February 1871. In his election campaign he spoke support for the Vogel Scheme with the proviso that the money was spent wisely and for immigration provided it was to the betterment of the colony. He was also in favour of taxing property and income, but not in favour of compulsory education due to the financial constraints of the time. New Zealand was described as in a depression and heavily dependent on borrowing. The editorial of the Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle dismissed Lightband as but a tyro in politics, and that his opinions are crude and but half formed. The paper's editor supported Richmond, a Stafford supporter, as did Curtis. Lightband was considered a Liberal for supporting Vogel. Lightband and Curtis were elected to represent Nelson. Lightband represented the City of Nelson electorate from 1871 to 1872, when he resigned. On 25 August 1871 he was appointed to a Select Committee on the producing and manufacturing resources of the colony. Among the more unusual recommendations of the committee was encouraging German migrants to come and grow beetroot. In September Lighband supported the abolition of grand juries. Later during his term the Nelson-Foxhill railway was approved for construction. Lightband supported its construction. Despite being opposed to Stafford when elected and during his term in Parliament, Lightband spoke highly of him. Stafford stated that he considered Lightband among the men he would like to see at the head of the colony's affairs. Wooden tramway dispute On 8 January 1872 the Nelson Evening Mail published and article suggesting wooden tramways in the Upper Buller District. Lightband then wrote to the Evening Mail supporting the construction of wooden tramways within the area. The letter seemed to imply that he preferred these over conventional railways such as the proposed Nelson-Foxhill Line. The paper's editor then responded suggesting that Lightband was vacillating and not standing for what he had said he would. In a letter to the editor a prominent citizen Wm Rout wrote expressing concern and dismay at Lightband's letter. Similar letters followed from others. Even the Colonist, which supported Lightband, expressed concern in its editorial, but noted that as Lightband was absent from Nelson they would need to wait for clarification. On his return at the end of January from the West Coast, Lightband responded to his critics. He stated that in his opinion the proposed Nelson-Foxhill line would take a long time