Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 22, 2 August 1887, Page 3

nerd for a separate system of administration for the Maoris should cease, the Native Department be abolished, and our aboriginal fellow.subjects be placed on an exact equality with ourselves as to land, representation, and tha duties, burdens and responsibilities of citizenship. X would reverse the present and past policy as to Native lands, and give the owners the same freedom in dealing with their property that Europeans have. Native and European'f>rot>erty should equally bear the taxation of the Colony. As to dealing with Crown lands, the recent policy has had the effect of preventing settlers with means from coming to the Colony, and thus it has added to our difficulties. I support such legislation and administration as would both attract capital to the country and ensure the most rapid occupancy of the public lands. The price obtained is a secondary consideration to immediate increase of settlement.

I will assist in whatever is possible to encourage the growth of industries, consistent with right to the general public. While the conditions of our political system remains as now, I believe a Second Chamber to be indispensable, and the need and value of the Legislative Council were fully shown last session ; but I think its constitution can be greatly improved, and I would support its election by the Hare system. There is much need of improvement as to Local Government, in the direction of providing increased means for roads to open up the out-distriots. I consider the present Ministry has failed in its duty to the country in Finance, in Native and Crown lands administration, and in other ways, and I must oppose it as now constituted.

On local matters, including the harbor, telegraph extension, deeds registry, reading and settlement of Crown lands, Waste Lands Board, Native Land Court, and others, my opinions are unchanged, and my actions will be the same in the future as in the past. These, Gentlemen, are my views on the main subjects on which I shall presently address you at length, Meanwhile, I beg to submit them to your consideration, and .on them to ask for a continuation of your confidence and support. I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant, S. LOCKE. Gisborne, July 21,1887.

TO THE ELECTORS or TUB EAST COAST ELECTORAL DISTRICT. GENTLEMEN,— I beg to announce that I am a candidate for the honor of representing this district in Parliament. In placing before you the main points of the’policy I should support, if elected, I desire to state at the outset that I am opposed to the manner in which the political party that has held power during the past three years has administered the finances, and the Crown and Native lands of the Colony. It is admitted that the present time is the most critical in the financial history of New Zealand. To re-establish the prosperity of the Colony, or prolong its adversity, depends largely upon the Government that may succeed to power after the approaching general election. The extravagance and mal-administration of public affairs during the past years have brought the Colony to an extremely unsatisfactory state. Apart from all side issues conveniently raised by interested parties, the electors generally, no doubt, recognize the fact that unless the credit of the colony is placed upon a sound basis at Home, and an inflow of capital created, there is little hope of a change to a state of better things, A stable Government, conducting the affairs of the country, on a practical and not a theoretical foundation, avoiding experimental legislation, and exercising prudence, caution, and economy would, I believe, speedily restore confidence in New Zealand’s unlimited resources, and bring about an era of prosperity of a more abiding character than any yet witnessed. While the electors ask themselves in what way have the Governments of the past endeavoured to bring about so desirable a change, year after year the public debt of the Colony is accumulating—the last three years by more than five millions sterling—until at last a population of a little more than half a million have a public indebtedness of £37,558,553, necessitating annual interest to the extent of one million and three quarters to be sent out of the Colony. While other colonies—South Australia and New South Wales—rapidly retrenched when they found themselves involved, the Government of New . Zealand, notwithstanding a falling revenue, and the increased expenditure proposed last session still further taxation to the extent of £33o,ooo—the greater part of which would fall upon those least able to bear it. The cry is raised for capital to be brought into the country, and settlement promoted, but capital is frightened from our shores, and the settlement of the country is carried on in such a way, as to render success doubtful. Thousands of pounds are squandered in one part of the Colony in the Utopian endeavours to establish special settlements upon some visionary basis, while in this electorate tens of thousands of acres of good land are ofierd to the public on eucK extraordinary terms, that it is impossible for them to be accepted. This present year 129,000 acres of Crown land in this district were offered to the public, but were hedged round with such conditions that absolutely no security of tenure was given. Can people be expected to take up land and improve it when the very first clause in the regulation is, that their occupancy may be determined at any time, upon twelve months’ notice being given, and no compensation whatever to be awarded for the fruits of their industry, or the money that they have expended in the land. Reference to the condition alluded to will show that the mode in ; which the Government sought to administer the Crown lands in this district, is a mockery, ; and their efforts at promoting real settlement, i a delusion and a snare.