Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, June 10, 1873.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 187, 10 June 1873, Page 4

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, June 10, 1873.

Contrary to general anticipations, Mi Macandrew has been met by a foeman somewhat worthy of his steel. Mr Gillies bases his claims to election upon services which .he says he has rendered to the Pi* vince during the last sixteen or seventeen years, and upon the fact that he has held a leading public position during the greater part of that time. Unfortunately for 3lr Gilliks, it is doubtful if many will be found to believe with him that for these reasons he is entitled to public support in opposition to so well-tried a veteran as Mr Macandrew ; or that his past achievements are of such a nature as to promise great things for the future. Had Mr tlEio, the head j6( the party, or Major Richardson,—-the " law-and-order-loving thirdsman," come forward, Mr Macasdrew's return might have been jeopardised, But in Mr Gillies, we can see no hope of a successful candidate. On the goldtields, in the North of the Province, and in Southland, he is hardly known. Doubtless there are many who will vote for him on the score that any man of common sense is better than James Macanduew; and some, also, on the score of Mr MacaX: drew's recent actions viewed from a Co" stitutional aspect. But the great majorit' of the electors of the Province hold an opinion of Mr Macandrew something after this kind : " Well, we believe he is Utopian; that he is too progressive. Give him full swing, and in half-a-dozen yeari or so he will land the Province in ruin But his progression, if only kept within decent bounds, is just what is needed for the Province; and with a Council of sound' minded, steady-going men, he is just the man for Superintendent." And it is the extensive existence of an opinion of this kind that will carry him to the front in this election. The great body of the electors will not trouble themselves about deciding whether Mr Macandrew has acted constitutionally or not. Neither will they trouble themselves to inquire whether the dissolution were purposely planned so soon after his recent benefitbestowing tour of the Province. They will not care to discover how much he has trafficked on his popularity. That M seeks re-election, and that he is in then opinion the "cleverest" man in the Pr* vince, will be enough for them. They to not even stop to weigh the full meaning « that word "cleverest," or to ask how fa the dissolution just now is an outcomeol 1 his cleverness. And perhaps it will rather please them than not to be told that bj ' a kind of lucky foresight he made his election canvass, on public duty, some four months ago, when he roamed through "J Province all smiles and graciousness,-* 0 '

unlike the pig, made famous in song, that went about With knife and fork crying “ Come, eat me, if you please.” These matters will not trouble the majority of the electors. And perhaps, after all, they are right: or will be right to put him in position once more as Superintendent, in preference to his present opponent. Certainly, he has done more for the Province than any other man in it. And certainly he is likely to do more for it than Mr Gillies. His influence abroad is greater. He possesses the power of seeing farther. He knows the wants of the country more intimately, and is far more competent to foster its industries, Of course, Mr Gillies is an untried man in comparison, but still, he has never given any evidence that he approaches his opponent’s level in the matter of such qualifications. Mr Macamdrew is somewhat unscrupulous : his whole course of action as a public man goes to prove it, and his late high-handed line of conduct is far from prophetic of an improvement in this respect. But it is a question how much of this unscrupulousness may not be forgiven, when we remember that the man’s sole object is to benefit the Province, —certainly his main object, at any rate. Or, if it cannot be forgiven, perhaps it may be winked at. The question before the electors of the Province is, not which of the two is the more honest, straightforward politician, but which of the two is the more likely to advance the interests of Otago, And we confess that our answer to this question must be— James Macandrew.