"COCKATOO'S" LETTER AND THE WAIKATO ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 557, 14 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

"COCKATOO'S" LETTER AND THE WAIKATO ELECTION.

Sib, — Be good enough' to allow me a abort spaco in reply to the policy advocated in " Cockatoo's " letter, Whilst agreeing in the main with' your correspondent, that it is desirable to sentf' men of a representativostamjp'to Parliament, I cannot overlook 1 other qualifications! of equal, if not higher, importance. In exercising our right to elect members for the State Legislature we should, I think, if possible seek men of independence, ability and oxperience. Men of broad and enlightened views upon the various questions affecting our well .being" aa a community and colony.' Having witnessed the evils attending the return to Parliament of needy pMiticians in other countries, I have put in as. a requisite qualification that of independence, but by thit I mean a man' not only of independent means but independent of any ministry if his convictions run' otherwise — in short an honestly independent man. Your correspondent is certainly not cosmopolitan in his views when he wishes to reduce the standard and duty of a Member of Parliament to a mere delegate of a certain class or interest. Ido not for a moment wish to associate hjnv .with other correspondents wliO' bargain for their support by exacting a'promisoof a road here or a bridge there, oi f quibble about Government expenditure anywhere else than at their own doors. " Cockatoo "is evidently a cut far above that typa of politicians, nevertheless his poUcy would reduce us to a very narrow sphere of action. Ho lays down that an agricultural district should confine its selection to men representing that interest ; mining constituencies to return minx conversant in mining, Ac., <fee.' Npw let us see how this rule would work. 1 To demonstrate its' absurdity- if rigidly carried out — I would cast a 1 glance to the old country, and asfe what constituency in Eng'and would' return a Disraeli or Gladstone, or any, one of the other eminent men who reflect honor upon their nation, and where, are we to get our statesmen from.' What constituency in the colony would 1 return' a Vogel or a Stafford? Mr Whitaker truly would be left out iH'the cold if he depended oh'hia return (though we all feel wo have lawyers enough atnbngst us)* to' a constituency numbering a' majority of his own profession. 1 , I Would go'in as~ heartily as "Cockatoo " to support 2, mart" of our own ilk, provided he were in' other 1 rejects siiitkble, but if w*e are ambitious* of having a Parliament worthy of" the colony and capable of legislating in a mapher to maintain its dignity a^id credit. 1 I think, »fr, it would n6t be desirable or practicable either to adhere strictly to suoh a course. Taking this then to be granted, it is imperative that wa should carefully consider which of the two candidates no Win the field is the more likely to fulfil the conditions inseparable from a true and proper representation all the interests at stkke. I have n6thit. whatever' to say against Mr McMinn ; . understand' he is an honest, industrious pettier, and iot all I know might prorb a

good legislator. On the other WKM/k have Mr Cox, a tried man, whose PvH| antecedents and private character an^M yond reproach. .Being sorueWhat in/tlw dark as regards Mr McMina'a abilities M am inclined, putting it in horsey parlances to back public performance against pro vate estimation ; at the same time I am not pledged to either, nor will I fmrthav entangle myself until I get the replies to a series of questions from each [candi* date. — I am, &?., Another Cockatoo.