The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1092, 25 July 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1873.

To offer any critical remarks Upon the valedictory address made by Mr Alexander Eeid at the practical termination of his relationship with tlie Electors in the Buller district as one of their representatives in the Nelson Council, would savour somewhat of •superfluity. It needs no comment, nor aught said in its favour, for it bears its own recommendation. Eminently characteristic of the writer, it is fraught with candour and plain honest speaking, and the terseness of its utterances carry more weight a thousandfold than the verbose platitudes and noisy platform declamation wherewith provincial politicians are prone to weary their listeners. Avoiding, therefore, all conventional compliment as distasteful to the recipient, and wholly unnecessary as an expression of the sentiments of his constituents, by reason that representative and represented have always been so perfectly en rapport, it is still necessary to call attention to the portions of Mr Reid's address wherein, while incidentally noting the inefficiency of present Provincial Government, he indicates, rather than expressly defines, wherciu such inefficiency prevails, and its remedy. The experience of four sessions, he says, has confirmed the belief that the Nelson Council, " in the absence of efficient Executive power, is of indifferent value to the Province. * * * More than during any previous session, it was this year patent to every member of the Council, that the Government of the Province, as at present constituted, is deficient in force, if not in latent ability; and if the session closed with any one idea paramount in the minds of the members, it was that reform in that respect is absolutely necessary to enable the Council to even remotely represent and fulfil the wishes of the electorate." Herein lies food for much reflection, the more especially as in a few weeks more the symptoms of agitation even now prevading the political atmosphere, will be vehemently expanded by preparations for the election of Superintendent and Provincial Council. The fact that the present Nelson Executive is an effete and doggedly dullard institu-

tion, possessing little administrative intelligence, and less aptitude to grasp new' ideas, or exert the ready action demanded by scattered communities wherein vigorous unrest is the prevading element, has been long too well known, but the fact becomes the more selfassertive when one who has been behind the scenes, who knows the clumsy mechanism and minUtias of the whole puppet-like system of sham legislation and make-believe governance, deliberately records his opinions, and warns those who placed him in a position to gain such knowledge, that they should bestir themselves to prevent a perpetuation of so anomalous a system. The momentous question arises—Wherein lies the remedy ? And the reply, most assuredly can but be—ln the united action of the electors. The coming election for the Superintendency is not likely to be a walk-over. It is true Mr Oswald Curtis is the only man who has yet definitely announced his intention and readiness to contest the election with all comers, but it may be •confidently anticipated that within a very, few weeks hence, other candidates will declare their intentions, and solicit the suffrages of the electorate. Whoever the candidates may be the electors should insist that whatever views may be held on special matters of import they shall one and all pledge themselves unreservedly to a radical reform of the prevailing system of Control over provincial -affairs* The present Superintendent has made tacit admission of his own shortcomings in this respect by permitting publication in the Examiner of the following announcement: —" AVe are authorised to state that, in the event of his re-election, the Superintendent will at once make such changes in the existing Executive Council as will be satisfactory both to the public and to the Provincial Council." This may be accepted either in the light of a political death-bed confession of past sins and transgressions, or as an earnest promise of good intent hereafter, supposing the chances and changes of political contest may eventuate in placing Mr Oswald Curtis again in the Superintendental chair. But whoever may be called to office, the electors should insist upon " Reform, 1 " as the cardinal point of his policy, and thereafter, similar pledges will be needful from all Who offer themselves as candidates for seats in the Council. It is only by such united and self-protective action on the part of the electors, that Provincial affairs will be cleansed from the slough of degradation wherewith they are now encumbered, and the Provincial Council become what—arguing from Mr A. Reid's ex perience—it now is not, an institution wherein, " without any sacrifice of dignity, it is possible for a man to make himself useful in his day and generation."