The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 762, 12 January 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1871.

There i'a one noticeable feature in connection with the representation of ihe Various constituencies of this Province, that a large proportion of the candidate?; for seats in the General Assembly are persons directly or iu- • .irectly politically dependent upon the Superintendent, and palpably > ieious as the system of returning such members tflfiy appear, there seems no .'likelihood of their candidature being *■ Wsed. For the City of Nelson, vyhicK returns two members, there :ire but tw'o candidates, Mr Curtis and

"'lr Shephard. The former gentleman, ill soliciting re-election as a represenfivp.'exeiisoß himself from au eipres-i-iou of opinion prior to the day of •;<;mina*tio;>, on the ground that the i onsti'.uene'v' having recently' heard; ' -i> view*, a Wore early explanation is, nee s»;try : and Mr Shepha-d may, I f.'i'.aps, mot'. unwisely; if he follow tin* convenient ,c.\am-

pie furnished by his very astu.e chief. In adopting such ;i course one very important advantage is Alined—the withholding the expression of possibly inconvenient opinions, until (no late for the c'on.stit:ic!u v to organise an opposition to tin iV -election. The move, though possibly judicious in point of strategy, cannot bo freed from the imputation of disiii»oniiousnens. It may be held that if the electors of Nelson are satisfied with their " coming men," it is not for a distant constituency to cavil at the course pursued. Under ordinary circumstances such an argument would apply, but unfortunately for the goldfields of the Province, the basis of representation is so harsh and unjust, as to render the circumstances altogether exceptional. The injustice and harshness consistin the inadequate measure of representation extended. With a population very nearly equal to the remainder of the Province, and which contributes move than two-thirds of the Provincial and Colonial revenues, the goldfields return but one member to the Parliament of the Colony, as against five members representing the agricultural and settled districts. With such a basis of representation, or rather, sc far as this important constituency is concerned, misrepresentation, it is but natural and fitting that we should exhibit an anxiety for the selection of members by other portions of the Province, who would be willing and likely to extend an act of justice to the goldfields by admitting them to a fair share in the legislation and government of the country. Without doubt the various constituencies should have preferred, and it would have been far better calculated to guarantee the independence of members representing the various constituences, that their choice had fallen upon men who were not in a position likely to allow their votes to be influenced by the administrative head of the Province. It is impossible to recognise in tiie circumstances of several candidates for parliamentary honors any security of an unbiassed "and unconstrained course of action. In place of selecting men who were politically independent of the Superintendent upon whom devolves the executive power, and who has the dispensing of a considerable amount of patronage, the Nelson constituencies appear bent upon returning men who can least afford to exercise any opinion that may be at variance with the views entertained by Mr Curtis. If other portions of the Colony adopt a similar course, the House will be filled with members who directlv or indirectly .are interested in voting with the Superintendents, and in the maintenance of the expensive and ruinons system of double government, from which they derive jt'heir emolument. The true remedy, no doubt, is to disqualify as representatives, not alone Superintendents of Provinces, but all officers in the pay of the Provincial Crovernments, but failing this, — and until the House is very differently constituted, such a necessary amendment could not be carried," —it rests with the different constituencies to elect men whose self interest would not probably lead them to support a system which is fraught with such ruinous consequences to the Colony.