TO THE EAST COAST ELECTORS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 15, 14 July 1887, Page 3

TO THE EAST COAST ELECTORS.

/■">( ENTIYSMEN,—In reply to the above I xT beg to (state that before the last tss sion of Parliament I announced to you my intention of not contesting the East Coast seat at the ensiling election owing to causes which I then stated. Since then a large unmber of you, having by requisitions, as well as verbally, solicited me to allow myself to be again nominated as a Candidate, I have considered such as an indication that my services as your representative in Parliament for several years have been] appreciated, that they should be continued, and that the con* fldenoe you have placed in me, which I never for a moment doubted, still exists. Being intimately acquainted now, not only with the procedure of Parliament, but also with all your wants, and having, among other things, tending to promote your welfare and prosperity, undertaken and advocated with success—(l.) The throwing open of the large tracts of unoccupied Crown lands in this fertile District in such areas, and upon such terms, as may suit settlers according to their available means.—(2.) The amending, if not the appeal, of the existing Native Land Laws— which is absolutely necessary in a District like this to enable settlers who have incomplete titles to lands purchased or leased by these from the native owners to be completed, and the unoccupied native lands now 1 yin g waste and unprofitable to be occupied (3.) In laying off and construction of roads, not only for the purpose of encouraging the settlement of the people on the lands now lying waste, but more particularly those roads promised by the Government to be con-

structed for the convenience of these persons who have already taken up lands from the Crown ; I feel that it is a duty I owe you to sacrifice mv personal feelings in the matter, and not to willingly abandon such undertakings, if they meet your approval, until crowned with success. I therefore gentlemen, beg to state that I feel great pleasure in complying with the requisition presented to me, and now offering myself as a candidate to represent you in the next Parliament of New Zealand. I would have succeeded, I honestly believe, in many, if not all those things which I have referred to, if the last session of Parliament had been of the usual duration -, but yon all know that after Parliament assembled a vote of No Confidence was brought on and carried, after which nothing was done except what was necessary to carry on the government of the country until the new Parliament meets. As I shall not, during the present season of the year, be able to visit many of the electors residing in the outlying portion oljtbis large and important electorate, I propose only giving addresses in the larger centres of the population, but will, as soon as the writ for the election of your future member is issued, publish my views on those matters of importance—local and coloinal, social and politidal, which interest you. I beg to thank you, Gentlemen, most sincerely for the confidence, which you have heretofore placed in me, and trust that that confidence will be continued. In coming forward again for the honour of being your Representative in Parliament I feel, it is needless to say, that if elected, I will serve you in the future as I have in the past—honestly and faithfully—with no other object in view save that of endeavoring to do the best I can for the colony at large and this district in particular. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, B. LOCKE.