THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 19 January 1863, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES.

NAPIER, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1863. The late town elections evidenced a decided desire on the part of the electors to have a voice in the election of the Superintendent. We are very glad to note this, for we cannot think the present arrangement by any means satisfactory. That one of a small number of men should be elected by the majority of that number as the Executive head of the -Province, is a very defective arrangement, as has been sufficiently proved by the result of their first aud second choice of a Superintendent, and, as far as we can see at present, the matter will not be better this third time. The system which now obtains for the election of the Superintendent is liable to very grave objections, and that, principally upon the ground that it is a remarkably easy thing for men like Mr. M’Lean, with his charming manner, to seduce the unwary into the belief that he is the man of their heart, and the only one who understands the business of the country properly, or knows how to do it. While the people may, upon the whole, have a strong objection to the individual chosen by their representatives, they have nothing for it but quietly to submit to their fate, without hope and without profit. Nothing can be more reasonable than to suppose that a shrewd and observant man, taking advantage of the many petty jealousies and other little defects of disposition on the part of respective members of the Council, will readily get himself installed into the coveted chair; and when once firmly seated therein, begin to laugh to scorn his deluded supporters, and play the part, if so minded, of the celebrated King Cole to perfection. No doubt the supporters of this entertaining arrangement will raise objections to the admission of the voice of the electors into the question of the Superintendency, but for all that, though we admit that even that system hasitsdefects.yet still, bad as it in some respects undoubtedly is, it is, nevertheless, far better than the one which at present obtains, and which partakes too largely of the doings of a select party of cheerful friends playing at the well-known and highly appreciated political game called “log-rolling”—a charming and most healthy exercise no doubt to those immediately engaged therein, but to the lookers on savouring rather strongly of the disgraceful. We boast of the freedom of our institutions and of the glorious liberty of the British subject, developed under the exhilirating colonial influence into a mighty tree ; but, unfortunately for the full and practical advantage of that delightful state of things being thoroughly felt and appreciated by all classes, there is, in fact, quite as great a tyranny and want of liberty to be enjoyed here, in this most favored of lauds, as in the free and enlightened States of America, or under the fostering influence of Louis Napoleon, or the fatherly patronage of the Emperor of Russia. Who shall look calmly and dispassionately upon the number of highly paid, but totally useless, officers of one sort or another who fatten upon the vitals of the land, and say that the people have a voice in that arrangement ? Who shall discuss the administration of the Native question, and say that the people enjoy any control, directly or indirectly, over that important section of their affairs ? Who shall look at the party spirit, and sickening greediness, or the more beggarly feeling of cringing servility which marks the tone of the public press, with, happily, a few exceptions, and say that is the voice of the people ? Where is the man amongst us who is bold enough to call this freedom, or brave enough to come forward ami battle and war against such mockery of the most sacred and hoi v feeling that can animate bis soul ? Ah,

where indeed ? Not here ! Not here ! ! But where there is life there is hope; and we hope yet to live to see the day when the people shall obtain a free and entire use of their liberty, and shall wisely and with moderation use it; and when the Press—the glorious institution of the Press—shall use its great, its sublime powers for the maintenance of this happy state of things in a raan : ner worthy of its righteous and noble functions and privileges. Then, and not till then, may we anticipate the arrival of a cargo of ploughshares instead of bayonets, and a choice selection of pruning hooks, instead of the usual quantities of more deadly weapons. In those happy times, printers’ ink will be the balm for all the ills which flesh is heir to, and the acts of our Provincial Council the distilled essence of the wisdom of Solomon—but not before.