Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 652, 14 July 1852, Page 2

TO THE ELECTORS OP THE PENSIONER SETTTLEMENTS.

Tamaki, Ist July, 1852. GENTLEMEN,— I venture to propose myself as a candidate for your suffrages at the first election of members for the Provincial Council of New Ulster. When this step was suggested by a deputation that waited on me for the purpose, I felt reluctance in placing my supporters in a position, which, at first, appeared likely to clash with their interests. A little more reflection, however, satisfied me that my first impression was an erroneous one, and I became assured that the Local Government could reasonably, have no interest or wish to stand in the way of a free and unbiassed choice on the pait of any of the electors of the Province. To put the matter, however, conclusively, beyond a question, I wrote to the Colonial Secretary on the subject, and I refer you to the answer I received as perfectly satisfactory on this point. Every Pensioner may now therefore feel assured that he is at liberty to exercise the important right of an elector in a manner suitable to his inclination and to his conscience, without any ap

prehension of the consequence.

Personally, I will say nothing of the gentleman — Lieutenant Symonds — already in the field as my opponent, who desires to add to his duties as a Pensioner officer, and a paid magistrate, the responsibilities of an independent legislator. The main question is not between us as individuals : — one of a far more important character has to be answered •• — " Will the Pensioners exercise their privilege of voters, as citizens or as soldiers ?" The answer you will practically give, excites an interest far beyond the limits of the Pensioner settlements. •Your fellow colonists are looking to see whether they can rely on you as fellow labourers in the duties of a representative government 44 — or whether habits of obedience, — admirable in a so idier — have become so inveterate as to destroy your independence as citizens, and therefore to unfit you for the duties of

electors. The existing law does not confer on the people the right to elect all the members of the Council, but reserves to the Government the power to nominate one-third, or six out of eighteen— of the number of which it consists. The proportion of nominees is large ; and it could never have been contemplated, that Government officers would obtain any of the elective seats. Nor is there a chance that such will be the case in any other electoral district in the Province. Why then should you set yourselves apart from every other constituency ? What reason could induce you to take a course so different from all others 1 I will not say that the best motives may not guide you to do ( so ; but such motives, you may rest assured, but very few will give you credit for. I neither say, nor mean, anything offensive to Government Officers j but I do say, and I maintain, that, when the Government has ; secured a full representation for itself by reserving the power to nominate one third of the Council all those who represent the people should be free, unbiassed, and independent; qualifications, which it would be most unreasonable to expect from those who enjoy both place and pay as Government Officials. It would be no more preposterous to elect me to command you in the field than to elect my opponent as an independent Representative for the Council. And as you, assuredly, would not commit the former absurdity, why should you stultify yourselves by the latter ? You have it intimated to you by the Lieut.Governor himself that you are neither expected nor desired to be false to yourselves and your fellow colonists. You are free to act as you think best ; and the responsibility, therefore, rests exclusively with yourselves. As far as I am aware, you are the first Constituency of a similar character that has ever been called upon to excercise the elective franchise. Some of your friends have misgiving as to the use you will make of it. lam not of that number. I have no such misgivings ; or I should not have offered myself to you as a Candidate. For myself, I place full reliance upon your honesty, judgment, and independence,' and I anticipate, with confidence, that you will not throw away your first opportunity of showing to the world that you are not deficient in these qualifications, so essential to all Electors. I have the honour to subscribe myself, Your obedient servant, W. Mason.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 28th June, 1852.

Sir, — With reference to your letter of the 25th instant, requesting to be informed whether the Local Government propose to exercise any influence whatever in the c ection for a member for the Pensioner villages, I have the honour to inform you, by direction of the LieutenantGovernor, that the Government have no wish, nor indeed any inclination to interfere with the freedom of election, either in one settlement or another. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. W. Mason, Esq., Tamaki.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE SOUTHERN DIVISION.

/^i ENTLEMEN,— I beg to thank you for VIK the many offers of support which I have received during the short time I have been in the field as a Candidate for the Representation of the Southern Division ; I now beg to retire. My reasons for doing so will be explained to you in Captain Porter's advertisement ; I will only add that that gentleman was the first to whom I looked as one of our Representatives, and his now coming forward obviates the necessity for the course which I otherwise intended to pursue. I have the honour to be* Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, James Farmer. Ellerslie, 7th July, 1852.