West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1860.

West Coast Times, Issue 209, 21 May 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1860.

We have already discussed the question , who aro to be tho five men to represent Westland in thp Provincial Council? As no gentlemen have yet announced themselves as candidates, wo havo been precluded from debating personal merits, and have necessarily confined ourselves to the task of impressing generally upon tho electors the importance of securing the services of mon of ability and political integrity. It would be unnatural, however, that any candidature should bo promoted or accepted, without due regard to the principles which it is incumbent upon any men selected by the district as its representatives, to enforco in tho Provincial Council. Westland wants men, but it wants measures also. It is about to pass into a new phase of its political life. During the past session of the Council, the two members who represented it in the House wero looked upon very much in the light of a brace of curiosities from an untruvclled and unknown region. They were half tolerated, half petted, and oil the whole regarded as rather interesting specimens from the gold fields. A very different position will have to be held by tho men whom the electors now choose to represent them in the Council of tho province. Since the last provincial election one important point has been decided which greatly modifies the political situation. The dependence of tho West Coast upon the Canterbury Provincial Government has been accepted by the people. They havo recognised the position assigned to them, and henceforth must look for good government from the assertion of their proper influence in the provincial legislature. It is to command justice from that body that the members now to be elected will be sent to it. Not, indeed, that they will be the representatives of Wpstland only. They will exorcise the same right as other members of the Council to control the general administration of the province. Their primary service, however, will be due to their own constituents. And in the selection of men to represent them the electors should have regard to other than mere personal considerations. The wants of the district may be very concisely stated. The approaching session must not bo allowed to pass without an effort to obtain an increased representation in tho Provincial Council. Five members are an improvement upon two. But five members are wholly disproportionate to the population and the productive resources of Westland. It already yields a larger revenue than the country to the east of the dividing range ; and its necessities are greater and more urgent; because it is a new- district that has suddenly developed into wealth and trading activity, deprived of the benefit of the slow preparatory processes that havo put the older settlements in a position to take care of themselves. If tho whole active machinery of government were suspended, .these might still pursue their career of progress, because their necessities have been already provided for, and tho mechanism of of their industry set at work. In Westland, on the other hand, all yet waits to be done; and the district, therefore, has not only special claims upon the attention of tho provincial legislature, but a special right to be fully represented in it. The present amount of representation assigned it is utterly inadequate to its just requirements, and a reform in this direction is one of the first measures yrkioli fye inojnbera

for tho district should insist upon in, tho approaching session. Next in importance to tho exercise of a legitimate influence in the general legislation of the province — perhaps prior to it in importance — is the estabment of a local responsible administration; and on this point the views of candidates proposed for election ought to be distinctly ascertained. The prosent system of government by a Commissioner altogether removed from tho control of a local public opinion, and representing a distant, if not an alien authority, cannot survive tho present Superintendent's lease of office. Whichever of the three candidates for the Superintendoncy succeeds Mr Bealey, a radical change will be necessary; and it will be the duty of the electors to choose no man to represent them who is not prepared to insist on this change, and to put his proposals in a definite shape before the legislature. The end that has to be secured is ; first, the expenditure of the revenue of tho district upon public works within the district ; and secondly the establishment of such municipal and mining regulations as will stimulate the development of its resources. The establishment of some local authority Under tho control of a regulated public opinion, and politically responsible to the ftrovincial legislature, is a- reform that must be promptly effected if Westland is to continue a part of the Canterbury province. Upon this point all the members for the district should bo unanimous, and prepared to support a definite proposal to be submitted to the Council.