The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4015, 8 January 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1876.

Mb Macandrew is a skilful electioneerer; but we think he has displayed weakness in seeking to soothe the wounded feelings of the electors of Port Chalmers at this moment. The motive is too transparent to deceive. It will require very strong faith in the straightforwardness of character of our Superintendent to regard the address in any other light than as an endeavor to secure the return of Mr G. Green. The bunkum about Centralism and its dangers may be fairly dismissed. If we were to follow the example of Mr Macandrew and point to the past, we may claim equally with himself to have been consistent opponents of Centralism ; and our chief reason for withdrawing our support from him now is that we consider his present course of action is weakening the position of Otago and tending to lay our interests at the mercy of the rest of New Zealand. Mr Macandrew refers to the support given by him to the Ministry, and claims to have helped to place the Vogel administration in office. That he supported them is true, and we believe with singleness of purpose for the interest of Otago; and he had his reward. Powerful as was his support of them, it was weak compared with the aid given to him : during his contest for the Superinj tendency. Let Mr Donald Reid and I Mr J. L. Gillies be asked their versions of the contests they had with him, and, if they were compelled to answer truly, each would say, but for the adverse General Government influence he would have been elected. We do not put this fact forward as a reason why, upon a question on which Mr Macandrew differs from the Government, he should not on that point oppose them. It is his bounden duty to do so. *But when so much is claimed for the influence of one side, and sp much more left out on the other, there is a tendency to accuse those of ingratitude who least deserve it. ' Mr Macandrew owes more to the Government than they do to him, As one of their supporters he was in a position to do much for Otago, and he made good use of it. But we fear that the tactics of the League of which he is the head will ruin the influence of the Province in the General Assembly. The use it has made of popular feeling has been to associate with our Superintendent a more than ordinary number of ignorant and incapable men, and thus to destroy any chance that Otago might have had in giving form and shape to the reconstruction of our institutions. Mr Macandrew points to the evils of Centralism, which he asserts are already beginning to show themselves. He complains that in the arrangements for the California service Porb Chalmers is neglected; that leading lights in the Port are interfered with ; and of the injustice to Otago, of having to refer to Wellington- regarding arrangements for kerosene. We appi-ehend that, however skilfully these matters may be put, in order to raise a hue-and-cry against the Government for injustice—and we do not say there is no truth in it, for we do not know the facts about the lights——it is quite possible to take another view of the matter. We would ask, does it not confirm the apprehension we have expressed that Mr Macandrew and the League are throwing away the influence of Otago with the Government 1 Working with the Ministry he was in a position to command what was right and just. He could advocate with power the interests'of the Province and help to mould the .institutions of the Colony so as to make them work for tho

benefit of the whole. When he was with the Executive, although Otago ever been a house divided against itself, he obtained for the Province that consideration which former Ministers had denied it. The Province, in fact, assumed the position due to its commerce, industry, and wealth. Had he still identified himself with their general policy, in all probability he would have been in a position to have retained the Mail Steam Service terminus at Port Chalmers, and to have had the superintendence of the kerosene for lights. It by no means follows that he should have voted with them on the Provincial question. But because he differs from the Ministry on one point, he can see nothing right they do on any, and thinks it needful to oppose them on all. If the corruption with which he charges them justifies his present strenuous opposition, it should have made him equally uncompromising against them in times past; for according to his reading it is no new thing. The Port had his asrvices, and he worked well for his constituents; but without sufficient reason he has forsaken them for what he deems a more influential position. We think he made a great mistake in not saying as a soother to the elector’s of the district : <( It is true I am no longer your representative, but I intend to put a tool of mine in my place. He will do as I bid him.” The reply might be “ Thank you for nothing, we would rather choose for ourselves. You might have done us good so long as you represented us and had the confidence of the Ministry. You have thrown that away and forsaken us, and so we will elect one of the Ministry in your place; perhaps we shall lose nothing and gain something by the change.”