COLLINGWOOD ELECTION

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 95, 4 January 1868, Page 6

COLLINGWOOD ELECTION

We have been much pleased with a most sensible address made at Waitapu by Mr. Arthur Collins, a gentleman well-known to most of the Wairau settlers, who has come forward as a candidate for Collingwood in the General Assembly, in the room of Mr. Richmond, who has resigned. Our Nelson contemporaries supply the speech, and express considerable surprise at his eloquence and frankness, which they describe as combined with a manly and independent manner. The text is sound in doctrine, and we hope he will be elected, notwithstanding two other candidates are in the field. He says,—

“ That the time has come when every good citizen should put his shoulder to the wheel, and endeavour both by vote and voice to uphold a more economical and satisfactory system of government than we have hitherto enjoyed. Actuated solely by the desire to assist in effecting a reform in expenditure, and promoting such measures as seem likely to secure to us and our descendants real freedom and good government, I have ventured to come here to-night to solicit the honor of representing you in the General Assembly. My ideas on the duties of a representative, are, that he should give up all ideas of merely personal advantage, and should so identify his own honor and prosperity, with that of his country, that his reward should be the consciousness of having been instrumental in advancing her interests. I have the more boldness in saying this, as I really do not want anything from the Government. I have not the slightest idea of getting any office either for myself or for anyone connected with me.”

On the question of Provincialism v. Centralism, he expresses our own views. As to whether Provincial Governments should be abolished or not, he thinks, — * ‘ That we had better not be in a hurry to get rid of them until we are sure of something better—unless we are sure that in giving up Provincial Councils we are not giving ourselves up to be governed % a Ministry somewhat inclined to despotism. The time may come when the provinces, ceasing to be jealous of each other, when their land is all sold, when inter-communi-cation shall be much easier, and when the proEensity of some of them to run into debt has een cured, that we may all be able to unite in upholding one strong central government. That time is probably remote ; in the meantime, let us not be in a hurry to fly from the evils which we know to others, possibly worse—let us keep a tight hold of our liberties, and let us recollect that the only thing that the Colonial Government has done for Nelson is to saddle her with part of the debts of her less economical but more favored sisters.”

Referring to the oft-debated subject of the Ballot, he could not see any objection to it, but as it was used universally, from the Royal Yacht Club down to the lowest convivial society, it could scarcely be called un-English. “ The real objection to the ballot—the beauty of it to my mind—is that it shuts the door on any undue influence on the voters. Votes may not be bought out here —I don’t think they are—but still much influence may be used which were better away. For, gentlemen, I give the voters out here the credit generally of being an intelligent body of men, who know pretty well what is good for them—who can understand what a candidate means when he has a meaning, and Who can form a shrewd guess of the character and abilities of those who come before them. With regard to the Public Debts Act which is passed and can’t be helped now, I consider it a fross injustice to New Zealand and Nelson, and think it high time that Ministers should be made to understand that they must not pledge the country to such schemes, without at all events previously taking the sense of the country bn the subject. Is it possible that the General Government intend laying their hands on the entire Provincial territory, as security for the guarantee which has been given. I have heard it so stated, and if this is so, it must be looked to and strenuously 1 opposed. The country has now a debt of seven millions, and it behoves the representatives of the people toinsist on retrenchment and reduction in every department where that is possible. regard to taxation there is no avoiding itand I am by no means one who wishes to see the Government carried on in a meanand paltry way, nor to see the country destitute of defence. The question is, what is the most equitable form of taxation ? ' I should say that properly income tax was the fairest. 1 A" revise! of the tariff is probably necessary; blit is ahuhjeot bh which I hardly as yet feel cbmpfeteht to give ah opinion." : ‘ 1!

In.xepiy. toquestions, put to him, Mr. Collins said he was most certainly not in favour of nominated Supeiintehdents, who would only he representatives of the Government' who placed them. He would do all in his power to stop such subsidies as the Panama mail subsidy, which is so

costly, and far too heavy for such a colony as this to bear. The costly government printing establishment was an indefensible and foolish piece of expenditure. He was in favour of the Maoris paying road rates and being subject to the Cattle .Trespass, Act the same as other people.