The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1873. THE ELECTIONS AND THE LAND QUESTION IN OTAGO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 6, 7 June 1873, Page 5

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1873. THE ELECTIONS AND THE LAND QUESTION IN OTAGO.

It may be taken for granted that, during the ensuing elections, thoughtful and commonly sensible men will pay very little attention to what is called the constitutional question. It is to be regretted that a dissolution "should have been the result of the agitation of this question ; and that so much eloquence is being now expended upon it. No one will be j&sposed to deny the ability, ingenuity, and facility of expression of the leaders of the constitutional party. But all these are compatible with an absence of common sense • and though entertaining great respect for these leaders, we ©annot persuade ourselves that on this occasion they are not unreasonable. On reading their speeches, it struck us they are the square pegs in the round holes. This Province is not their sphere ; the Imperial Parliament is the loser by their being placed at so great a distance from the constitutional maehme m Westminster, were they there they might grind away, and few would be disposed to find much fault with them. Ihe House of Commons always contains a .certain number of gentlemen who regard themselves as the tutelary divinities of the British Constitution, and, as no great harm results, men have made up their minds to meet the inevitable with decent resignation. But in a new and very progressive country, in a Provincial Council which has no independent legislative power, and whose business it is to manage such affairs as fall under the care of Grand Juries in England, it is really too bad to time and money wasted in a burlesque on the Imperial Parliament. The electors will do well to consider if the business of the Province could not be conducted better and more expeditiously without the aid of these learned gentle-

men. Common sense and common honesty are all the people want, and indeed all the people pay for. Instead of making this constitutional question the point on which elections should turn, it would be much more to the purpose to examine the real state of the law and its administration in reference to the Crown lands of the Province. It is admitted on all hands that the prosperity of the country depends on the wise and rapid disposal of these lands. If industrious people be not settled on them in very large numbers, the Public Works Scheme will bring ruin, instead of promoting progress. The great question, then, is, which of the contending parties in Otago is the most--favourable to the alienation of Government land on reasonable terms ? Or, is either party really anxious to settle people on the land ? These are two very important questions, the most important that, can engage the attention of electors at this time. We regret it is not in our power to afford much aid in the solution of these knotty points. Our difficulty arises from our unwillingness to say anything for or against any party. We belong to none, and we are convinced every party contains many honest men, who, though perhaps mistaken in their views, mean the promotion of the. public good. These ideas restrain our pen, and we are not sorry it should be so, considering that the electors themselves know the candidates best. One thing, however, is certain, that it is not always- the man who is loudest in his professions who is the people's best friend. And what is true of an individual is also true ot parties. On the new Land Act it is not now our intention to pronounce an opinion. But' it does seem strange that the quantity of land which can be disposed of annually on deferred payments should be limited to 30,000 acres ; and that purchasers should be compelled to settle in certain localities, no matter whether these suited their health, business, or other associations. When these things are coupled with a statement made by the author of this law in the House of Representatives— viz., "We want the land for our children,"— one naturally asks himself, Is this man, is his party, really desirous of placing a large population on the land ? or is he and his party only throwing dust in the eyes of the simple ? Be this as it may, whilst the patriots are squabbling over land laws, men with capital are leaving the Province and purchasing land elsewhere. Let the electors look to these things.