To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, July 30th, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 835, 3 August 1853, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, July 30th, 1853.

Sir, — As misapprehension em subject now agitated might prejudicially influence the elections,'perhaps it will not be unimportant to put before yonr rpaders the following observations. At' a meeting of the electors for tb'e country districts, held at the srhoolhouse, Porirm-road, the pledge now commonly requested of candida'es was given by Mr. Schultze and others, namely; that they will resign upon a requisition from a majority of their constituents ; after which "Mr. E. G. Wakefield required of the candidates the following pledge before be would consent iq pive his vote :— That if elected they would vote for a commission of enquiry into the claims of individuals for" compensation, who have not 'been compensated under the Scheme whrh hns so generally and justly been denounced as iniquitous. This pledge was at first strenuously op- ' posed by Mes?. Brown & Brandon, under a mi sap- 1 prehension which they, in common with myself and, I believe, a great 'many others previouslylabour^d, namely that the compensation intended was to come out o' the waste lands of the colony, irrespective of the New Zealand Company j but upon MY. Wakefitfld's explaining that it would necessarily be deducted from any claim which the New Zealand Company might have against the waste lands, these gentlemen at once consented to give the pledge required. Without approving or disapproving'of pledges, which seem to be the order of the day, I think it right ill at this matter should be properly understood* And it must be acknowledged that had the numerous iudustrious families, who had been sufferers in the real sense of the word, received, gay only 20 or 25 tcres each- of available land, the Cook's Straits settlements might have been in a better position at )he present momsnt. How raitny weald have been raising produce for the supply of the Australian colonies, who are now poisoning their morals and their industrial habits at the gold lotteries. - , I cannot conclude without complimenting the electors at the meeting alluded to upon the moderate spirit in which the busiuess was conducted, and the tolerance etioced towards all speakers, an example worthy of imitation by some more educated persons in the other districts, I remain, Sir, your*s respectfully, AN ELtiCTOIL