INANGAHUA ELECTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1268, 7 May 1883, Page 2

INANGAHUA ELECTION.

<•» — ;—- --OPINIONS OP THE PRESS, (Grey River Argus.) A good deal is /being said and done over the Inangahua election contest thfct no one will be very prou<J of when the strife is over and people get into a calmer frame of mind. There is no earthly reason why the supporters of one candidate should excel themselves more in slandering his opponent than in . demonstrating the good qualities of the one they are supporting; Whoever stoops to tactics of that kind is fairly open to the reflection that nothing ipueh can be said in. faVor, of his candidate, arict M i& therefore deemed neefessary.to make up fbrife,by spread-' spiteful tftyttg^ against Tu^onp^gati. , Me Wakefield iaaj.beeo: madb $ne Victim of this kind of thfiijg; and niost ungenerously and unfairly, considering the high courtesy he has invariably displayed in reference to actual or possible rival candidates. Such electioneering tricks as circulating isolated passages from speeches or articles of Mr Wakefield without reference to the eontesrtrt OT^Blspernig about the country trumped-up and ridiculous stories that often ha.ve ; no foundation at all, or if they have, are of no consequence whatever — are very easy things to do if a person is capable of no sensible or worthy method of advocating a cause ; but they do not say much for those who resort to them, nor for the candidate who has nothing more to be said in his' favor, or who countenances such doings by indiscreet friends. Nor is it very complimentary to the intelligence of the electors generally to think thst. such stupid 'tricks will deceive them, (Our contemporary, here refers to fe speech of Mr. Wakeileld's, from which .two or three lines had been quoted fry Mr.* M'Lean in an effort to show that Mr. Wakefield was hostile to the working man.) There is not a word in the extract derogatory to working men, or that Mr Wakefield need be ashamed of. On the contrary, the speech was exceedingly well-timed, and drove home with bright incisiveness and force an indictment against the then head of the Government that was every word of ii true, that was finding voice all fever the colony, and filling it with unfeasineas at the time. We all have a very good recollection of how much was made of the cry of the working man in those days, how vast the promises — how insignificant the performances. Why, the opening sentences of the extract point to a deliberate withholding of measures of electoral reform and a cruel and unfeeling disregard of the welfare and comfort of the working men of the •olony. It was about that time a telegram was sent informing the Imperial authorities that this colony could relieve their congested labor market to the extent of 10,000 immigrants. Such administration as that was enough to alienate the support of every true colonist, and it was no Wonder Mr Wakefield spoke so bitterly against his former friends and advocated a ohange. There was nothing very extraordinary in that, though he has since bewa held up &b the very impersonation of political fickleness. . His action was distinctly in the interest of the working man as against the autocracy of a commanding figure who sought to overawe his party and the House by mere 1 personal prestige, in disregard of principle and right, and to make a footstool of the working man who carried him into power. Politics would be a very queer game indeed if

