THE “MARLBOROUGH PRESS" AND THE PICTON ELECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 117, 16 May 1868, Page 4

THE “MARLBOROUGH PRESS" AND THE PICTON ELECTION.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sju,—Recent experience has convinced me that it would he an act of folly on my part, wore I to appeal to the sense of justice of “ the young man from t lie diggings, ’’ who by common report is responsible for the wishy-washy articles that form the weekly (query weakly ) iniollectual treat of those who still subscribe to the Press.

This young man has been pleased to express his views on the anticipated election of a successor to Mr. Adams, and out of the superabundance of wisdom at id- finder ends, has arrived at the conclusion that Captain Kenny should be the electors’choice. Now 1 have no objection to this, and for two reasons. Ist. The youth is not an elector, therefore cannot vote. 2nd. The influence of the Press has become so circumscribed that it is only likely to have weight with those who credit everything they see in the newspaper, the wonderfully curative properties of Holloway’s ointment not excepted. Whilst conceding the young man’s right to express his opinion, I most decidedly object to his bolstering it up by a mis-statement of facts, and it is with the view to correct the same that I now trouble you. He says:—“At present there are three gentlemen in the field canvassing, and who are ready to fight for the honor, should it come to uu election.’’ This statement as far as it concerns me is untrue, inasmuch as, although I have expressed my intention “ to fight for the honor, should Mr. Adams resign, yet. I have not canvassed, and for this reason. For upwards of a month I have been aware that Mr. Adams had hinted that it was likely that he would be unable to attend the next meeting of the Assembly, but I was also aware that bis resignation was contingent on a very limited number of the electors being in a position to secure the return of a successor, whose views on public matters were perfectly satisfactory to themselves As I have also for nearly the same time been aware that the aforesaid limited number were not prepared with a candidate who stood a chance, and had determined as “ the best of a bad bargain," to accept Captain Kenny ; I felt that the chances were so much against the seat becoming vacant, that I should most likely be wasting time, and making myself ridiculous, if I commenced to canvass before the resignation was forwarded to the proper authority. There is another mis-statement of small moment, nevertheless worth notice. The youthful scribe says ;—“ Sir D. Monro retired in accordance with the wish of the electors of the district, in order that they might elect a resident." This I deny. Sir D. Monro retired because his return was very uncertain, and his well-wishers felt that it was better that Sir David should offer himself to a constituency whose interests were identical with his own, rather than risk the loss that his failing to secure a seat must entail on the whole colony. Moreover, Sir David’s supporters felt assured, that whether its representative or not, he would always bring his influence to bear ini securing as far as in him lay the well-being of the district, and If assisted by a competent person as its member, the chances of checkmating its enemies would bo doubled. Mr. W. Adams, our present representative, was fixed upon as a person thoroughly competent; and as far as the registered electors went, he secured a majority of their votes, but the votes of the miners turned the scale in favour of the resident And to whom was the district indebted for this unfortunate result ? Who joined Mr. Beauchamp and his supporters in their cry for a resident 7 Who was outwitted by him and them 7 in short, to borrow the expression of the Press, —Who was mainly instrumental in bringing about the “fatal mistake they (the electors) made Need I say it was Captain Kenny. I now come to what I have a right to conclude are the best arguments the writer of this ill-advised article can advance, for or against the respective candidates. First, he tells us that Dr. Rickler

having been the first to “canvas" (mis-spelt), must not depend on the promises he has obtained. Now Dr. Sickler was not the first, either in or out of Picton, for Captain Kenny had secured some measure of support before Dr. Sickler had been induced to offer himself, and Captain Kenny had a day’s start of the Doctor in the western portion of the district. Again, we are told that Dr. Sickler is all that could be desired as a gentleman, but would certainly be out of place as member for the district. Surely, Sir, the electors of this district are not too degraded for a gentleman to represent them. The fact that Dr. Sickler talked of leaving for Europe, and has since changed his purpose, evidently foreshadowssomething sufficiently dreadful to have unsettled our Editor’s unpledged wits, and cause him to become so obscure that it is impossible to ascertain from his words whether he favours my pretensions or not, and his opinion thereon can only be gathered from his remarks auentthe “only othear candidate their is any likelyhood of coming forward.’’ [This quotation is copied literally, the spelling being the youth’s own.] Captaiu Kenny’s claims are in the opinion of this authority the best, because he has a greater stake in the province than either of the others, is more popular, and likely to be guided by purer motives, and as honest intentions. Admitting his greater stake in the province, it naturally follows that the writer should believe him to be the most popular, most honest, and most able of the three. In so believing, be only proves that he (the writer) is labouring under a delusion, almost universal among the people of tills colony, that' the heavier the purse the better the man. How far such is the case, can, by looking at the past legislation and Government of New Zealand, be easily ascertained, that Government and legislation having up to the present time been in the hands of the representatatives of the monied interests. If that Government and legislation has been, and is satisfactory to the electors of the Picton district, then the assurance that any candidate is for the time being in possession of more ample means than his opponent, should be sufficient to secure his return. If any there are who are not satisfied with the results of past legislation, they wou.d act wisely in withholding their promises of support until they are acquainted with the motives and intentions of the candidates, as propounded by themselves. Yours, &c., Picton, May 6th, 1866. J. Godfrey,