ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 481, 13 November 1877, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL. Sie, —As the political element at present is exceedingly disturbed, and omens of evil are apparent, if, is urgently desirable that people everywhere in the Colony who wish for its pr< sperity—should take an int. rest, in the politicd matters of this critical time, and give expression to their se~.timenf«, espec'ally with reference to certain members who held office in the la*e Ministry, and who have made theinsuves notorious by obstructing, in a quibbling manner, the more important business of the Hous", and showing spiteful feelings towards the present Ministry. [ am exceedingly glad to hear that measures are being taken in Dunedin (and it s to be hoped that Oamaru and other : stricts will follow so good an example) oppose those obstructive members who, f eir past political procedure, have not y failed to reflect credit on their consents, but have been weighed in the uice of opinion and found wanting, ir former administration serving for f of their incapacity to guide the : of government. We should have 'lit that they would have derived mt satisfaction from former evil now wishing to impede the adit of public business. It :y to behold ic.uividu.als who are jrossed with their own selfish-

ness, and have lost all public confidence, presuming to gain place and power to carry out their own designs, and occupy the seats of worthier men. Surely the Opposition are too hasty in prejudging in accordance with their own private sentiments, and pretending want of confidence in men who at least hitherto are freer from any imputation of bribery and corruption than are those who would bring in the vote of want of confidence. One of the evils attending a representative Government consists in the constituents not exercising a sufficiently controlling power over their representatives, who should be bound to consult them and act in full accordance with their wishesf wliic'i would prove a most elFoctuaLjLireventive against the too prevalent evil of party desertion. The case of A. J. Burns, and such others as belong to his class, is a proof of the necessity that tins power of control should be more exercised. Men who change party, and vote contrary to the wish of their constituents, forward sc'.iemes other than those for which they were elected, and virtually have their seats forfeited. I regret that from the barrenness of correspondence on this subjct there is a great jip;>e;u\ince of nouc'ialanee upon men and measures calculated to have the greatest inllu. nee for good or evil U[on the future prospects of tic Colonies, and would like to find a greater interest manifested upon matters wliie'.i concern the welfare of all. IlUll, itc, WILFKED.