The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1887. "THE VOICE OF THE COTNTRY."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1629, 6 August 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1887. "THE VOICE OF THE COTNTRY."

It seems strange that at a crisis m our affairs like the present, when an important issue is before the country : when political feeling runs exceptionally nigh, and when both parties are showing an unusual amount of zeal and energy to secure the return of their respective candidates, it seems strange we say, that so many seats should remain unconteited. This is to be regretted for what is wanted at the present election is to ascertain the views of the people with regard to the question submitted to their arbitrament of the ballot-box. This cannot be ascertained m a satisfactory manner, when m a considerable number of the electoral districts the electors have not the privilege of exercising the franchise. On going through the latest list of candidates we notice that there is just one-fifth of the electorates for which one candidate only is " out," and for which, at present at least, it seems probable that the ballot-box will not be called into requisition. Now it roust be patent to every one, that, with such a large proportion as 20 per cent of the electorates un polled, the result cannot be regarded as satisfsctorily expressing the voice of the people, and especially so if the majority for or against the Government prove to be a small one. For this reason we are very glad to find that Mr C. W. Purnell, with a courage which does him credit, has at last annoonced himself a candidate for the suffrages of the electors of Ashburton. Mr Purnell m his preliminary address, states that he does so m deference to the wish of a large number of the electors, and m order to give the constituency an opportunity of saying "Yea or Nay' to the financial proposals of the Ministry. In this case the decision of \ the electorate will be given with no uncertain sound, for without m the least anticipating the emunciation of his political views, we may state that Mr Purnell is an out-and-out Freetrader — a Freetrader of Freetraders— -and contests the seal on the Opposition ticket, while Mr Walker, as is equally well known, is a right good staunch supporter of the Government. Mr Purnell Is widely. ! known and respected, and though we differ from his views we are glad that he has come forward. Personally he can " have no axe to gaind * — unless indeed he be a land monopolist and wishes for cheap labor through the operatien of Freeirade though we must confess that we have never heard & whisper or even an insinuation of such an imperchment — and therefore we are bound to receive with implicite and unhesitating confidence, his assurance that his object m coming" forward is to give the constituency and opportunity of saying Yea or IsJay to the financial proposal of the Ministry, and this we may be sure the constituency will do m a very emphatic manner.