The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1909. THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12304, 27 August 1909, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1909. THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

The electors of Rangitikei have no reason to complain of the paiwity of choice afforded them in the selection of an occupant for the vacant seat. If there is any room for complaint at all ib is at the bejvildering array of candidates who have come forward to seek the confidence of the constituency. Present indications point to the probability of at least seven,,and possibly, eiglri, gentlemen going to the poll. Of these only two —Messrs F. F. Hockly and George Hutchison—will be straight-out sup-, porters of Mr. Massey and the Reform Party. : It is to be regretted that such an excellent opportunity as now presents 'itself of capturing a Government seat should be in the slightest degree jeopardised by the presence in the field of two such strong claimants, for there can be no doubt that the constituency " would be happy with either were t'other fair charmer away." The circumstances, however, are such as to ab-

solve both gentlemen from the blame which might otherwise attach to them. Of neither can rb be said, at this juncture at any rate, that he is deliberately and knowingly prejudicing the prospects of his party. Mr. Hutchison, no doubt, feels that he is in a ,sense under an obligation to go before the electors of Rangitikei in justification of the part he considered it his duty to play in connection with a matter which cannot now be further investigated. Whatever the rights or wrongs of that matter may have beeiij Mr. Hutchison could adopt no more fitting manner of proving that he acted in good faith and for what he believed to be the public good than that of offering himself for- election. It is to his credit that ai the earliest moment sanctioned by the ethics of good taste he signified his intention to adopt the proper course. Apart from thi3 special reason for his candidature there is, of course, the very natural desire to servo an electorate which embraces a large part of his old constituency. But !>y far the strongest reason for Mr. Hutchison's candidature is the fact that If there is one man more than anothei" whom the Government is anxious to keep out of the House that man is George Hutchison 3 and conse- i quently his election would add enorlr.ously to the influence of an Opposition victory. "As for Mr. Hockly, he, ton, is well able to justify his Candida- J -ture. From a parochial point of view i lie, as a resident of the district, has the greater claim upon the seat. Moreover, in the interests of his party he has already foregone one opportunity, and his friends and neighbours appear to have taken it for granted that his pelf-sacrifice on that occasion would entitle him to be accepted ns the reccgnised candidate of the Reform Party at the next poll. Unfortunately, however, circumstances have arisen which seem to necessitate Mr. Hutchison's presence in

the field,/ while the general trend of po-' litical matters certainly renders his election desirable. Mr. Hockly has empha- . ~ 1 , ixi x i -ii • tieally declared that he vill noo again step aside, and we cannot find it in our

heart 'to blame him fur his determuia-1. tion. On broad grounds he might, per- j haps, have taken a more liberal view I of the matter, and shown a disposition! , c ~ ~ . ~ ■ ■ •* ~ ; to favourably consider the reasonable ; proposition submitted by Mr Hutchison, t i.e., to leave the selection of the can-j dida.te to a committee representative of the principal divisions of "the electorate-, Bnt Mr. Hcckly evident* considersthat! with an equal and in all probability | greater number of Government candi- ' dates in the field 3 the splitting of the Opposition vote is not likely to 'seriously imperil tl» seat and that consequently there is no real need for the retirement of one of the two candidates, This may prove to bo the case. Indeed, we are inclined to think it 'will. ! 10 is undoubtedly much better to be sure than sorry, and unquestionably the prospect of a brilliant r\ • Opposition victory avoulc! bo unmeasur- ~, n i ably enhanced were one of the two strong men to retire. On the assiunntion that both will go to the poll ' V .«nfc u ? e ,™, b.U. w in tW clean and wholesome policy of the Re-, form Varty to record his or her vote! on the day of the election, and to follow up that task b y enthusiastically supporting whichever of the Opposition candidates happens to get into the se-

cond ballot. If, so far as the Opposition parcy is concerned, the election is conducted in this spirit the seat will assuredly be won, and the Dominion will be advanced another step on the road towards administrative reform and legislative sanity.