TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 79, 16 August 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND.

GENTLEMEN, —In pursuance of the anannouncement made by me when consenting to become a Candidate for the office of the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland that I would take an early opportunity of laying my views before you, I have now the honor to state that for some years past I have looked upon the Provincial Government as costing more money than it was worth, and this view I have repeatedly expressed to some members of the Provincial Council without being shown by any of them any reason to cause me to alter or even modify my belief. My opinions as to the desirability of getting rid of the Provincial Government of Auckland have lately been strengthened, as I feel perfectly satisfied that the good derived from its operations are not at all commensurate with its costs, and as lam quite convinced that nearly all the work done by the Provincial Government, could be dene better, more economically and with greater satisfaction to the ratepayers, through the instrumentality of local boards and local institutions, than by a Superintendent resident in Auckland.

In addition to the expense that would, in my opinion, be saved to the country by the work of the Provincial Council being done by local road and other boards, I believe that those boards would work more harmoniously with the General Government than the Provincial Government has hitherto done ; and as opening up the country is the undertaking of greatest importance to the colony, the best method of getting the work done should most certainly, in my opinion be adopted without loss of time.

And as regards the goldfields I entertain no doubt that the people on these fields could manage theii affairs without the intervention of a Superintendent not resident in their neighborhood, and that their local representatives could deal better with the Supreme Government of the Colony than a Provincial Government. With reference to the desirability of having the railways pushed on quickly, of course I entirely concur, and with regard to fostering the establishment of native industries, I presume I need only refer you to my actions during the last few years. With regard to the present Government, I believe it to be the most able Government that New Zealand ever had, and I fully expect that if the Government receives from the forthcoming General Assembly that support to which I consider them entitled, the native difficulty and all other obstacles to the Government will disappear. I am, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, J. S. MACFARLANE. Auckland, June 5,1873.