The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 451, 24 November 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1875.

Mr Beswick, in his speech to the electors of Kaiapoi, gave a distinct promise as to his conduct in the Assembly provided he is returned as a member. He " will make himself as " agreeable as possible." As he is seeking a seat in a House in which log-rolling is to be the order of the day, he is prepared to go to any lengths in order that the log may be rolled in the direction of Kaiapoi. There is no hesitation about Mr Beswick ; he is of opinion that only a local member can possibly know the wants of the district he represents, and that it is his duty to secure a share of the money to be distributed by the (General Government by any course which will prove effective. His vote will not be given in the interests of the colony at large ; but for the benefit to Kaiapoi which he will be able to obtain by siding with one party or another. Of course under these circumstances Mr Beswick should he be returned to Parliament, would go there " unfettered." That is to say, he would not decide which party he will join, until he has elicited from the leaders of each side what they are prepared to give to Kaiapoi as the price of the vote of its member. He observes, in the latter portion of his speech, that though he had been advised to " go on the provincial ticket " or the central ticket, he had decided " to take his own platform, and wished " to be returned on the principles that " had made this country so influential " and prosperous." This sounds strange, coming, as it does, from one whose avowed intention it is to practise the art of log-rolling if returned, for surely Mr Beswick will not pretend that this log-rolling has made the country " influential and prosperous." Probably he means this statement as a bid for the votes of those who will oppose Mr Bowen as a Centralist, and also for the votes of those electors who would prefer a local man to represent them, though they cannot learn which policy he will support. In fact, the would-be member for Kaiapoi has no policy except that contained in the sentence, " that he would meet on the " same platform the ultra-provincialist " and ultra-centralist and all deter- '' mined to do their best to carry on " good Government." Mr Beswick can be happy with either party as long as it is governing the country well, and, of course, giving to Kaiapoi as large a share of the colonial revenue as possible. If Mr Beswick can help to govern the country well, no doubt he "will be prepared to do so, but his assistance mustdepend on the interests of Kaiapoi being respected. In this manner he will earn the approval of his constituents and the gratitude of the people of New Zealand. Such are the opinions and professions of a gentleman who wishes to represent a most important electoral district. If the electors are prepared to return Mr Beswick they must have decidedly changed their views since they sent Mr Bowen, in January last, to the House of Eepresentatives. A late meeting in Kaiapoi would seem to show that public feeling in the district has changed. It remains for the friends of the Minister of Justice to show that they are determined to again return a gentleman who has some clear and well defined ideas on the subjects now agitating the public mind, and that they will not consent to be represented by any one whose political opinions are ' nil,' and whose platform is log-rolling.