Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1884. THE MANAWATU SEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 54, 1 February 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1884. THE MANAWATU SEAT.

It Ut not iinnroliablo that the reHignallon of Mr Wai.tku, Johnston, as ni<milM>r for Maunwatii, may shortly bo Announced. It therefore behoves the doctors to cast about tor a suitable representative What Mr Johnston has done, or left undone, his good qualities, or failings, need not now be discussed. It is not probable he will ever again sit for Manawatu, so that any considerations with regard to him can be left but of the question. It will remain with the electors to choose a good man, — one who has a stake in the district, and who will have some influence in the House. The history of the past should make the electors doubly careful in their selection. Our Feilding contemporary states that it is " aware of the intentions of one gentleman to contest the election agaiust all comers, whether for the Government or against it. As he is possessed of large interests in the Counties of Manawatu and Oroua, as well as in the Boroughs of Palmerston and Feilding, and is also a gentleman of well-known administrative abilities, we believe he will b© the chosen of the people." We cannot say with certaiuity to whom our oontemporavy alludes, but would suggest the advisability of the intending candidate declaring himself at once. The electors are naturally anxious to know who is likely to come forward, so that they may judge of his capabilities and general fitness for the position. There are many rumours abroad, but we trust the electors willnot allowtheraselves' to hastily pledge . their suppoit before "the., numbers are up." Manawatn wants no needy adventurers, without aim or stake in the district beyond the gratification of an over-weening selfconceit. We must have a man of some substance, and some ability, not a frothy talker, with an air of sanctity, a peculiar history, and of doubtful antecedents. We trust tj)e ejectors of Manawatu will exercisn the. most <?areful discrimination In theiy choioo of a raomber. Let them not consider the place of residence so muoh as the qualifications of the man himself. By no means choose a member out of the electoral district; hub the man for the district need not necessarily possess the qualification, as a sine qua non, of residing say in Palmerston. It is time that the electors were considering- the question, and giving it the earnest attention it demands.