Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1922, 2 March 1875, Page 3

33i8 SUPERINTENBENCY. | TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND. | \ ENTLEMEN,—Upon mature con.idtra- j VX tion, and after having conferred with my friends and supporters at tbosn points ■within reach, I havo felt it my duty to put away all thoughts of retiring from this Candidature in favour of fir" George Grey—and for tho following reasons :— 1. That gentleman, in effect, Btale3 that his object in enterics the arena of politics is to bolster up, and if possible, perpetuate provincialism, which form of Government I am of opinion ebould be entirely abolished throughout the Colony. 2. Sir George showed an utter disregard for the welfare of this Province when he offered, with a view to strengthening Mr WelaV hands in forming a Ministry, thai; the s?at of Government should be removed from Auckland, and whon ha assertel that he would yet see this Province at euch a low ebb that; grass would grow ia the streets of the ci«y. .3 He has bien looking on quietly for the last seven years> while Auckland has been suffering from neglect, the Province treated ■with injustice, and tlmosf; Btarved out of political existence, and during that lime ho has not, manifested the slightest interest in hrr welfare uor used either his iufluence. his pea. or his tongue on her bebalf. 4. It is feU, that even were ha elected Superintendent he would concern himself chiefly, if not entirely, with large theoretical questions of constitutional Government, leaving the present Executive to administer tbe affairs of this Province as they are at present doing, and with su-lx wretched results. It is now ascertained that for the absve reasonS; amongst many others, tbo candidature of Sic George Grey for the Superintendency will not be acceptable to the electors of the Province generally, and that, therefore, a certaiu political party on the occasion of their recent visit to Sir George, at Kawau, misrepresented to him tke wishes of the electorate as well as my intentions in the matter of this contest. An irnportaat question—the reform of the Constitution—is, now occupying public attention, and will have to be dealt with Bhortly by the House of Representatives, where I hopo to have a seat. lam of opinion, as already stated, that the time has come when Provincialism should ba entirely abolished, and al«o that the,lands of the colony should be dealt with by the House of Repi eaenfcatives only, all land revenue becoming colonial revenue, net only for the better security of the public creditor, but also in order to facilitate the more equitable distribution of any surplus funds, after providing for loans, that may be available for suoh-purposes as education and the buildiag of sdhool-hoases, for public work?, grants in aid to road boards* &c.

In abolishing Provincialism, much of the representative element in the Government of the country will of course ba swept away j and to compensate for that, it will, I think, be necessary to alter the Constitution of the Upper House, by making a large proportion— aay tfro-thirds, if not all —the members of that branch of the Legislature elective, instead of nominee, as at present. I think, also, that it would have a salutary effect if the term fcr which members are elected to the House of Representatives, were re duced to threo years, and if members of either House, who accepted office, were compelled to come back to their constituents for re-election," aa in England, in Yic!oria, and elsewhere.

As to -what should be substituted for Provincialism, I think little will be required beyond a re«arrangment of certain departments of the General Government, and an increase of powers and grants of money to road boards. Such amendments of the Oca •titution Act a* I have briefly sketched above, would place in the hands of t!ie people far more real power than they now possess. Would promote pubHc spirit, of which we stand much ia need, and would impart to public opinion throughout the country such* force and effect that no government. wouLl d»-^e to disregard it. WFitfi regard to matters more immediately relating to the duties of Superintendent, yeu will remember that during the last session of Council I joined in successfully opposing the Education Act introduced by Messrs Shcehan, Dignan, and Reed, which Act proposed to abolish the Central Board of Education and vest the powers in the hand of a commissioner to be appointed by the Provincial Council. I also opposed the present house-tax and man' hood-tax for education, and defeated the Government of Mr Sheehan on the question of the traaßfer of the control of the police from the General to the Provincial Authority. I think the Thames foreshore should be given as an eadowrnent to the local governing body tbei c. If elected, I shall endeavour to cooperate in a friendly spirit with the General Government, and bo watch over the interests of the Province that, as regards finance at all events, its declining years shall be le-a of a struggle for existence than the years just past. I shall also endeavour to see that when the new state of thiugs is being inaugurated this portion of New Zealand shall not be placed at any disadvantage as compared with the South, and that its great natural resources and fplendid geographical position shall be sa far utilized that the prediction concornipg the grass growing in our streets shall be shown to be tbe prediction of a false prophet. I.am, Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, .-■■'■' J. M. DAEGAYILLB. Auckland, Ist Sla li, 1875.