Original Correspondence.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1266, 2 May 1883, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

«, THE COMING ELECTION.

(To TIIE EriTOR,_JIUSGAnUA TIMES.) Si-!, With your permission I Bhould like to say a few words as to the merits of the two candidates, Mr Siiaw and Mr Waketiold. I am not a business man, therefore I don't presume to have much influence with the electors. I belong to that class that wjs vulgarly termed a few nights ago the "Great Unwashed," therefore, I will take my stand-point among that class. I may say that I took a part in every election that has taken place in the Grey Valley, and as far as my memory serves me, not one of the members returned had any previous experience as Parliamentary representatives, and no sooner had ono gained a knowledge of the rules and usages of Parliament, than another took his place, to be educated in the same way. I must admit that we had some very good and clever men as representatives, but that don't alter the fact that they had all to learn their political alphabet (if I may use the term). Mr Waketield is then the first trained politician who has offered to represent us in Parliament, and I presume it was for his known ability as a politician he was asked to stand. We were getting tired of novices. Any person who is in the habit of reading the journals during the time ! Parliament is in session must know Mr Waketield by repute, and must know that he is a rising man. He is a young man, full of energy and ambition, and a man who can command attention when he rises to speak in the House. Of course he lias got enemies, and. show me the man who has not, unless he is a born idiot ; the very fact of him being so much cleverer than most of men, would gain him enemies now-a-days, and I trust that we " unwashed," as we are, have long passed that stage iv politics to take notice of the abuse heaped upon him by the " Clean washed." Inangahua is different now to what it used to be ; people all over the colony are interested in it, and I trust in a few years it will be a seat to be envied by the best politicians in the Colony, and Mr VVakefielil is far-sighted enough to see it. If we have to go atield for a representative, let us get one of experience. We can get novices at home. If ever we are to have commannication with any centre of population it will be with Canterbury. We all know that only for the influence of the Canterbury people, the present Government would construct the East Coast railway, and isolate us altogether, and it must be remembered that Mr Wakefield was instrumental in thwarting the East Coast railway scheme, and that before he had any notion of offering himself afe a candidate to represent this district Nl>w Sir, who is Mr Shaw, or what claim has he on this district, that he should seek to be returned us our representative. Is he a man who has done anything to develop its resources ; has he spent sums of money m mining speculation ? No, the reverse is the case ; lie has drawn a good fat salary out of our pockets and administered very inferior law in return ; a man who used to put the most arbitary construction upon a very faulty Mines Act, and made the unfortunate miner pay very dear for his experience, and lie must know it. I could cite instances of his arbitary ruling in mining cases that would astonish your readers, only that I have already trespassed too far on your space. No doubt it would be of great personal benefit to Mr Shaw, residing as he does at the sent of Government, to be M.H.R. See the position it would place himself and his firm in. Do you think it is the love he has for tho nincra that has prompted him now tQ

come among them.' • The men he used t>* scowl at and snub from his judgment seat not very long ago. Surely we could n'nd plenty of men among ourselves if we were satisfied with a novice that would suit us. better than him ; they want lots of money in the North Island to make railways, and suppose they put the screws upon Mr Shaw. What could he do ? I am etc., One of the Unwashed. Reefton, April 30th, 1883.