THE CITY ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3482, 21 April 1874, Page 2

THE CITY ELECTION.

To the Editor. Sir,— Having attended one of Mr Barton’s meetings lately, I was rather amused at the grounds on which he claims the support of the electors. These grounds are, first—his previous services in the Provincial Council; seodndly,

his advocacy of the eight hours’ system of labor for the working-man/ In regard to Mr Barton’s previous services in the Provincial Council, half an hour’s examination of the-Blue Books of sessions 1871 and 1872 reveals the fact that in 167 divisions the name of Barton only appears in 37. This of itself is t quite sufficient to show the remarkable interetlj

-*•- ■ Mr Barton takes in the affairs of the Province, and the amount of attention which they would be likely to receive from him if returned. As to the eight hours’ system, of which Mr Barton seems disposed to make so much capital, however much the public of Victoria may be indebted to him for this admirable system, the public of Otago have no reason to thank Mr Barton, as the eight hours’ system was firmly established in this Province before the question was agitated at all in Victoria. All old settlers will support me in this. Mr Barton also has much to say about the necessity of sending faithful watch-dogs to the House instead of the wolves hitherto sent. Would Mr Barton condescend to inform the electors when, where, and how he has proved himself a faithful watch-dog ? Has he tried to prevent the lands being locked up as they are now ? Did he warn us of the waterworks monopoly ? Or during the years he was in the Province, previous to his being returned to the Provincial Council, can he inform us of anything he did for the good of the public? Finally, there is a question of some little importance which Mr Barton has hitherto carefully avoided. , I refer to the education question. As Mr Barton has not thought proper to enunciate his views on this point, of course I can say nothing. But do the electors think they would be safe in the hands of a man who evidently shirks a question of so much importance ? TJere are also the Permissive Bill and the harbor improvement schemes. Will Mr Barton favor us with his views on these points ?—I am, &c., An Elector. Dunedin, April 21.