Page 1 Advertisements Column 2

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 105, 17 February 1871, Page 1 (Supplement)

from a book written by Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, M.P., setting forth his views on the Provincial system: —"The division into Provinces was at one time necessary, from the fact of the settlements being distinct and physically cut off from each other by the impenetrability of the bush and absence of all roads ; but the barriers.are now surmounted, and no sufficient reason can be found for keeping up ten cabinets and ten legislatures for a population of 200,000 souls. Such is the costliness of the Provincial system and Maori wars that the taxation of the New Zealanders is nine times as- heavy as that of their brother colonists in Canada." Such is the opinion of a member of the British House of Parliament. Since then, Otago and Southland have been united still we have in the Middle Island four Provinces and one County, whereas one Superintendent and one Provincial Council would be, quite sufficient to administer the'affairs of the whole of the Atiddl* Island. Each Province has an expensive staff of paid officials ; now, it must be apparent that if the Provinces and County were under one Government, there would be a great saving in departmental expense? alone. I would not abolish Provincialism altogether, but I would reduce their number and do away, with so many petty and expensive ments. No doubt there would be obstacles in. the way, arising out of so many land laws anjd bo many Provincial debts, but these would be more than counterbalanced by the solid advantages gained. If returned as your representative I would do my best to have repealed the obnoxious clauses of the Land Acts. For the benefit of the bona fide settler, every encouragement should /be g ven to him and to people wishing to settle on the land. I know of many instances of men of small capital having left for othpr places, from the difficulty of becoming landed proprietors in Otago. lam in favor of deferred payments. With reference to mining matters,. I: would, say this industry must be fostered to the greatest extent. It is of the greatest importance, and every exertion must be used to bring it to its highest point of development. I have been connected with mining interests for the best part of my life, and the gold industry must riot be allowed to languish, much less go down. I see no way of accomplishing this but by the Government providing a large water supply to the different fields, which, I must say, have been moat shamefully neglected. A commonage not having been proclaimed for Naseby shows the neglect that the Mount Ida District has received. I would support the ' appointment of a responsible Minister of Mines, who would have to aaeet hie constilujnts and give- an account to the people of the way in which lie had discharged the important ttuxt. Considering the very existence of the Colony depends on its gold mines, the mining interests i are of the first importance to the Province. I" deem it no advantage to bring immigrants here until the villainous clauses in th« JHuu- i dreds Act are repealed, and then, I think that ] & system of deferred payments would es.'cour- ! age the speedy settlement of the country. I- would be in favor of railways economically constructed, to afford a means of cheap transit not only to passengers, but such materials an timber, coal, which at present are imported, from other places. I might be expected to say a few words on the separation of the Middle Island from the North—a thing to be desired, ,if procurable. I. would, at all events,, do wiiat Is could to secure to each Island the spending of its own money, avid that the North be- no longer allowed to loaf on thß South. j I would also-very much like to a Bill in-! troduced by which workmen's wages would be I secured by a lien on the work done, and 1 liafeno Bill be passed by the Legislature until it I lias been submitted to the people. I

I hope to have an opportunity of addressing you;at greater length on the different subjects of public interest. lJut, if these -views are consistent with yours, and I have the honor to bo returned for this Constituency,.you will find my actions consistent with my professions, and that I will urge them to the best of my ability in their proper place. ELECTION OF A MEMBER FOR THE MOUNT IDA DISTRICT FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ENTLEMBN, I stated when entering upon the present contest that I came into the field with the object of advancing the Mining Interest, and from no- selfish, and personal motives. To that statement I adhere; but circumstances have within the last few. days undergone a very considerable change. In addition to the candidates at that time prepared to do batt e for the honor of representing you, another and tried old servant has put in an appearance, and now aspires to the same honor. Mr. Mervyn has, I have been informed, secured a considerable measure of support in the outlying districts, and though I have no doubt myself that had I gone to the Poll I should have come off victorious, stiU there is a possibility that I might be mistaken, and a probability that the splitting up of the vote* of lam, Oentlomen, Your obedient servant. JOHN P. ARMSTRONG.