The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1051, 2 September 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1879.

There is but little ground to fear that colonists will fail to recognise the good service that has been rendered to them by the Grey party, now that they are called upon to do ao. There are, it is true, a large section of colonists who profess to dislike the Premier, bat, whilst they abuse him, they pay a compliment to his ability, for they almost unanimously declare themselves in favor of his programme. Candidate* for political honore are the leaven that are trying to leaven the whole lump. But they will fail in the task they have | undertaken. They will not obscure the vision of the electors by their pretensions to favor the popular measures which have been brought before the country during the period | that the present Government has held office, whilst they wish Sir George Grey, who is known to have teen the chief instrument in the introduction of such measures, to be thrown overboard. Electors should insist that candidates should proclaim themselves in favor of these measures ; that they should give their pledge that they will support them ; and that they will not be parties in any endeavor to carry out the absurd proposal to insist upon Sir George Greys retirement from the Ministry. Let him be given the same chance as other men; let him be supported by a Parliament representing the people, and then he vill, unless we are greatly mistaken, give satisfaction to all, except those who are enemies to general progress. Sir George Grey should be gratified with the result of what is called his •'stumping tour." Ilia experience must have confirmed his opinion that the men who protected in the House, when opposing his measures, that they were representatives of the people were nothing of the sort. Even in Dunedin, where three out of four of the daily papers are opposed to him personally, he carried a crowded meeting with him, whilst Mr. Maeandrew did the same at Port Chalmers. So far, there is nothing for the lovers of good government to fear from the present election. The duty of cverj elector is to exercise the franchise with deliberation. The election of men to serve the country in Parliament should not depend upon the hasty or careless action, or the tossing up of a penny, and, in choosing, the past political acta of candidates, if they have committed any, should be weighed, rather than promises, which are political will-o -thc-wisps.