The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1884. The Parliamentary Vacancies.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1242, 1 May 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1884. The Parliamentary Vacancies.

It cannot be said that much interest 1 is being manifested in the coming elec- ( tions of members to fill the two vacancies now existing in the New Zealand Parliament, namely those for Kaiapoi and Thorndon. For the former two candidates were stated to be in the field, but since Mr Alfred Saunders has determined not to contest the seat it appears to be probable that the Hon. Edward Richardson will have a walk-over. Should this be so the Ministry will lose another vote in the House, but considering the strong feeling that has been recently shown in Canterbury against the Atkinson Administration, it is in the last degree unlikely that any candidate put forward on that side would have the slightest chance of success. The return of Mr Richardson to Parliament would be a matter for congratulation, whatever side he might elect to support, as he has proved himself a good working member, while his previous experience as Minister for Public Works should standhim ingood stead. For the Thorndon seat three candidates have offered themselves,butas they are all supporters of the present Government, whoever mav be chosen it will not interfere with the state of parties. The late member, Mr Levin, was, if not a brilliant representative, a ' gentleman of tact and ability, who was alWays loyaT parly he was elected to support Among the new aspirants for the seat Mr Henry Bunny is by far the most widely known, and his return might be regarded as absolutely safe, were it not that local considerations are often the most powerful factors in determining the result of elections In New Zealand. His thorough knowledge of Parliamentary procedure, the result of long experience, will in itself be of great value in a House whose vagaries in this particular have been very striking during the past two sessions, while his speeches during the political campaign show that he has lost little or none of his old power of debate. Dr Newman has the reputation of being a clever man, but his career shows that he lacks the stability necessary for a representative of the people. At one time a medical practitioner of some repute, he forsook that profession to join a mercantile firm in Wellington, and now he has turned journalist. “ Everything by turns, and nothing long,” is a quotation which might fitly be applied to him, and have already too many of such “ dabblers ” in the House of Representatives for us to desire to see their number increased. As to his views on public questions, they are of that vague kind one naturally expects from an inexperienced politician. He declares himself in favor of Major Atkinson’s Government, while he expresses opinions of such an extremely radical nature on certain matters as are quite at variance with the policy of the Premier and his colleagues. The chances of the third candidate, Mr Thomas Dwan, being returned to Parliament would appear to be very slight. Judging from his addresses, he is by far the least able of those presenting themselves, his only qualification seeming to be a decided power to make long speeches, in which important questions are treated with unbecoming flippancy. As we have said, Mr Bunny is so undoubtedly the most eligible of the three candidates for the Thorndon seat that, although we by no means agree with all his opinions, we hope to see him returned once more to Parliament.

Some time ago it was reported that Mr Allan McDonald, member for the East Coast, was about to resign his seat, as lie intended to pay a visit to England. This news was not received with unmixed regret, as Mr McDonald had never been regarded as either a useful or an ornamental member of the Legislature. Lately, however, contradictory reports as to the intentions of this eccentric representative have reached us, and now a telegram comes from Auckland stating that he has left for England by the outgoing San Francisco mail, without having previously forwarded his resignation to the Speaker, If this is true, Mr McDonald has been guilty of conduct that deserves the most serious reprobation, and it is no wonder that his constitqents are highly indignant with a member of whom they must long ago have become heartily ashamed. The story from Auckland is told so circumstantially, and the language used is so characteristic of Mr McDonald, that it is difficult to doubt its truth, in spite of the contradiction contained in more recent telegrams, which state that the member for the East Coast has after all left his resignation in the hands of his solicitor. Should this, however, turn out to be the case, another vacancy in Parliament will be created, and at all events it will not be easy to find a representative that will less worthily fill the seat than did the late member, who it is to be fervently hoped will never again be able to obtain a place in a New Zealand House of Representatives,