EAST COAST ELECTORATE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 369, 26 October 1889, Page 3

EAST COAST ELECTORATE.

WHO IS TO BE ITS REPRESENTATIVE ’ The electors are now beginning to wake up to the fact that there is a vacancy in the Parliamentary representation of the East Coast, and though at first it appeared that people were too weary of political strife to concern themselves over the matter, there are now signs that there will be great activity when the proper time arrive?. It is recognised that it will not be a mare “stopgap” election, because it approaches very near to a certainty that, when there is such a dearth of politicians ready to seek election on this occasion, the gentleman who is elected for the short term will be selected at the general election—that the first contest will really be the deciding one. Several names are now being mentioned besides that of Mr Arthur, and there is considerable talk about a candidate being selected on behalf of the general class of electors, though no name has been definitely referred to. Mr Townley’s name, however, has been freely mentioned, and if he could be induced to come forward he would be certain of a large support both in town and country. A meeting of town electors has been talked of, but everybody’s business is said to be the concern of no one in particular and a leader appears to be wanting. Still, there is no great hurry, and in a week or two there may be a concentration of forces. We have had no intimation of what line of action is likely to be taken up in Waiioa, so that we assume that the electors in that district are taking things quietly until the names of the candidates are announced. Mr Arthur, we understand, gives an answer to-day in reply to the requisition in favor of his becoming a candidate.

In other districts a certain amount of interest is being taken in regard to the East Coast seat, and various expressions of opinion have been made.

The Napier News thinks that Mr Woodbine Johnson may be a candidate for the vacancy, and speaking of Mr Gannon it considers business cares will prevent his coming out. The Napier Telegraph says that Mr Arthur is a supporter of the present Ministry. How does the Telegraph know that?—Mr Arthur has made no statement o f the fact in Gisborne. [to the editor.] Sir,—As one who has the privilege of being an elector, I feel impelled to say a few words in regard to the vacancy in the East Goast electorate, for I think the working classes ought to combine to upset the order in which things are being arranged, We ought to give voice to cur feeling in a very way. It is a remarkable thing that while Mr Graham’s intended resignation was known by those “ in the know ” for weeks before it was handed in, and that the nest was all tfaa time being made warm for a chosen successor, no word of it appeared in the newspapers until the monopolists’ sheet was given permission to trot out the name of the chop.cn one, and gave farther evidence of the desire to have things cut and dried by ’giving out that Mr Arthur was likely to have a walk over, a thing that has not yet occurred in this district. Admitting that Mr Arthur is imbued with the most upright intentions, what has he ever done for the district that he should be brought forward for such a high position ? I have long been a resident in the place, and hardly knew that such a gentleman existed, though on enquiry find he has held at least one public office—he has been member of a school committee, and from thio he has risen to he a Government nominee—not an elected representative—on the Harbor Board. I dtal solely with Mr Arthur.as a public man—-as he no doubt can now claim to be—and I ask what qualification has he shown to be selected as our representative ? Perhaps he has been a successful pquatter—l know not—and that is considered sufficient recommendation to his fellow-squatters, but that ought not to be a sufficient recommendation to us working men. Mr Graham had his faults, but no one can deny that he devoted much valuable time to the public interest, and in every way sought to further the interest of the community, before he offered himself as a Parliamentary representative. There are any amount of men whose services ought to be remembered before we bind ourselves to support men who have never proved their qualifications by taking the trouble to seek election on local bodies. Mr Arthur, I believe, is also mixed up in native land transactions, a fact which will render him powerless to do any good in legislation for the relief of the district, because he will be ret down as an interested party, though the fact may be that he has seen much sinned against. Mr Graham’s mouth was shut for the session when the Native Land Bills were on.

Next year I believe will be the Jubilee of the colony, and I think we ought to have a genuine representative of the people in Parliament. Therefore I hope that the working classes of the district will organise for the common good. If we cannot make a selection from the most prominent of our experienced men, let us have some one whose work in the past promises that his future career will be a praiseworthy one, and one who, in every other respect, is entitled to our confidence and esteem. I believe Mr Graham was all that, though from various causes, his political record is not a successful one.—l am, &c., An Elector.