THE POLITICAL VICTORY IN OTAGO.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1523, 21 June 1873, Page 2

THE POLITICAL VICTORY IN OTAGO.

The reasons for the keen political contest which has resulted in the re-election of Mr Macandrew as Superintendent of Otago are scarcely comprehensible without a knowledge of previous events, a summary of which is thus supplied by the Wellington IndegenSmt :— - The issue involves both constitutional principles and personal predictions. The previous election, when Mr Macandrew was returned as Superintepdent, placed Mr Donald Reid, his personal opponent, in power, and enabled him to obtain office as chief of the Executive. His new land bill, rendering the proclamation of hundreds more easy, and permitting the t acquisition of land on the principle of deferred payments, was a taking popular programme, and jMr Reid was successful in carrying resolutions to that effect in the Provincial Council. After continuing the struggle in two consecutive sessions of the Assembly, he finally had liis views embodied in the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872. Although liberal in his ideas in regard to the waste lands of the Crown, Mr Reid has not been otherwise noted for his progressive opinions. In other matters he was rather narrow in his views, very dogged in his opinions, and strongly swayed by personal prejudices. For some reason yr another in colonial politics he had a marked antipathy to Mr Fox, and it was sufficient to call forth his bitterest opposition to any measure if it had the support of the member for Rangitikei. His antipathies thus led him to be a sworn follower of Mr Stafford (Mr Fox's opponent), and when that gentleman obtained the reins of power last session, Mr Reid was rewarded by being pitchforked into a position which neither his natural abilities nor his acquirements qualified him to fill, and he was made Minister of Public Works. The moment he was appointed to a situation inconsistent with his dnty as responsible adviser to the Superintendent of the province, he was bound to place his resignation in the hands of the Superintendent — at all events the ordinary courtesy of political life required that he should have waited on the Superintendent and talked over the matter with him. However, several days passed over, and although a private suggestion was made to him as to the course he should follow, he failed to put himself right in the matter. This led Mr Macandrew to write a letter to him, couched in friendly language, reminding him of his duty, but he received this in a spirit of resentment, and left the Superintendent no alternative, if he was to maintain the dignity of his position, other than to gazette him out of the Executive. By the Otago Executive Council Ordinance the Superintendent has full power to appoint or dismiss his Executive Council, and Mr Macandrew in taking the decided course he did was amply justified. When after a brief tenure of twenty-eight days the Stafford Government fell, the objection to Mr Reid vanished, and Mr Macandrew, with a frank spirit above any personal feeling, offered to reinstate him as Provincial Secretary. The pride, however, of the deposed Minister had been too deeply wounded to permit him to accept of the generosity, and inwardly vowing vengeance he refused the proffered office. On the Qth of last month the Council met, and immediately thereafter Mr Reid commenced his attack, and after fourteen days wasted in personal wrangling Mr Macandrew saw there was no other escape from the dead-lock than a proror gation, with the view of applying to the Governor for a dissolution and -an appeal to the people. This was granted, and has proved rather distasteful to the Reid party, who seem to be afraid of the result of an election ; but under the circumstances it affords the true solution, as it enables the electors to stamp one side or the other with their approbation.