Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1927, 8 March 1875, Page 4

THE SUPERINTENDED CV. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PEOVINCB OF AUCKLAND. g^y ENTLEMEN.—Upon mature'consiiiera\3f tion, and after having conferred with my friends and supporters at thooo poiutß within reach, I have felt it my duty to put away all thoughts of retiring from this Candidature in favour of ?ir George Grey—and for the'following reasons :— 1. That gentleman, ia effect, states that his object in entering the arena of polities 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* hanfls in forming a Ministry, that; the §eat of Government should be removed from Auckland, and when he asserted that he would yet see this Province at such a low ebb that grass would grow in the streets of the city. .3 He has been looking on quietly for the last seven years, while Auckland has been suffering from neglect, the Px-ovihce treated with injustice, and almost starved out of political existence, and during that time he has not. manifested the slightest interest in her welfare nor used either his ipflaence. his pen> or his tongue on her behalf. 4. It is felt, that even were he elected Superintendent he would concern himself chiefly, if not entirely, with large theoretical questions of constitutional Government, leaving the present Executive to administer the affairs of this Province as they are at present doing, and with such wretched results. It is now ascertained that for the above reasons, 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 tlaeir recent visit to Sir George, at Kawau, misrepresented to him tke wishea 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 pvtblic attention, and will have to be dealt with shortly by the House of Representatives, where I hope to have a seat. lam of opinion, as already *tated, that the time has come when Provincialism should bs entirely abolished, and also that the lands of the colony should be dealt with by the House of Repiesentatives only, all land revenue becoming colonial revenue, not 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 such purposes as education and the building of school-houses, for public worki, 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 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 for which members are elected to the House of Representatives, were reduced to three years, and if members of either House, who accepted office, were compelled to come back to their constituents for re-election, as in England, in Victoria, and elsewhere. As to what should be substituted for Provincialism, I think little will be required beyond a rearrangment of certain departments of the General Government, and an increase of powers and grants of money to road boarcs. Such amendments of the Con •titutioa Act as I have briefly sketched above, would place in the hands of the people far more real power than they now possess. Would promote public spirit, of which we stand much in need, and would impart to public opinion throughout the country such force and effect that no government would dare to dieregard it. With regard to matters more immediately relating to the duties of Superintendent, yeu will rennember that during the last session of Council I joined in successfully opposing the Education Act introduced by Messrs Sheehan, Pignan, and Beed, which Act propoied to abolish the Central Board of Education and vest the powers in the hand of a commissioner j to be appointed by the Provincial Council. I also opposed the present house-tax and. man- i hood-tax for education, and defeated the | Government of Mr Sheehan on the question i of the 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 there. If elected, I shall endeavour to co-operate in a friendly spirit with the General Government, and so watch, over the interests of the Province that, as regards finance at all events, its declining years shall be leeß of a struggle for existence than the years just past. I Bnall 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 iplendid geographical position shall be so far utilized that the prediction concerniog the grass growing in our streets shall be shown to be the prediction of a false prophet. I am, Gentlemen, Yours faithfully,, J. M. DARGATItfi. Auoklaiid, let Ma b, 18V5.