WHO ARE TO REPRESENT US IN THE NEXT ASSEMBLY?

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 333, 18 December 1865, Page 2

WHO ARE TO REPRESENT US IN THE NEXT ASSEMBLY?

The above important question is asked by a correspondent in a recent number of the New Zealand Advertiser, who, endeavoring to answer it in a satisfactory manner, strikingly corroborates the view taken of the subject by ourselves, and by our esteemed representative, Win, Colenso, Esq. He justly regards the present as the most critical period of our social and political existence, and quotes the words of Algernon Sidney, who, in sketching the ideal of a man for such an office at a cri~ sis similar to the present, says ;—“ He should be able, learned, well affected to liberty, one who will neither buy his seat nor sell his services 5 he must be free from the suspicion of ever having been a pensioner on court or minister j he should be a person of energy and industry, free from the vices and weaknesses of town gallants, a respecter of principles, but not of persons; fearful of evil, but courageous in good.” In illustration of which principle the writer proceeds—“ The General Assembly has hitherto been composed of men whohavebeen advocates of particularinteresta there has been a growing disposition to foster a species of spurious aristocracy,” and “*9 arr i ye at a correct view of our present position in relation to our public, and wouldbe public men and law-makers, we must take a review of the past.” After alluding to the obstructions placed in the way of the successful carrying out of E. G. Wakefield’s magnificent scheme of colonization by land-sharks, missionaries, and aborigines protectionists; the first war, and the introduction by Sir G. Grey of his Land Regulations, he adds—- “ Out of these Land Regulations have sprung up a squatoeraey, who at the present time have become so powerful in the General Assembly by either their own presence, or that of their agents, that all legislation must give way to their aggrandizement, to the great injury of the country generally, and unless the electors look well to their own interests, and return men to the next Assembly who will see that the country is not locked up, but who will by their enlarged views open the door for the introduction of population, they will neglect their own interests. It is not advisable to send to the Assembly sheep farmers and their agents —class legislation must cease, or the country will sink deeper into debt, and heavy and unjust burdens will be imposed upon the great bulk of the*people, while those who are reaping the benefit of soil and climate are strutting about as a spurious aristocracy—of all classes of m. n the most hateful, enemies to the introduction of population and capital, because their monopoly of the country shuts out population and capital. We regret that we are unable to afford space for the whole of the letter, but we append its concluding remarks, which we are certain will be endorsed hy every elector who has the good of his country at heart. “If, therefore, the people want fair play, they will be wise to select from their own body men ‘ who are respecters of principle, but not of persons ; fearful of evil but courageous in good men who will look to the interests of the many, and who will oppose the class legislation of runhoiders and land-sharks or their agents.”