The Standard AND PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 254, 10 March 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1875.

“ 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.”

Mr. Dargaville’s address to the Electors of the Province of Auckland is published in our columns this morning. Mr. Dargaville wishes to become Superintendent of the Province, and with more candour than good taste, proceeds to lay his claim to that position before the Electors. Without proceeding another line, we most unhesitatingly denounce the means he has employed for the furtherance—as he thinks—of his object. If there is one weapon we deprecate the use of more tiian any other by public men, it is that of personal recrimination, or the reckless, irrelevant assertion which may possibly lead to narrowing the question at issue to one of personal vindictiveness.

Mr. Dabgaville begins and continues his address with a rhodomontade against Sir George Gkey, a gentleman, who, up to the date of our last advices from the metropolis, was not bondfide seeking the suffrages of the people ; certainly not as Superintendent. The most that can be said of him is, that he deferred to the wishes of a certain self-nominated deputation, and consented to become a ■ candidate to represent Auckland City West in the General Assembly. But even allowing that Sir George had announced his intention of contesting the election of Superintendent, it augurs a bad cause in which the chief element consists rather of accusations intended to be damaging to one’s opponent, than a fair outspoken avowal of Mr. Dakgaville’s own views and principles. This is aptly illustrated in the prompt manner in which Mr. Robert Graham vindicates Sir George’s honor on the seat of Government question. Mr. Dabgaville thus unwittingly invokes the aid of a champion in favor of his opponent on a subject which, even if true, he had better have let alone. W e do not want to know (at any rate we do not require Mr. Dargaville to tell us) what Sir Geokge Grey has, or has not done in the past. Assuming that Mr. Dahg aville’s catalogue of political sins is correct, what then? Will any amount of damning evidence brought against Sir George Grey, help Mr. Dargaville into the Superintendent’s chair? "We trow not. As a countervailing effect to the denunciatory clauses in Mr. Dahgaville’s address, let us sec what that gentleman bases his iwn claims to election upon. He says: —“I am of “ opinion, as already stated, that the “ time has come when Provincialism “should be entirely abolished.” Very good! But that’s an opinion that contains nothing new ; and Mr. DabgariLLE, like the greater men who have

initiated this abolition business, carefully refrains from telling us what he proposes as a form of Government, in the place of Provincial Representative institutions. It is true he believes that, “In abolishing Provincialism, “much of the Representative element “in the Government of the country “ will, of course, be swept away ; and “to compensate for that, it will, he “ thinks, be necessary to alter the “ constitution of ” —what ? The local Government of the people ? No, “ the “constitution of the Upper House!” Mr. Dargaville also thinks that little would be required to be substituted for Provincialism “ beyond a re-arrange- “ ment of certain departments of the “ General Government! (sic) and an “ increase of powers and grants of “ money to Road Boards,” and that “ it would have a salutary effect if the “ term for which members are elected “to the House of Representatives “ were reduced to three years,” and so on. But in the name of all that’s political, what on earth has the Tenterden steeple of Upper or Lower House reformation to do with the Goodwin Sands of Mr. Dabgaville’s election to the office of Superintendent, to preside over a system of Government which he says should be “ entirely “ abolished ?” Does Mr. Dargaville think he can gull the Electors into the belief that he will set ro work as Superintendent and bury himself in the ruins of his own castle ? That he will kick from under him the ladder which helped him to the dizz y height ? If Mr. Dargaville thinks that the day of Provincial dissolution is at hand, why is be so eager to fill the most important office under it ? But can Mr. Dargaville really be of that opinion when he says that he will “so watch over the interests of the “ province that, as far as regards “ finance at all events, its declining “years shall be less of a struggle, &c.” Mr. Dabgaville’s belief crops out against his inclination, and, knowing that it will take years to abolish the Provinces, a fresh endeavor will be made by him so “ that when the new “ state of things is being inaugurated ” (the abolition of Provinces and Superintendents) “ this portion of New “ Zealand shall not be placed at any “ disadvantage.” Huff and nonsense 1 How can Mr. Dabga ville do all this as Superintendent ? The whole tone of the address has more reference to an election as a member of the House of Representatives, and shows plainly how little Mr. Dabgaville understands his position and duties as a candidate for the Superintendency. Mr. Dabgaville also asserts rather boldly that Sir Geokge Grey “in “ effect, states that his object in enter- “ ing the arena of politics, is to bolster “ up, and, if possible, perpetuate “ Provincialism.” We believe that Sir George’s proclivities are on the side of Provincialism, but with him we, at present, have nothing whatever to do. Our duty is to tell Mr. Dabgaville that he will have to advance something far ‘more cogent than he has done as a reason why he should be elected Superintendent, before he can hope to be successful. Besides, Mr. Dargaville is a tyro, and inexperienced as a politician; and we have ever found that young politicians, like young parsons, are rather inclined to lecture mankind upon subjects they are imperfectly acquainted with — both adding fanaticism to their bigotry—and whose chief glory consists in running others down. In thus disposing of Mr. Dabgaville, we must express hope that Sir Geobge Grey, if he consents to become a candidate, will not tarry in addressing the Electors on the many subjects which are just now of great interest to the Province of Auckland, and the Colony at large.