THE REPRESENTATION OF THE WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 317, 9 March 1878, Page 10

THE REPRESENTATION OF THE WAIRARAPA.

O r—(From the Wairarapa Register, March 4.) It is stated that an election for a member for this district will yet be necessary before the commencement of the session, and it is therefore of course understood that Mr. Bunny will resign. It is high time he did so, for we must confess we have no confidence in a man who openly uses the position to which the electors have raised him as a means for obtaining a substantial bargain. It is an insult to the electorate that its representative should be ready and willing to forsake it and sacrifice its interests for the sake of obtaining a remunerative billet. So far as it lias gone the affair has been one of the most disgraceful in the political history of the colony. A member who had the support of a large majority of his constituency, who was always returned at the head of the poll, on the strength of “ services rendered during last session ” chaffers with a Ministry for the barter of his seat for a commissionership with a fat salary attached. It is found, upon examination, that it is necessaiy the holder of the desired position should possess a certain status iu society, for which his antecedents have disqualified, him, and a substantial difficulty therefore presents itself. The member, however, clings to the seat for the district he has insulted by his action in attempting to dispose of it for a price, and will not resign till something tangible is offered in exchange. So far as the affair has gone, the spectacle has been a pitiable exhibition of the motives that sway our public men in their political pursuits. Virtually, so far as any consideration for the interests of Wairarapa is concerned, Mr. Bunny has ceased to represent us, and we trust that should he not see fit to resign, he will be requested to do so in unmistakeable terms. The question of his qualification for the position he is striving for is of but little importance to us. He has good business qualifications, makes the greatest possible use of his subordinates ; and, moreover, the system of strict supervision which prevails in Government offices ensures accuracy in accounts. It is simply in the view that a representative is endeavoring to barter his constituency for personal advantage that we look at the matter ; and we but utter the wish of the electorato when we say we trust Mr. Bunny will resign, and give the district no further trouble.