THE COMING PEOYINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 74, 18 November 1864, Page 3

THE COMING PEOYINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

(From the Southland Times, Oct. 29.) TnE long-expected writs for the Provincial Council election have at length arrived from Auckland, and a^few weeks will decide who are to be our representatives: We have on numerous occasions pointed out to our readers the importance that naturally attaches to this election ; but so urgent is the necessity for the exercise of due discretion in voting that we must again revert to the subject, though at the risk of being tiresome. The new Council will have a great deal of work before it ; but if it succeeds in definitely fixing the powers of the Superintendent, and elects to the office one who will be content to govern constitutionally, it will have accomplished what will justly entitle it to the thanlcs of the community. Is Southland to be ruled as Canterbury and Otago, and, indeed, all the Provinces ; or is it to be burdened for another four years with a gentleman who evidently cannot understand how anything can be better than his undivided dictatorship ? We do not forget that Dr. MENZiES^romises to do all that the former Council asked of him if he is elected. He even goes further and declares himself ready to share with his Executive the delegated powers— -a concession which the old Council never required of him ; but we should like to know how it is possible to place much confidence in his assurances when throughout his term of office he has habitually broken the promises he made at its commencement. It is altogether absurd to deny that he has done so. Men like Messrs. Pearson, Chalmers, and Stuart, would never have resigned their posts in the Executive Council unless they had good cause for so doing. They had to resign, and have stated over and over again in the plainest terms that no other course was open to them because they were treated by the Superintendent as cyphers. There is no getting away from the conclusion. It is the word of Dr. Menzies against the word of all who have been associated with him in the Government of the Province, and against the knowledge of a score of impartial witnesses both in and out of the Conncil. It is not to be expected that Dr. Mf.nzies has thoroughly changed his views, as expressed by his acts since he has been Superintendent. His pride revolts at the idea of another occupying the post "which he has learnt to consider as his own, and knowing the strong feeling that exists in all. quarters, against the Government of the Province being a despotism, he yields everything. Only return me, he says, and I will consent in all matters of Government to be guided by the majority of my Executive. With the recollection of the " Provincial Ordinance before us, and the history of the last two or three sessions of the Council, we decline altogether to be thus hoodwinked. It is paying a very poor compliment to Southland to suppose that Dr. Menzies is the only man amongst the electors who ia qualified to act as Superintendent. To fill the office well, no great talent is required, and the kind of talent that is required is certainly not possessed in n.ny reruaj'kable degree by Dr. Menzies. Should the present Superintendent be again elected, the same scenes which have caused such disgust hitherto will be re-enacted. Everything will go on smoothly until some occasion arises when the Executive differ from Dr. Menzies, and then they will either have to give way or resign. Men of Mr. T-arlton's stamp who are only on the look-out for the tew pounds to be picked up by saddling themselves on the public, are not particular as to the amount of contumely to which they are subjected. So long as their salary is safe they do not object to eating large quantities of official dirt. It comes naturally tp them, and some rather like it ; but no one who values his inde-pendence-will submit to have his opinion ignored on matters concerning which he has a right to be heard. With Dr. Menzies as Superintendent," the only Executive which is, likely to be of long standing will be composed of Mr. Tablton ; and the condition of the Province, after a year or so of such a regime, will be -very peculiar. Now, it is very certain that unless the opponents of Dr. Menzies bestir themselves in the forthcoming elections he will be again placed in office. The lists of those who are likely to be returned ai*e pretty evenly balanced for and against him; but his friends are doing their best to secure votes for those candidates who are favorably inclined towards him/ and it is necessary that his opponents