MEASURES, NOT MEN.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1116, 19 August 1879, Page 3

MEASURES, NOT MEN.

Sm,— Liberal measures, and who are to carry them out, is the question of the day. Upon tho debates that took place upon j,he"Waut of Confidence Motion," the ciuestion did not tend upon the measures Irofeght forward by tho Government, but 'the inability of that Government to carry them out. Had the Opposition been the natural out-growth of a p.»rty, or secured by the confidence m those who composed it, there had been no dissolution, but the Liberal measures brought forward by the Government being admitted and even approved by the Opposition, sush an acknowledgement was endorsing the Government's action. In respect to making the land form colonial revenue, shortening leases whose terms of tenure was prejudicle , to the public interests, admitting having accomplished m a great degree the adjustment of taxation, the carrying out of the great public works of utility, and many others which could be enumerated, was a powerful argument when m the hands of a leader of Sir George Grey's talents, against even a majority of fourteen. The acknowledgement at once provided for the downfall of those who had no counter measures, when used with the. ability and m the sense to which it was applied, an appeal to tho Crown to use its prerogative to dispel that heterogeneous throng. If, Sir, liberal measures are what the country desire, what the Government initiated, are what- the late Opposition approved ; the dissolution forces us to face a great difficulty, especially this part of the country,, If we look to the division that was the means of hurling a Ministry from power, and dissolving a Parliament that had sat for five or six successive sessions, we naturally look to see how our members acted upon that memorable division. We Bee Waikato standing boldly m opposition, butWaipa, while the balances are being held — a country, with abated breath, waiting for the decision of a clear head, a bold and mature judgment, to uphold a policy that all admitted was necessary, and equal to the present requirements of the country — leap out of the scale, leaving a momentry and visionary triumph to a doomed and ignoble majority. I submit, Sir, we have not been represented, especially m this part of the country. Let us, for once, send men from among ns m whom are combined ability, integrity, and independence. Men who we can meet m our every day ordinary walks of life, and say to them, you know the wants of the country, our local wants, we depend upon you, we confide m you, we trust you ; and under Triennial Parliaments, the measure which we» hold you to support this coming session, we shall have a censorship that •will give us an early opportunity of exercising again that supreme authority m your favour, if our interests are held inviolate, centered wholly m» measures — liberal measures — not being pledged to any man or party of men, and leaving the House to choose its leader.— Yours, &c, Albjsbt Potteb.