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Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 184, 1 July 1884, Page 3

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To F. Y. JLKTJiniuncic, Esq., (J-. MSnklsox, Esq., and \\v other Electors signing the above i equitation. Gentlkmex, — • In response to your very flattering and gratifying request, I have great pleasure m consenting to benoniin ted as a Candidate for Mana.vatu lit the coming election, I shall lake an early opportunity of addressing the electors at the various centres, and explaining my political views m detail. In the meantime, I may state that I am more m accord with the policy of the Atkinson Ministry thau with that of any of the numerous leaders of the other wde of the present House. Though that Ministry has no doubt made mistakes, I believe the leading members of it have on the whole worked honestly according to their lights for the good of the Colony at large, and that especially they have tried to promote the 'prosperity of the country districts, by liberalising the land laws, and. by their scheme for the construction of roads and bridges, the partial failure of which through want of funds is attributed to causes beyond the control of any Government. I cannot, however, agree with Mr Rolleston's projected scheme of perpetual leasing, or with what it is now the fashion to call " the nationalization of the land ? " Let the Crown lands be leased on the easiest terms compatible with due provision for survey and roadmaking, but, as under the piesent Act, let a purchasing clause always be granted after a fair proportion of improvement has been made by the leaseholder. The truest nationalization of the land, I hold, is to settle it with freeholder* m moderately~sized blocks, trusting; for revenue to the. development of the resources of the ] country caused by such settlement, rather than to rents extracted by a Central Government ' from a State tenantry ; I agree generally with the Native ; policy of the Atkinson Ministry, and especially so with Mr Bryce's proposal for the resumption of the pre eruptive right. ' V . ' I am m favour of Secular Enucation, and so long* as the finances of the Colony warrant it, of free primary education^ and m any cswe of free education up to the Fourth Standard. I should like to see our railways managed by a non-political Board, the members of which should only be removable m the ,?amo manner as 3 ridges of the Supreme Court. Other and minor questions J will deal with when addressing the electors face to face . If I have the honor to be elected, I can conscientiously say that 1 will endeavour to the best of my ability to represent the district as a whole without bias m favour of any particular part of it, while remembering at tho same time that a member is elected to watch ovf r the interests of the Colony at large. Your Obedient Servant, D. H. MACARTHUK.