CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 101, 11 December 1852, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times,

Sir, —Inasmuch as the Electors of Canterbury will soon be called upon to decide the Election of the most eligible man for the responsible and important office of their Superintendent, and as two Candidates have' already appeared in the field, criticism upon their respective addresses, will, it is to be hoped, neither be deemed ill-timed nor unnecessary. Mr. Fitzgerald has clearly defined the principles upon which the Government of this Colony and Province ought to be conducted, and candidly stated his opinions as to what he conceives should be the general policy pursued under the new constitution we are about to enjoy. Mr. Tancred, no doubt, believes he has done this also, " candidly and openly;" but, it is much to be regretted that he has not. Had he, in lieu of soliciting the votes and interests of his fellow colonists, by calling upon them to place "confidence" in him as an individual, requested them to decide the issue Avholly and solely, as he undoubtedly ought, upon the principles he represents, or the opinions he advocates, his address would have claimed a greater amount than it has of public attention, and, no doubt, a greater share of public approbation. As it is, the Electors are but little enlightened by Mr. Tancred's exposition. Among the many subjects of jurisdiction, now reserved to the General Assembly, with which both Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Tancred consider the Provincial Councils ought to deal —the management of the Waste Lands is the most important. The former apprehends that the passing of an Ordinance by the General Assembly, empowering the Governor to make such regulations as the Superintendent and Council of each Province may recommend, will both satisfy the requirements of the Act of Parliament, and practically transfer the management of the Waste Lands to the several Provincial Governments. As this is only put forth as an idea, without comment, it will be only necessary to remark that, even should such a power exist, it is highly impolitic that such an Ordinance should be passed; as it would place in the hands of the Governor the control of the Waste Lands, over which tbe Provincial Councils ought, because they are most competent, to have the most unfettered and exclusive jurisdiction. With regard to the price of Waste Lands, Mr. Tancred, with what object it is difficult to conceive, informs us that he holds the "high price" system of selling land to be sound and true; but adds that, as the general feeling of the community is opposed to such a system, he is prepared to adopt the principle of selling them at their intrinsic and marketable value. This is the only candid statement, or satisfactory opinion, Mr. Tancred has favoured the Electors with ; and even this, it would appear, is not his own ; but one which, for electioneering purposes, he voluntarily pledges himself to hold : at least, this is the only construction his words would seem to bear. Mr. Fitzgerald is not prepared to state his opinions until it be first decided whether the price is to be uniform throughout the Colony, or is to be fixed by each Province itself; it is to be regretted, however, that he does not state what

his opinions would be in the event of the abdication of their management by the General Assembly. Mr. Tancred, in concluding his address, remarks that he should wish to see the Ordinance, relating to the Assessment of damages sustained through the trespassing of cattle, placed upon a more equitable footing. As it is evident that this hope will be participated in by every rightminded colonist, it needs no comment. The position of the Superintendent as chief executive officer, laid down by Mr. Fitzgerald, is clearly the only one absolutely necessary for tbe requirements of the Province ; a mere Legislative Office, without any power except that which is derived from being the Representative of Government, can be neither a benefit to the Settlement, nor an object of ambition to any one. With regard to his proposition that it is desirable that tbe Superintendent be elected to the General Assembly, it is not to be supposed that he considers that the investment of both functions in one Individual should last for any lengthened period •, this would be neither necessary nor politic. His proposition is simply this—that as the Superintendents and the Councils of which they arc the head, are both powerless and useless until

their duties and powers are carefully ascertained and clearly defined, and as from their position the Superintendents are interested in obtaining the abdication of considerable powers by the General Assembly in favour of the Provincial Councils—which the mere Legislative Councillors would in all probability be desirous of withholding—it is advisable that they should be returned to the General Assembly for the first session, at all events, that the whole weight of their influence may be brought to bear upon the final settlement of the questions relating to the several jurisdictions of the General and Provincial Legislatures. To the Superintendents must the electors mainly look for the transfer of those powers, without which they will not and cannot enjoy real local government. Mr. Fitzgerald, without doubt, would resign his seat in the Geueral Assembly as soon as the objects for which he was elected were obtained.

With respect to the charge made upon the Land Fund for the purpose of paying the debt of the New Zealand Company, Mr. Fitzgerald satisfactorily pledges himself never to cease in his opposition to that most unjust and arbitrary tax upon the resources of the colony. It is to be regretted that Mr. Fitzgerald has not changed his opinion with regard to the policy of completing the Sumner road, and that he entertains some vague notion that a more easy and practicable communication with the Plains may be effected at aless cost.

In concluding his address, Mr. Fitzgerald states his reason for coming forward as a candidate for the honour of being first Superintendent. Firstly, that he has for some years past engaged in the study of colonial politics, and secondly, that since the formation of the Canterbury settlement he has been employed in the public service. The electors know well that Mr. Fitzgerald has profited much by these studies, and that he has performed the duties of the situations he has held both with advantage to the public and honour to --himself. Should this letter call the attention of "the electors to the several addresses presented to their notice, the object for which it was written will be gained; let them, read them with calmness and due consideration, without jealousy and without prejudice ; let no vulgar electioneering cry daunt them; let no recollection of past offences affect them ; for upon the men they now elect will rest the onus of much future approbrium or commendation, and it is for them alone to judge which of the candidates will be most likely to be deserving of the latter, consequent upon his talents as a legislator, his capacity as a man of business, and his earnestness in the cause of colonial liberty. I remain, Sir, Your very obedient servant, An Electob. Lyttelton, Nov. 29,1852.