THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 2

THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

(From the Southland Times, Sept. 20.) Now that the electors of the Province appear in some measure to have awoke from their slumber of indifference, ' ariel set themselves to the consideration 'of the duty which they will soon be called on to perform, it is interesting to mark those points which seem more particularly to have arrested their attention. Those who have been present at the meetings of the Elections Committee, or have listened to any of the many discussions hourly taking place relative to the respective merits of the various gentlemen mentioned as fit and proper persons to occupy seats in the Provincial Council, must have observed that there is a strong tendency to make the manner in which, the candidate would be likely to vote on the question of the Superintendency the test of his eligibility. Whilstwe should be worry to see the present Superintendent again elected to the office, and should be very, apt to reject the candidate who pledged himself to eiidextyor to secure his return, we are averse to allowing anyone the honor of a seat, upon the mere grounds .that his views on that point are sound. And yet it seems probable that in many instances votes will be given to a candidate if only he be a follower of Dr. Menzies, or not, as the case may be. To make this the only war cry, "without staying to consider what the personal qualifications of the aspirant to legislative honors may be, is the very height of absurdity. Almost equally bad wiH it be to allow a candidate to rest

his chance of success, on a too' general statement of opinion on matters'provincial. There are" several • piiints on' which each should be closely questioned, and rejected if satisfactory answers -are not returned. In "the first place, there id 'the "Education Ordinance" at present in force, and doing an incalculable amount of harm, which may be set against the smallest possible modicum of good ; an absurd and unjust law, which, fails, after all, to accomplish, the object proposed, and which nevertheless finds favor in the eyes of some. Next there is the " Roads' Ordinance," which, however just in theory,' requires important modifications in order to adapt it to the wants of the Province. Each candidate should be compelled to pass a searching examination as to his views on both these laws, which are at the present time inflicting substantial injury on Southland, by retarding settlement— by keeping some from establishing. themselves amongst us, and by making it a question with others whether it would not be better -for them, to seek other spots where the legislature has not placed such heavy burdens on the shoulders of the colonist. These are 'no cases ' of fictitious wrongs; they cannot be placed to the score of the : ordinary .grumbling 'which; is said to; be the birthright of Englishmen. They are cases of real wrong and hardship, inflicted on men who ■ have expended perhaps their all in making themselves a home, only to' find at last that the Internal government under which it is their high privilege.to.be citizens, has so deep a- regard for- the welfare of the people, that it is prepared to ruin them, if only it ban give their children the rudiments of education, or cause the rdads of the Province to be improved in the smallest degree. Let those who wish: for seats in the Council state what their knowledge' of the working of . these two ordinances is, and whether they think it possible to effect a change for the better in the future. Nor must they be let off with that admission. Let them show; how that ■ change is to be effected, and pledge themselves to exertion in the matter. We do not think that any man is entitled to the confidence of the electors who has not these subjects "at his fingers' ends," and who is not prepared to go in for sweeping changes. On such points as those to which we have above alluded the Council has great power ; but • there are others which will necessarily be . brought under its notice, and on which it will have to, express opinions, although the .ultimate course. tajsen must in a, great measure rest with the/General Government. It is quite impossible that things can be permitted to go on much longer in Southland as they have been for the last few months. We should rather say " standstill," for really the whole system of Government appears to be dragging out a miserable existence. Dependent at one moment on the forbearance of creditors, and the next on the generosity of the authorities in Auckland, Southland has been, and still is, held up to ridicule throughout New Zealand ; and in some quarters it has been gravely suggested that the extent of her mis-deeds has been so great that the time is come wb;en the people should be deprived of allpbwer, and be ruled by a commission appointed by the G-overnor. We are not going in this place to discuss the legality or even the advisability of such a step, but the very fact that it has been talked of, as suitable and right tinder the circumstances, is enough to show hoy/ low the Province has sunk. The Council will have to take all this into consideration, and although the final extrication of Southland from its difficulties must rest with the Assembly, it will be the duty of the Council to consider the situation in all its bearings, and also devise some scheme which may stand the inspection to which it will be subjected by the General Government. We can scarcely imaging a moment of greater importanceto Southland, or one in which it is more essential that none but good men should be sent into the oouncil. No man, in our opinion, has a right to a seat in the House who, has not a thorough knowledge of the state the Province is in, and who is : not qualified, we will not say to initiate k a. scheme of finance, but at least to aid' by his councils those who have the. brains to devise such a scheme. It is a mighty pleasant and easy method of ', getting rid of the difficulty to 'ilalk. of the rast resources of Southland' as. certain to carry her in saffety through the crisis ; to hint thai;, for the sake of the credit of the Colony, the General Government must come to the rescue ; to sit with folded arms, and await with serene composure the inevitable result ;■ but no Government will be willing to assist us without re- : ceiving an adequate security— without making us pay for the assistance. The less we do for ourselv.es, the greater the sacrifices we shall be called upon to pay for the services of others. . The more we expect from the General Government, the harder the terms upon, which help will be allowed us ; and if, when the Provincial Council meets, it shall become apparent that there is a lack of -common sense and prudence amongst the members comprising it, it is not beyond the bounds of probability that, by the .appointment of a commission, or by some other method, the General Government will take from us the -power which we have proved ourselves .unable to exercise for the benefit ' of the- Provine*. . .-:'