The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 777, 16 February 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1871.

Of the provincial elections, outside the goldfields, the one to which, perhaps, the greatest interest attached, from the fact of Sir David Munro being a candidate, was the contest for Motueka. When, shortly before the close of the hist Parliament, it was announced that Sir David Munro intended to retire from political life, the notification was received with general regret. The fact of his having been called to 611 the office of Speaker was sufficiently significant of the excellent understanding which must have existed between Sir David Munro and politicians of every shade within the House, and the manner in which he fulfilled the duties attached to the office has secured for him the unqualified esteem and 'respect of all classes, and it has been admitted, on all hands, that the manner in which the late speaker presided over the debates was in no little degree conducive to the high tone and character of the proceedings in the Assembly. Although he has said that it is not his intention again to fill the Speaker's Chair, we believe it will be the general desire that he may again be induced to fill once more the accustomed place. In his address to the Motueka electors he has given his views upon the policy of the present Government at some length, from which it

may be inferred that he will not advocate the large expenditure of the Fox Ministry. He thinks a check upon the expenses of governing the Colony absolutely necessary in view of the falling off in the customs and other statistics. With a decline in our revenue,

in our shipping, in our exports of more than £200,000 for the year 1870, of which gold contributed no less than £140,000, he thought there could not be the slightest doubt that the Colony was retrograding. Sir David Munro proceeds to inform us that our annual ex. penditure far exceeds our annual income; that our general indebtedness far exceeds that which a young and thinly populated country ought to have; and that the cost of government is far greater than it ought to be. He concurs with the present Government, in so far that .he believes an additional population would ease the burden of taxa tion, but he fails to see how any larger number may be beneficially employed in the country, after the public works are completed. The true remedy for the present financial embarrasments is, Sir David thinks, to simplify the machinery of government, and to bring the expenditure of the colorryv within its income. If, then, retrenchments will uofc suffice he proposes to meet any deficiency by means of a property tax. From the analysis given it may be assumed that the present Ministry will not be supported by the member for Motueka in reference to the Government policy of immigration and public works.