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Southland Times, Issue 1547, 8 March 1872, Page 2

The reply of Mr Calder to the requisition of his constituents that he would meet them and review the events of the late session, has taken many of the requisitionists, and possibly many others, by surprise. We believe we are correct in stating that Mr Caldeb at the hustings, previous to his election, gave a promise to the effect that he would upon liio rfitiirn *r*,eet thf* electors, and. as the phrase goes, " give an account of his •' stewardship." Apart however from the question of promise, it is on many grounds matter of regret that Mr Caldeb has not thought fit to meet his constituents. As a matter of courtesy, they were entitled to the attention which at least could have done no harm, and further, Mr ! Calder's utterances in the Assembly ] have been neither so frequent nor emphatic as to leave no possibility of doubt as to his opinions on many of the questions of the day. A public meeting as requested by the requisitionists was under the circumstances of the case the only method by which many of Mr Calder's constituents could become aware of his views, as but few of them are on such terms of familiar intercourse with him as to have learned his mind upon the action of the Government, in private interview or conversation. The course suggested by the requisitionists has moreover become so common as to have passed into a custom, and as such has been since the past session acted upon by the representatives of most of the leading constituencies. Mr Calder's idea of the consequences which may result to his constituency from the outspeaking of its representative is a somewhat singular one, and may or may not be after all his true reason for virtually declining an interview. Whatever may be the character of the Government of the country, we confess a disability to understand how the out-speaking of our representative can place us at a disadvantage with that Government ; and further the value of a representative at all is exceedingly problematical if those whom he represents have no opportunity of becoming acquainted with his views. It is felt at this time that it is a matter of importance that the electors of Invercargill should be fully aware of the views of Mr Calder in prospect of the necessity which may arise for giving utterance to their own. Mr Calder's reply has not however the merit of saying yes or no to the request urged. It contents itself (and trusts the requisitionists will be contented) with deferring the matter until a "convenient opportunity," and even then the electors are not assured that he will avail himself of it. Of one thing however they may be certain, which is that when Mr Calder's " convenient opportunity" arises, the electors will have the full benefit of ifc. The reply simply means, " When it suits me to meet you I will come, but not till then," and with this it is supposed the electors must and will for the time be content. Possibly j Mr Calder may at some time find that when it is convenient foi* him to meet the electors, they are not disposed to meet him. Inasmuch as the request of the electors to Mr Calder was a by no means unreasonable one, and in accordance with the practice among other constituencies, we regret for his own sake that be should have treated the request with so much apparent indifference and evasion.