideration of political subjects (?). If the A ssociation pursued this course, they would soon mould public opinion ; and, in place of the apathy.they deplore, they would substitute a healthy, intelligent, political activity. If the members have no enthusiasm for the work, let them by all means cease their labors ; but do not let us have a mockery of an Association without the shadow of power, utterly incapable of making itself felt by the people. Baloh. • Dunedin, August 9, 1809.