ELECTORAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4605, 23 December 1875, Page 2

ELECTORAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SEW ZEALAND TIMES. Bin, —I admire the .'spirit of your article yesterday as to the Hutt election, but, if you will allow me to say so, I think your feelings have overpowered your judgment. You ascribe to Mr. Fitzherbert great political s.igacity, and then show that the Public Revenues Act —which you ascribe to him—paved the way for the abolition of provincialism, which lie arduously fought against, and will again if lie and other opponents of the Government see any chance of success. You rightly say he would have been thought hotter of if he had not fought so zealously for this province ; but zeal for their districts has not brought other politicians into disrepute, and caused every act of their's to be looked on with suspicion. As to the consolidation of loans, Mr. Fitzherbert was handsomely paid for his trip, and had a bonus of some thousands awarded him on his return, so I suppose he did tlie State good service. 13ut I remember Mr. Waterhouse stating that ho could scarcely believe the news of the consolidation, and found himself unexpectedly several thousand pounds richer ; or in other words, the colony was made several thousands of pounds poorer by the bungling way in which the work was done. lam of opinion that the action of Mr. Fitzherbert and his party in 1572, when they turned out the Fox-Vogel Ministry, and last session when they obstructed public business to their utmost, was most mischievous. Further, that he will again ally himself witli any faction that will obstruct the Government, whether such be a separation league or a Perpetuation of Useless Offices Society. Holding these views, I think Mr. Hutchison has acted patriotically in opposing Mr. Fitzherbert, and thus giving those who do not approve of Mr. Fitzherbert's conduct an opportunity of recording their protest at the ballot box. Mr. Hutchison is no recruit; he is an able and well tried man, and, if less honest, could have been in power, and the recipient of newspaper laudation. I will add a few lines as to the city candidates. No one can doubt that Messrs. Pearee and Hunter will, as heretofore, honestly support the Government. Mr. Hunter, I admit, stuck to the provinces while they lived, but will not fight for them now they are defunct, and no one doubts his or his colleague's word. Mr. Travers, on the other hand, is lavish in promises. He promises this, he promises that, And not one promise can fulfil ; It's shocking how his tongue runs on. While all the while 'tis lying still. His fudged up charge of injustice to Wellington, and his assertion that he did not oppose the Government policy of IS7O have beeu exposed, aud now his friend, the Post, admits that Mr. Travers has little confidence in the ability of the Ministry, notwithstanding his laudation of the Minister for Public Works. The question is simply this: Will the people of Wellington, the Hntt, and Country Districts support Ministerialists or opponents ? If they do their duty they will cast aside personal feeling, and vote for the men who will honestly support the policy of peace and progress, and are independent of office or other favors. I would like to ask Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Travers, and the Post how the Ministry could settle people on the land while it was held by the provincial authorities ? and would suggest that in order to give the Miuistry a chance of doing so, the land should be roturned to their control.—l am, &c, Nix.