members were to bo denied independence of action and to be for ever bound hand and foot to any Bet of men. Where would be the safety of the country with -such rigid .conditionaof servitude? Consistency of principle is- not the same thing as giving un-' questioning and unswerving support to a party. Politicians, parties, and governments have their erratic periods, and then comes into play the law of compensation by which party Uneg become effaced; as the water* of party .life mingle on this question ojr on that, and new combinations reappear and acquire strength and cohesion according to the truth and vitality of their principles. Although this journal hat not taken* . a very conspicious part in thit election* we cannot help feeling a deepjtatereat in it. There is great identity o£ "'' interest between Greyoiduth ipd Beefton, and it ia natural that we should desire to see that man elected ■ who has the greatest ability and influence, and is likely to produce the best results* Oil the same principle, the whole West Coast should feel themselves interested aa to every candidate this side of the range, . no matter for what electorate' Th^ere is a community g<tfttereHt'betw*en*all n ' 1 these settlements and ' centres of population, and there should be » Cdnvmunity of feeling firmly binding all West Coast members together. W»have too long been isolated from flp& by the reet of the ooWy, and our claims treated with coldness if notwith suspicion; Nor was it mooh wonder when the representatives of the West Coast have been always distinguished by a want of unity of purpose. Can the -ooast expect to carry all the weight it is entitled to do ia the councils of the colony until sacb time as it is represented by members of character 'and ability, who will shake themselves free from the pftMtry trammels of so called parties and work: as one man for this part of the colony. ' It is for these reasons thai we support Mr .Wakefiejd's candidature. That he possesses ability, his bitterest enemy will not deny ; that be would possess influence in the House; is abundantly shown by the dread that he should once more obtain a seat in $6';. that he is above the local jealousje&v and pettinesses that would disgrace a parish vestry — too often seen in Parliament—his political record will show* What is a representative without the gift of being able to forcibly advocate; his claims but a mere machine for registering a vote. Whatever .ability Mr Shaw may possess, it is not in th» direction of parliamentary speaking. His warmest admirer will not say there is any comparison between him add Mr Wakefield as an advocate in the Legislature, who has to deaj witb broad facts and large principles*, ancfc . management of the affairs of a nation, „ riustead 6f 'with miserable points ojtiaigK „, lover Bbnte'ti % ut^pery case thai is of ritif 'Uirthly to ; >more * >;three people* ;We .haye^aio deatra&r *• belittle Mr Shaw, in any .way,, bud ; having read his speeches, evidentl/. prepared with 'care, we judge pi. hb intellectual stature by them, and bur conclusion is that he would be anything but an imposing figure as a representative from whom much would be es^ ', pecfced. Feebleness, inconcluaivenesß, and a general want of mental grasp characterise all his speeches. It is a* pain to read them. And y:eb they l>ear the mint-mark of their coinage— they contain a wealth ofpromiseSr-promUwß enough to wreck the most powerful Ministry that ever administered; thfr . afl&irsof the eolony.

( Wett 'Coast Times.) Our Hokitika contemporary ednelndes an artiole reviewing the claim* 'of the candidates with, tae foUowijkg: - remarks : — " But what can be nrge4 jn ■. ■■ Mr Shaw'g favor, wiib has lived for- '.. years among miners ; w.ho professes toybe their friend, and proposes to sedu*. lously .care for thei* interests, vb6d «^ find Hm a firm supporter of a Govern* - ment, vhioh has done more taim tfr, miuing than any other* wbioa Oft* ■ ruled tne Colony! No more than db^ third, of the votes passed for goldfieMff was ever expended. Under no ctfcumstances 4oes the present Government ever show any desire to advanoa ■ the interests qf the mifter.. Throughout the West Coast there is &e same <ny against broken Government ptomisea, and almost studied neglect of Ihe district The very gentleman, triia Mr Shaw proposes to support ,as Mia*. ister of Mines, is utterly ignorant an4 careless of goldfields' wants. Upon another point too, Mr Shaw doeß not appear to be sound. He has, sayßacorrespondentofthelnangahua Times, "two \ opinions on the Education Act, one a private one, and. the other a publics one." The correspondent naturally Bays :— " What 'Would Mr Shaw do if he Vaa returned to Parliament ? would, he act on his private opinion or on thapublic one, perhaps he would act between the two, and everyone is aware of the fate of any one who attempts to sit between two stools/' Mr Shaw j& if in this singular abate of mind res* pecting education, by no means 'Afiound upon the goose," Numerous are the devices, aud 'contradictory the language of the candidate, who tries. to. evade giving a straightforward answer upon the Education Question. He ia simply for secular or for denominational education. There is no njidd^erdad possible. Our opinions on jthegudstion. are well known, but we woti^ ptopiir tto give support to an avowed den^mloationalist, rather than to a man-, who seeks to gain votes from both^sidW by* evasion and cunning."