Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 327, 7 December 1860, Page 2

TO THE ELECTORS of the SUBURBAN DISTRICTS of the PROVINCE OF NELSON. Gentlemen—At the request of a number of the electors of your district, I have_ the honor to offer myself as your representative in the next Parliament. I take this early opportunity of addressing you, as I am compelled to be absent, from Nelson during the whole of the present month. When the time of election draws nearer, I hope to have the pleasure of meeting the electors in the-districts, and giving them the opportunity of ascertaining my views on the various questions in which they are interested. The two leading topics which pre-eminently occupied the attention of our representatives during the past session, were, what I may be allowed to designate as " the Native Question," and " the European Settlers' Question." The first of these has been so thoroughly discussed, that it is not likely to form a party cry for the future. Still, a brief expression of my opinion on this subject may assist you in determining whether or not 1 am likely to represent your feelings, should this question be again mooted. By the Native Question, I mean, the investigations into the origin and causes of the present native disturbances, the step 3 the present Ministry have laken, and the policy to be adopted for the future. And here,l may state at once that 1 agree entirely with the Ministerial party. I believe the origin of the present outbreak attributable to the weak and vacillating policy pursued towards the natives by previous Governments, and to the feelings of suspicion and distrust as to our dealings with them (especially regarding land), engendered and fostered in their minds by men calling themselves Englishmen, of whom the Wellington party are the belted knights. The result has beeh the " King movement," and the " Landleague.'Which through the medium of W. King, has been thdimmediate cause of the war. I consider that the Government was right in grappling with this question at once, firmly, and energetically, and that the present'war, however we may deplore its immediate consequences, is a just and an inevitable one; nor would I support any Government in concluding a peace, until the natives are convinced of the power of the British, and accept such terms as will prevent the possibility of similar disturbances. The conduct of the Opposition, I look upon as a most shameless and un-English attempt to create political capital. While on this subject, I may state, that I would have given my support to the Native Offenders' Bill. The native policy is now embodied in an act, and a Nominee Council is to be appointed, whom the Ministry will consult on the management of native affairs. This is certainly experimental, but I believe it to be constitutional, and in accordance with the wishes of the Home Government. I now come to the second leading topic, the European Settlers' Question, by which I mean, the relations which ought to exist between the General and Provincial Governments of this Colony. This is a subject of the most vital importance to us all. The question has been initiated during the past session, but I am much mistaken if it will not be the rallying cry of the next. And in this, as in some other things, I consider a middle course the best, steering clear of ultra-provincialism on the one hand, and too great centralism on the other; enabling the provinces to engage in all those works of utility and progress (which are so ably laid before you in the Nelson Examiner of December Ist) by securing to them the administration of their land revenue, and the power of making all strictly local ordinances; reserving to the General Parliament all general legislation, and the administration of all matters in which the general public are interested. The Wellington party present to my mind the picture of UJtra-Provincialism; the Ministerial party, accused of it by some, do not appear to me to have advanced as yet, too far in Centralism. The Financial Scheme of 1856, of which the present Ministry were, and are, the supporters, is the Magna Charta of the Southern Provinces; no more suicidal act could be performed by them than to elect representatives who would side with the opponents of that scheme. The New Provinces Act has been the standard round which the contending parties have rallied. The Act itself I condemn; the object for which it was made, 1 approve. That object, I hold to be, to give to every district, when sufficiently advanced, the benefits of local self-government; of spending its own income, and making its own local regulations. Many of you, I am aware, were opposed to the separation of the Wairau from the province of Nelson. So was I j but you and I regarded it from different points of view. You represented the province from which an important district was separating, taking with it its own revenue, and, sorry to lose the handling of that income, would have preferred to keep that district, doling out to it its yearly allowance, and spending the rest for your more immediate benefit, I, one of the then members of the district, fully alive to the advantage of having the land revenue of that district spent by itself, and on itself, was still unwilling to saddle the district with the cumbrous machinery of Provincial Institutions, believing that the same object might be achieved by giving to districts the entire management of purely local affairs, without allowing them to be overridden by the existing, Provincial Governments. The repeal of the present Act, in order to substitute another of this nature, would receive my serious consideration. I have other objections to the Act, such as the power therein conferred on the Governor in Council to create a New Province. This power should be in the hands of the General Parliament, who would decide upon this case on its own merits, after due investigation. The number of electors required to sign the petitions is also, in my opinion, too small. Having thus briefly given you some key to my opinions on the leading questions of the day, I place myself in your hands; and, should you do me the honor to elect me your Representative, shall endeavour to discharge that duty conscientiously, both to you and the colony at large. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, JAMES BALFOUR WEMYSS. Nelson, December 3, 1860. 1467 XTLECTORS OF THIS XLI PROVINCE. Will fke pretence of consulting I your opinions and interests once in five years only! reconcile you to the return of members who, for the remainder of the term, after their election utterly abandon you? Shall those who admit that there are no interests to advocate—except those of party and place—obtain your confidence, to the exclusion of men fully as wise, whose experience has not bean corrupted by official or improper habits, and who are honest and independent ? Shall those who ignore Independent Legislation and totally forget the purpose for which they are elected, have another opportunity allowed to neglect your cause in either serving themselves or rendering themselves ridienlouß? An opportunity will soon be afforded for electors to use their prerogatives wisely, prospectively as well as for the present moment, by the return of men whose independence of mind and unselfishness of purpose may be fully relied upon. VOTE FOR ANTI-MINISTRY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES. 1479 FOR SALE.—One Pair of capital Working BULLOCKS. Terms liberal. Also, a small quantity of good SEED POTATOES. A quantity of BRICKS, to be sold cheap. Apply to G. HOOPER AND CO., Nelson Brewery. Nelson, December 4. 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