THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2326, 7 June 1887, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TO THE EIHTOK. Sir, —Now that we are on tho eve of a general election, it behoves the electors to think seriously for themselves what is best to dp. For my part, lam of opinion that it is not of any use lookiug to our representatives at Wellington to bring us back prosperity. We have been doing so already for too long, but alas in vain. The wisdom of upwards of one hundred]and fifty apparently is far too limited to get us out of our difficulties, but it appears sufficient to keep plunging us still deeper. We have an Upper Chamber that is not responsible to the electors, whose business it is to see that the house elected by the people does its work well and truly, how well they have succeeded is patent to all. I say lot us not any longer be deluded by speeiuos arguments in favour of the Upper House being a valuable institutions. What we have to look at is results, for is not one fact worth more than a hundred assertions, and facts point to utter and painful failure l- , for instead of being a happy and contented people we are suffering from a terrible in:peeuniosity. This should not be the ea>e in a country that is complaining of over production. Now, it is of no use abusing the Government for all the ills we are suffering from for it is only what the electors make it, it is only a reflex of ourselves. If we wish the Government to carry out honest economical and useful legislation, the constituences must practice self denial, for if each constituency goes in for grabbing TuTilrcnTi, on the plea that if we dont, some others will, and that wo may as well have the benefit as any one else, so surely shall we demoralise our members. I think it would be a good thing, if each district was compelled to depend upon its own resources in a far greater measure than at present. This would do away with a great deal of log rolling and spending money uselessly.

Before wo can have real and radical reonns, the wealth producing classes must ;ake the bull by the horns. This can only ,>e done by organisation.

To my mind a lot will require pulling down, before we can begin to reconstruct —■ for are not our very foundations in a shaky state, these must first be made right, and this can be done in some measure by reducing the number of members in the Lower House, and abolishing the Upper Chamber altogether, for it will be far cheaper fo pay say, a counle of dozen even to mismanage than it is to pay twelve dozen to do the same thing. The electors of all shades of opinion I feel sure arc animated with the s.une earnest desire for the good and wise Government of this colony ; might we therefore to bring about this desirable end, sink for the present anyhow, our pet theories, and unitedly go in with a fixed and irresistable determination to send only members that will only vote for drastic retrenchment in all departments, where it can be done without impaling its efficiency, and surely there is plenty of room. I would suggest that we form a central association with branches in each township to draw up a programme of what we wish to be done. I do earnestly hope that other and abler pens than mine will take this matter up, for it is of paramount importance that we be up and doing.—Yours truly, John Park.