The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1884. The Local Elections.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1311, 23 July 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1884. The Local Elections.

Considering that throughout the election we have consistently supported the candidature of Mr W, C. Walker for the Ashburton seat and that of Mr John Grigg for the Wakanui constituency, it goes without saying that the result of yesterday’s polling is satisfactory to ourselves. The opinions has been frequently expressed in these columns, that the second Parliament elected in this colony under what is substantially manhood suffrage would contain members of a higher calibre than did the first. The reason for this opinion is obvious enough. When men are given a new privilege it is almost inevitable in many instances that it should be used unwisely. Electors are carried away by the excitement of the moment and are apt to record their votes for the men whose only merit is that that they can talk. No more noticeable example of this failing could have been shown than the choosing of Mr Ivess to represent the constituency of Wakanui in the House of Representatives, and it is therefore a matter for congratulation that that district has seen the error of its ways. Although Mr Grigg only declared his intention to contest the seat on the day of nomination, it was soon seen that the late member recognised how strong an opponent he had. Me adopted his usual tactics, and the Mail during the past week has been indulging in the congenial occupation of mud-slinging. Nothing was too petty to rake up for the purpose of damaging Mr Grigg, but the reputation of that gentleman stands too high for it to be affected by the carping of mean minds. The real point at issue in this Wakanui election was whether an agricultural district should be represented by a successful farmer, whose interests were identical with the majority of the electors, or by a political windbag, whose services in the last Parliament amounted to very little and whose influence in the House was absolutely nil. That the constituency has chosen wisely, and has not allowed itself to be deceived by mere claptrap and arguments framed to catch the vulgar car, affords gratifying proof that the danger which at first was naturally attached to the granting of manhood suffrage has passed away. There is, however, no need to say more of Mr Ivess, who will now retire to that obscurity whence he was brought forth at the previous general election, with questionable advantage to this district. Regarding the contest for the Ashburton seat, we are glad to say that, so far as the principals were concerned, the fight was fought fairly and honorably. Both Mr Walker and Mr Wason were "personally respected; and there was perhaps little to choose between them in that particular, while there was a cleat line of distinction to be drawn between the policies they advocated. Unfortunately, the friends of Mr Wason were not blessed with a superfluity of wisdom or tact, and he may probably ascribe his defeat as much to their actions as to his having entered into what a large number of electors considered an unnatural alliance during the latter ddys of his electoral campaign. A good deal of absurd twaddle has been spoken and written lately about clique ism in Ashburton, and it was sought to place upon Mr Walker the stigma of being the tool of a special section of the community. The result of the polling is the best answer to -this accusation, and we are glad to say that the attempt to set class against class, and to raise up absolutely false issues has met with the failure it so thoroughly deserved. For ourselves, we feel sure that both Wakanui and Ashburton will be fitly served by their members in the new Parliament. Mr Walker does not possess the special knowledge of legislative business which his predecessor had, but he is a man of keen common sense and practical experience of local requirements. That Wakanui has gained by the substitution of Mr Grigg for Mr Ivess is a question upon which we should imagine there could not be two opinions in the minds of* sensible men. It would be an insult to the new representative to hint at a comparison, and we feel sure that the present member for Wakanui will soon make his presence felt ip tfig House to some good purpose.