POLITICAL PARTIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5320, 15 April 1878, Page 3

POLITICAL PARTIES.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —I am a democrat —a firm believer in the absolute right of the people to sovereignty; hut to confess I do not fully understand the meaning of those two great political parties that are said to be formed, or in course of formation, in this colony, about which we have lately seen so much in the Wellington Press. I confess I am inclined to look upon such a creation as of more than doubtful utility. It strikes me as an attempt being put forth by a few men to grasp the reins of government under the colors of liberals and Conservatives, whatever these distinctive terms may mean when applied to society and politics in this colony. One thing wo are assured of, there are to he two great parties. Of course they will bo great parties, because our entire population is nearly equal to that of a second-class English county. They are, further, to be most distinctive in their character and object, and of course to he marshalled under separate, leaders. Well, that is just what I am afraid of, and on the part of the people most object to; because it means, in my opinion, that we in this country are to be blessed, or rather cursed, with two opposing oligarchies struggling for place and power, while nineteen-twentieths of the people will not have a word to say in connection with either the Legislature or administration of the affairs of the colony, because the business of their , representatives will be to enlist under one or other, of these banners, and blindly follow their leader, and thus be led as “ lambs to the slaughter,” do that the real government of the country will bo vested in the few who shall constitute the leaders of the respective parties. • I therefore, on behalf of the sovereign people of this colony, protest against such an oligarchal system of government. I object to such innovations, under the' guise of ’liberalism, conservatism, or any other ism, and maintain that our representatives must he allowed the exercise of their own independent judgment in supporting measures, and not men. Where is the independence of Parliament under the

boasted system of party government ? Let measures, whether brought forward by. Mi*. A' or Mr, B, be the mntt > ; by no other course pf action can we hold the balance of power, and prevent the State coach being driven by autocrats and oligarchies.—l am, &c., Democratism