THE STANDARD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 102, 5 November 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1873.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

In fulfilment of our promise we reprint to day an outline of Mr. Williamson’s Nomination Speech. Auckland can boast of having nursed more Superintendents during the last 20 years than any other province in New Zealand; but there has not been an Election either within her boundaries or those of the colony in which the people felt such a deep disappointment at the calibre of the men as those from among whom they have to-morrow to select a ruler for the next term of office. Certainly there never was a constituency so profoundly indifferent as to the result as is that of the Electoral district of Turanganui. Accepting Mr. Lusk’s advice as the basis of their judgment the Electors look anything but hopefully to the future that has so miserable a past. They syllogize their arguments in the form of propositions founded on an inveterate disbelief of not only the powers that be, but also the powers that are to be. But, although the settlers here have nothing to thank the late Superintendent for, they have much to expect from the incoming man ; and we do not hold with those who think that of the three men now up for the highest bidding, there is little difference of choice. “Bad is the best,” say some, which we freely admit. But if the best be positively bad, the good must be comparatively worse; "and viewing the trio before us, as essentially of that character whence political evils come, we decide for the least. Mr Williamson deserves no more sympathy

at our hands than his compeers. Like them he has not thought it worth his while to visit us according to promise ; but unlike them he might, have returned from Wellington by this Coast, and so have dovetailed the opportunity of the journey with the convenience of addressing the Electors. Mr. Williamson, has patted us on the back, (in writing ) and promised to support the Petition of the Settlers for Compensation, but he did nothing else. He lias broken two district pledges before Election ; how many will he keep after t Nevertheless it is better to have an old steady-going stager with even two legs gone, than an unbroken colt with just sufficient soundness to kick the political trap all to smash, while he is jibbing down hill all the while. Whichever may be the man —Williamson or Darga ville—we must pin him to the performance of his promises as well as we can ; and of the two, we deem it preferable to be coached by a driver who has travelled the road many times before. There are two or three points in Mr. Williamson’s speech deserving attention. He will aid the General Government in opening up the country, and planting immigrants on presently unoccupied lands. He will extend the limitand number of local Boards. He will seek to “work in unison” with them, so as the better to enable them to perform their functions. He will see to a removal or modification of road grievances, and by “encouragement,” which is half the battle, will “assist” Road Boards in their sphere of duty. He advocates the purchase of as much land as possible from the natives by the Government, and the providing of proper labor supply, and the 40 acre system, to outlying districts. We have no further space at disposal, but taking him for all in all, we say VOTE FOR WILLIAMSON.