THE MANCHESTER RIDING.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 5, 9 November 1878, Page 2

THE MANCHESTER RIDING.

TQ THE RDITOK. Sir,— -I am thinking a few words: ex pressive oE public opinion m the Man chester Hiding respecting the election pending just now for the County Council may enlighten the minds of the tw © candidates, who, I have no. doubt m my own mind, will head the poll. Messrs Halcombe and Maearthur have worked hard and pulled well together m the Council to secure all the advantages they could for the Northern Ridings, but the increase of population m the Kiwitea Riding, and the independence of the electors there from Corporation influence, enables that Riding to elect a mamber representing the interest of the settlers apart from the interest of an officer of the Feilding Corporation, for it is hard to. make people believe that a man's own interest has no, influence on his opinions and his actions. Messrs Halcombe and Maearthur did well m working- as they did to get another member for the most important Riding m the County* but it is very generally considered m the Riding that they have made a, mistake m both of them seeking; election to represent the Riding, and that theyiare quite unaware of the rapidity of the growth of popular power m the Riding, and' that the large body of electors whose interests are not identical with theirs are fairly entitled to have a member to represent tliem ; and allowing that those rn.emb.ers who have so ably served the district m the past may be justified m believing that power cannot be placed m better hands than their own, for it is a feeling inherent m the minds of everyone m power tliat it is best for all parties that it should remain m their keeping, but m this case the public at large feel that to elect Messrs Halcombe and Maearthur is like giving two votes m the Council to one man, without giving the weight of two independent minds to the opinions they may give expression to m the Council. Jn short, if those gentlemen had agreed for one of them to retire from the position of Councillor this time, and look out for and support some other gentleman that m his. posi-. tion would m no ways, be looked upon, either m the Riding or m. the Council* as subject to any controlling power, that the Corporation could bring to bear on him, the election of such an independent colleague would greatly strengthen the hand,s of whichever Corporation officer might. stand for election. Bis very probable- the great influence that the Corporation exerts on the- fears of the bulk of the settlers of the. Riding will secure their election this time, but they may depend on it that thei*success will be worse for their own interests than if one of them were defeated, when the popular wish goes n,o further than to seek to ho represented; by one independent member" as a colleague with one of the officers of tlie Feilding Corporation. I referred above to the influence of fear m the minds of the people of this district.. This fear is a powerful factor m all elections m this place, and exerts its influence m a variety of ways ; as people have- come to think, whether rightly or wrongly, that if a man who is dependent for his bread on tlie. Corporation employment were to refuse his support- to any candidate that he. may be requested by one of the overseers to vote, for, he would become a marked man for the future m regard to getting work from the Corn*?,., ration. Ido not say for a moment that this general fear has any other foundation than the caution that is natural to. ordinary- humanity.. Anoiber-class which is under tlie dominion of fear are- those who have bits of holdings under deferred gay ment, and- which would' be liable to c forfeited if : payments- were, hot kept up with due regularity, and who fear to offend the power that may look over a little unavoidable shortcomings or- make use of legal power to enforce the conditions of the bond or lease. Another class, that may be free as regards either of the above fears, yet will avoid? crossing a power a power that' may prevent them securing some land they may- be anxious either to lease or purchase.. And there can ; bo no doubt that the Corporation officials are- well aw,are. that such fears exert a powerful influence over people's minds, and that they have only to. set. themselves and their overseers to canvas to reap the natural fruit of those fears, and it is beside the question for them to challenge anyone to prove that any pressure has been brought to- bear- on the electors. The fact is patent to alt that it is through the people's own natural fears*, and a universal belief m the district that every man who will not bend to the- will of certain Corporation official* is. a marked man, and this electian will show that as well as anything can do, for there is a strong feeling that ©n]Ly one member should be elected to represent the Corporation interest, and the second to represent the rapidly-growing interest outside the Corporation. N*ow, f think that under existing circumstances Messrs Halcombe and Maearthur would have done well to consult this, feeling, which is so> strong m the district, and give way to it, when it would be- meritorious as a graceful, voluntary act on their part, and save a contest, for the number of" votes, recorded m their favor will not show the strength of the district.. I trust I have stated the case impartially and m a friendly spirit,, as I have not been influenced by a desire to injure anyone m public estimation. — X am, (Sscx, Obsebveb.