CORRESPONDENCE. HOW DOES PUBLIC AGITATION RESULT?

Te Aroha News, Volume XI, Issue 1706, 16 January 1895, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

HOW DOES PUBLIC AGITATION RESULT?

[Under no circumstances whatever is the Editor respohsib'e for mutter contained in correspondence ] ' _

(To iThe Editor.)

Sift.—lt is a pretty well grounded belief in communities basking.in the light of man-4 hood suffrage, that if any- alterations in% their'political or social state is desired, or ;L considered desirable by a portion of the J community, that it is best to agitate, and agitate until this object is accomplished, or they know the reason why. As communities under the control of liberal and constitutional governments, are almost as likely as those under the cohSMof absolute monarchies, to get alteipSjpfe made in their laws not. agitated for, it is as well to exercise a little reflective reasoning and see if in those matters that Were agitated for, the results following have come up to or fallen short of the expectations formed or anticipated. Often in priyate life have the best 'of men and women been deceived in the working out o£ a long cherished desire, or pet policy, so- completely opposite to, so entirely varience with, have the results been to what their mind foreshadowed. It is exactly the same in matters political, as a very cursory glance over the history of . New Zealand will evidence, for in severer, matters of great, importance, the subjee! '• have opened up lines never expected. The abolition of the Provincial form of Government, as being cumbrous, and expensive, was agitated for and carried, yet its abolition was to my] mind how certainly a not unqualified blessing, for under it public speech, was encouraged, and the men of New Zealand, were capable of. higher expansion of knowledge, and greater dignity, through subjects of public importance being more fully discussed than ;they are underthe present laws, and if ever the present party in powqr should bring forward and. , compell to be carried, such a. measure as mooted, that 'of stoping the addresses of MALE, candidates at the time of election—it will be an evil day for New Zealand and the world. The system is bad enough in the election of members of County Councils, Koad Boards, and. other bodies, where there is virtualy no expression of intention on the part of the candidate,, except that he -will do the best he can, but to adopt the J. same principle of action in the election of - M.H.E.’s would be deplorable, the people would lose their position, and the M.H.E.’s. themselves, more than ever in the power of some ambitious ministry. The evil would be intensified and aggreyated by the-pres-ent. rule in the Hopse, of time duration of speeches, for no matter how important the subject, how much could; be said-upon itby an orator, however great his qualification

may be, he must bring everything under the time limit. This rule emanates; from the ridicilous stonewalling of past session. Another subject over which there was a. great agitation in New Zealand- and elsewhere, was the extension of the Franchise .to females. What are the results accruing so far. The soul reserves of the body politic have ,been let out only to multiply votes. ‘ The swing of the- political pendulum in -its.eonrse, at time of eVery household, will vibrate to power left, like the reserves on a battlefield, by most, -great, commanders considered -of so much importance. - Apportion of the females have, had their wish gratified of being tacked cm to the political exerd her privilege or lose it. ’ .But s^ has ' her, at one time) grand “position cf'pl neutrality and independence. The ch has hardly yet begufi, ; So . far expret • brings me to the local object of tliis letter''

to bring under ; notice the agitation that Tyfts fostered here souks time back againstnominated; members of'trust Boards, and' the Hot Springs Domain Board more particularly. Nominated members -were considered by a party too free from theinfluence of people outside, to wit, the socalled public, that if, instead of being nominated by a superior power, the members: had to be elected by this public. The men so elected would have to do what theirelectors wished, as no body of electors are? unanimous in what theywaht on everything , it was a difficult problem to solve, to attempt to serve so many masters. Yet strange to say, some of the members already in pomtion by nomination were especially desirous of the change, to change their independent and continuous position for the jijpcertainity attending an election, servility for independence. A most peeuliarmcongruity. of ideas. What has been theresult? changed the source of their authority freedom of action for servihty Selectors, they soon found the problem, they had attempted to solve, an impossibility. [That of running to the, electors for their opinion as to what should be done, so practically'ignored them. But as the electors are in the position now of “ men who place others in authority, and are, prepared to abide consequences, their- °? 1 4> 0n g, oes for Nothing, because they, bvr e . e ? * lon ’ bave P a ded with the right of over—sight. Very few bf the electors would have--placed the offices jwhere they' are; few of them consider the swimming bath altogether desirable; jfew would have cut down, so many trees* but whether these matters; have been done Jor the best or not. the; elecmng public hate no right to interfere. - 8 “ a lUUC.hLßdilfir.and far more iuir portant adaptation .of the principles in- ? sfcion laying in abeyance in New Zealand, to wit, the substitution of ~-, elected for- nominated Governors of the. ' to notice the resetsevolved, with 4 person who has been*' pointed to act either for or againsC® you have some right to- differ, but with a-virfnnlbplfn^f^Ui-v^eC^’'“l 80 e l ec fi n g yOU nidi f o °. rfe \ t . «ght to differ from Some 5 tbi i pl; l to abide ‘ b y the results. f el( i ctors of New Zealand made M HTt i e n^Sr erVant * wheE alluding to M.HJc. s, a public-servant, for IVf TT T? » H to b bll m se . rvilit y to their consubSrrii of fit* and utterly ole Son XT elective public havo to “ £ jonty of the M.H.E.s assembted tif-Wd-lington last -session-, towards thought as little of their constit'm " their wishes, aa they did of the inhabitants of Patagonia i* the Spicelslauds A.dfbn Ministry themselves 4 nd P Q surroundings of their net soha aß ?i Eat j n " vances to Scfctlers Act -A

-re you Furnishing- 9 Tho v„ . , cheapest stock is at^^l'pennlt’ P?. st ing Warehouse, AucMaL T P m B Furnish * to maintain T? nson -nel-lo lo'ng for ing goods. He va * ue in furnish-^ kind of Furniture, Carnets o°*? ?~ ea P» ald Linoleum, Bedding Iron Bo^ a J Pe l ® < l uares » Wire Matt resseTl^nishi^n^ 8 * Woven Bamboo Blinds. ‘j?L furn? c \P lapery and throughout, and sends an house alogue to intending buyers U w/ ed f Ca, \' Tonson Gaelics: Ouppii e+" r ?^ e *° d - Goods carofully packS?’ Auckland -