LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Southland Times, Issue 1596, 25 June 1872, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

i ON THINGS IN GENERAL.

1 Sib, — Riverfon, it must be confessed, is th« pluckv little centre of an enterprising settlement. , More power to it ! It isn't all politics and clod, hopping there either. The military—light-fan-tastic-toe — and musical elements, hold their own in the community ; not to mention that every religious sect in existence worth mentioning is there ably represented. The exhibitions of agricultural produce held in Riverton reflect great credit on that district, and may well put to the blush the farming population around Invercargill ; that is, if anything short of whisky could raise Buch an appearance in that locality. In days that are happily bygone, t confess to haying seen a country settler in t^e vicinity of the Southern Metropolis very red in the face while swearing with some vehemence at things in general and the Government in particular — under the stimulating influence of the appearance presented by the raud-embedded wreck of what was lately his produce-lac'en cart and | upstanding Rosinante. But that Svas the blush 'of anger. Now the blush of shame ought to adorn the fronts of the metropolitan rurals for not having a real Farmers' Association, ' without which, as a class, they may only expect whatever pittance of prosperity other and well organised classes of society shall choose to accord them. But I am rambling, or rather preambling, too much. My object in writing was to have a confab about polities — suggested by the perusal of your report of the public meeting held the other day by the Rivertonians. This meeting is further evidence of publio spirit on the part of the i Western folk, and, judging from your report of it, parties evinced a praiseworthy desire to keep their railway within proper bounds and secure unanimity at the expense of individual opinion. I liked Mr Francis's curt advice on this head. At that meeting, too, the gentleman who represents Riverton in the Assembly, tacitly acknowleged the teachings of experience. Would not reticence on the subject of Winton railways, however, be wise until he is in the mood to make a clean breast of it. From what he ia reported to have said, both in speaking to the tramway question, and in hi9 political address, it is evident that had he known, some years ago, what he might by enquiry and consideration have then learned, and what he now knows, his political conduct on several occasions would have been different. But whatever the deplorable sprinkling of results of political inexperience he may have exhibited in the past, he ia now, in the main, right. His address was on the whole an expression of political soundness, and I read it with pleasure, because I believe him to be a man who speaks and acts honestly according to conviction. This gentleman's address compares favorably with that of his senior friend in politics, the M.H.R. for Invercargill. The latter " went up with a moderate desire to assist the Q-overnment. Connected with no party, he looked at what was best for the country at large, but he soon came to the conclusion that he could not honestly fall in with the crowd of hangers-on to the Government for what they could get." Mr Calder all over! If the Government policy is wrong, Mr C. ought not to entertain even a moderate desire to further it. If it is right, he ought to support it heartily, even at the cost of rubbing shoulders with said crowd. If too delicately constituted for this sacrifice, he should remain at home. For a member of the legislature to say that he is unconnected with any party in respect of an important colonial scheme, were simply indicative of inexperience or 6tupidity. When such a scheme is launched, it is, I apprehend, the duty of each member to study it carefully, and then join a side in the fray, for or against. And should the c.ommander-m-chief endeavor to meet an unforeseen emergency in a way not quite in accordance with individual views, there are two ways of acting — to trust the leader's superior knowledge of the whole scheme, and judgment in dealing with details and emergencies, and stick to his colors ; or to join an opposition and use every effort to displace a party now regarded by the individual as incompetent. There is absolutely no middle course. The man who professes lukewarmness in such a case deserves rejection at the hands of every constituency. In the year 1863, a scheme known as the B. H. &I. Railway waa before the little parliament of Southland ; and with reference to it, the " moderate desires" of a party of which Mr Calder waa leader, resulted in that expensive mistake — the Mokomoko branch and jetty. So if our parliamentary pinks hold aloof from the present Colonial Ministry when the latter may be in trouble from the scrambling tendencies of " a crowd," or "sichlike," expensive mistakes must be looked for. When such mistakes occur, blame not the Ministry, but the virtuous moderates who desert them at every pinch. The Invercargill M.H.R. is a highly respectable man, but a dangerous politician. " Them's my 'umble sentiments." — Ever, &c, Gossip. 20th June, 1872.

| P.S. — The foregoing was written yesterday. i Have read " One of the unenlightened few's" letter in your issue of to-day. I know w hat he means, but, for one, did not view Mr C.'s remarks on the Bible question in that light. Mr C. is undoubtedly sound on the Bible [and education questions. G. 21st June.