THE EAST COAST ELECTION. ITS POLITICAL LESSONS. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 432, 28 December 1889, Page 5

THE EAST COAST ELECTION. ITS POLITICAL LESSONS. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT. )

Poverty BaY is a veritable "Garden' of the Lord," yet, like Hawke's Bay, it is slowly bub surely becoming the private property of a few absentees and speculators. One family has in its possession over 150,000 acres, and the well-known member for Napier has from 50,000 to 60,000 acres. Powerful baronial proprietors, .by their local influence, 1 get elected into Parliament, and when there they exert the whole of their strength to consolidate their possessions and perfect their titles. There is, therefore, very little real settlement in the proper flense of tho term, whilst the labour required by these large runholders is performed by landless Maoris or nomadic Europeans. .These latter have become veritable " adscripti glcbae," or '"belongings of the soili" and at election times their vote usually is at the service of their employer. , Inpast years vai'iousljovernments weroinfiuenced to abandon theirpre-emptive rights over these lands, and by means of complicated native legislation private rapacity has been allowed to acquire the best of them. When Ballance's Land Act, of 1885, came into force many of' these transactions were incomplete, and at present tbo whole strength of the speculators is being oxerted to obtain Crown grants for broad domains. Native land legislation is in Poverty Bay the allabborbing question, and public men are judged by the opinions they are known to hold in relation theroto. A candidate may openly avow himself an upholder of class rule, a friend of privilege, and a defender of unjust taxation ; yet if he advocates tivlirmte.d free trade in Maori lands he is sure to bo elected with a triumphant majority. These considerations have placed Mr Arthur in Parliament as the chosen reprefeentive of the people of the East Coast, He is personally a man who is well liked, ' yet ho has neither great abilities, eloquence, nor any profound knowledge of political science, but he possesses an ''incomplete title" to an extensive block of land, and in other respects is the model of a highly respectable man. . , He is an avowed supporter of legislation which tends to raise and perpetuate in "New Zealand a class of privileged- persons owning vast estates, doing no labour, while drawings princely revenues from the produce of their flocks and herde. We can respect Mr Arthur because he has, with no uncertain voice, indicated the policy he intends 'to pursue, although we believe such policy both pernicious and unjustifiable. - Mr Arthur's address to his constituents is pronounced in its Conservative tone. ( -He says j "I am a believer in the present Government with Sir Harry Atkinson as Premier." The addition of the Hon. Captain Russell to the Cabinet is also, in MiArthur's opinion, a subject for congratulation, and is an element ot great strength to the Government. Nowi we look upon 1 this appointment ah a distinct slap in the face to the great democratic party of this country. It stamps the 'Conservative character of the present Government with an indelible brand, and yet they pose before the country as Liberals :of the purest and truest character. To' give Captain Russell his duo, he is a manly, honeatoutspoken Englishman, but he makes no faecret of his Conservative leanings and proclivities.- '-, He believes in class privileges, and in -a working claas who should be kept in their proper position to serve and obey the dictates of thesuperior class, their masters. He believes that large • estates and landed aristocracy are strictly' in theorder of God's providence to create utperfeet nation,? and smnllblametohimforthinkingsoifhechooses but the people as a whole are of a totally different opinion, so why the country should he- oongratulated upon such a .man< being chosen to assist in guiding her destinies ■ and why his joining the Ministry t should be an element of strength 1 to them,, ia besfe known to the new member for. the East Coast, who asserts ib,-and the .electdr^ of his constituency, who appear to be satisfied with the proceeding.- ' -.' »Free trade in Maori land, when looked at from a national point of. view, has been a most ignominious failure. It has prevented the hona fide settlement of the richest lands in the colony, while it has < encouraged tho growth and development of a 'class o land-owners, bearing ' a remarkable r>resemblance • 'to ...the planters- ,*r of Georgia and>;South: Carolina before i;he ■ Civil War. It. hks been- productive of endless litteation,^an& has* nlledfctthe gorges of lawyers arid .native agents to' repletion, and has caused endless friction between the.tworac9B..<. J A -ju t»n« t tlu.-,-, Mr Arthur's election? declares' once tnore the? wish. of the Inhabitants' of Poverty Buy to populate; their hills.'.- and « valleys qwith oattle andrdheepj rather than human beings Asm ofcher,eleotorates,ino feeling of fpublie Bpiribi no patriotic pride, J swayed^he'HKnda that cast the ballots, and thus the peWle of New/Zealarid-, ot every electionrcdrf&hiie to » rivet agaim and.again the * yoke khaifcweiff hs them down. It is deplorahle'thafe^hisT»»*roV oflindividqal gain* sh'ooliT sway iforeveriour n*Wona,l an,dr< social* de&tifliG/ «3?Wb«pP 5 8iwfu$R« »p, for ihibutf Wools and eoflegos U planted the seeaso'ffc higher' life -^thei gerrast of' a^stobleir' thouglUi' t>< ■ l Jlapo, like the Klimnicn>ig,tai>es < al'rglM), Adorn* and Chens the.'wayjK^i*" . 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