Page 3 Advertisements Column 5

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1924, 4 March 1875, Page 3

THE SUPERIOTENDENCY. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND. / > ENTLEMEN,—Upon zmture oomHoraV_J tion, and after having conferred with my friends and supporters at tbosa points within reach, I have felt ifc my duty to put away all thoughts of retiring from this Candidature in favour of Hr George Grey—aad for the following reasons :— 1. That gentleman, in effect, states that his object iv entering the arena of politics is to bolster up, and if possible, perpetuate provincialism, which form of Government I am of opinion should be entirely abolished hroughout the Colony. 2. Sir George showed an utter disregard for the welfare of this Province when he offered, with a view to strengthening Mr Weld's hands in forming a Ministry, that the scat of Government Bhould be remored from Auckland, and when 'he asserted that he would yet see this Province at euch a low ebb that grass would grow in the streets of the city. .3 Ha has been looking on quietly for the last seven years, while Auckland has been suffering from neglect, the Province treated with injustice, and almost starved out of political existence, and during that time he bas not. manifested the slightest interest in j her welfare nor used either his influence, his \ pea, cr his tongue on her bahalf, 4. Ifc is felf, that even were he elected .SuNseriatendenfc he would concern himself chipflyj if not entirely, with largo theoretical questions of constitutional Government, leav- ! ing the present Executive to administer the affairs of this Province ss they are at present doing, and with : such wretched results. It is now a?certained that for the above reasonsj amonget many others, the candidature of Sir George Grey for the Superintendency will not be acceptable to the electors of the Province generally, and that, therefore, a certain political party on the occasion of tbeir recent visit to Sir George, at Kawau, misrepresented to Hm tfee wishes of the electorate as well as my intentions in the matter of this contest. An important question—the reform of the Constitution —is now occupying public attention, arid will have to be dealt with shortly by the House of Representatives, where I hope to have a seat. lam of opinion, aa already stated, that the time has come when Provincialism should be entirely abolished, and also that the lands of the colony should be dealt with by the House of Eepieaentatives only, all land revenue becoming colonial revenue, not only for the better security of tho 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 such purposes as education and the building of school-houses, 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 be swept away; and to compensate for that, it will, I think, be necessary to alter the Constitution of the Upper House, by making a large proportionsay tiro-thirds, if not all—the members of that branch of the Legislature elective, instead bf.'nominec, 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 tbive yoars, and if members of either House, who accepted office, were compelled to come back to their constituents for re-election/ as in England, in Yiotoria, snd 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 incresse of powers and grants df money to road boarJe. Such amendments of the Con Btitution Act: ai I have briefly sketched above, would place in the hands of the people far more real power than they now possess. Would promote pubUo spirit, of which we stand pjuch in need, and would impart to. public opinion throughout the country euch force and effect that no government would dare to disregard it. With regard to matters more immediately relating to the duties of Superintendent, you will remember that during tke last session of Council I joined in euccessfully opposing the Education Act introduced by Messrs Sheehan, 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-tux and man-hood-tax for education, and defeated the GbreVnment of Mr Sheehan on the question of; tb& transfer of the control of the police from the General to the Provincial Authority. I think the Thames foreshore should be given as an endowment to the local governing body theie. 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 leg b of a struggle for existence than the years just past. I shall also endeavour to see that when the new state of things 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 splendid geographical position ehall be so far utilized that the prediction concerning the grass growing in our streets shall be Bhown to be the prediction of a false prophet. 9 I am, Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, J. M. DARGAYILLE. Auckland, Ist Ma h, 1875.