THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 191, 20 May 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1872.

It is now definitely settled that the L’arliainent of New Zealand is to meet on the 15th of July next; therefore the time is fast approaching when members will be required to give their attendance. W ill our member—we have only one—tie in his place? We sincerely hope so, aud also that he will find time to meet his constituents before the session commences. Of the large amount of money borrowed by the Government, so very little has found its way to the Thames that it is absolutely necessary that the interests oi the district should be vigilantly watched hv our representative. We believe the borrowing system has been carried much too far, and will prove a great burden to the country ; but, as it has been borrowed, and is being spent, the Thames ought certainly to get its failshare of it. We were given to understand last session that a very large sum was to be expended on public works on the field, but the amount actually disbursed is very small. The grants in aid of roads are doled out in small moieties, and it is only after much dunning on the part of the local Boards that they get anything at all, and then it is thrown to them in much the same way that a bone is thrown to a starving dog. The longtalked of water works are still in embryo, and the miserable insufficient sevice by the pipes is all we appear likely to get, notwithstanding the visit of the Under Secretary of the Gold Fields Department of Public Works. Unless the wants of the Thames and its claims are vigorously pressed in the comingsession the district will have very little done for it. As we have said oil former occasions, the Thames is most inadequately represented in having only one member, and, as it unfortunately happens, that this one member is seldom, if ever, on the spot, the constituency is virtually disfranchised. What the Thames requires is a member locally connected with the place, resident in it and at all times accessible to his constituents. Mr. 0 Neill has many qualifications for a most excellent member, and is personally very popular, hut his time appears not to be at the disposal of the electors to the extent which they have a right to expect. In a new country we are not likely to find a class of men who can afford to give up their business or profession in order to sit in the Senate, but nevertheless a constituency should not be called upon to forego altogether the presence of their member them. If Mr O’Neill cannot give the Thames a greater port.ou of his time than he has hitherto he certainly should resign his seat, and give the electors the opportunity of choosing in his stead some one who lives amongst us. We observe that the recently elected member for the Waikato, Major Jackson, is about to meet his constituents, and explain his views to them regarding the ensuing Parliamentary campaign. The Major is only a new member, but he has set an excellent example, which should he followed by all the members, and esI eeiaily the representative of the Thames. The next promises to be a very important session, and many questions vitally affecting the weJare of the field will, no doubt, have to be fought. It is therefore most desirable, if not absolutely necessary, that the electors should have the opportunity of having Mr O’Neiil before them, and of heal ing what his views are in reference to the education question, public works, and a variety of topics which are pretty sure to occupy no little attention in the House. We hope before long to see a re-distribution of seats, in which the Thames will be represented by at least two members, and Coromandel by one for its own district. This, as we have pointed out, could easily bo done by taking away one member from Auckland, which would still be represented by two members —an amply sufficient number, in our opinion, especially as its suburbs, Newton aud Parnell, have each a member of their own. We trust Mr O’Neill will make it convenient to

curtail his ’Australian visit to such an extent as enable him, at ail events, to have one meeting with his constituents before Parliament assembles, Stff&lint their views on the many important subject's to be legislated upon tinny be brought before him, and that he may express, his opinions thereon. In the event of his being unable to comply with this reasonable demand, wc certainly think he ought to resign the trust which the electors have placed in his hands, and let them have the opportunity of electing a member whose business or pleasure allows him to give a somewhat larger portion of his time to the interests of those he represents.