THE RANGITATA ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1664, 16 September 1887, Page 3

THE RANGITATA ELECTION.

(•« Temoka Leader," Se^t 10) 3 Wo are glad to learn that Mr Boston's 0 prospects of winning the Ringitata B9at c for tho Goverrniant are brighter than r euon the most sanguine of his supporters eipected. On the South Canterbury aide • of the river he will, according to the 1 most authentic accounts, poll twice bb - many votes as his opponent, and, if we 1 are to believe the rumors which have • reached us from the Ashbucton aide, the t people there are still more enthusiastic i m hia favor. There ia therefore little • doubt of Mr Buxton being eleoted, and 3 we are glad of it, for we know few more f deserving of public confidence. His 1 knowledge of politics may not be so i thorough as that of the Opposition can- ' didate ; it could not be expected of him I that his acquaintance vviih facts and L figures would ba equal to Mr Ro leaton'a. i The latter gentleman has fur a quarter of > century been well paid for studying them, r while Mr Bnxton has been ftadying b< w 1 to mike a living out of farming. We 1 feel assured thet farmers will fully realise i j that the task of making both ends meet ' on a farm m these days of low prices and 1 heavy taxation is a very difficult one, and ' maka allowances for Mi Bnxton. He understands tae wants of farmers ; he la undoubtedly honest, straightforward and earueat ; no one who knows him would doubt his word, and he is thoroughly able to give expression to his opinions m a olear and incisive manner. To our mind he is an ideal farmer representative, but apart from this he has selected tho leadership of Sir 'Robert Stout, and that In itself ought to be sufficient recommendation for him. He has declared himself a Ministerialist, and everyone who knows him wi'l believe that he will homstly Adhere to the party under whoee banner he has enlisted. This then is the moat important qneßtion. Are wo going t>i replace Sir Robert Stout m power or hand over the management of the affaire tf this colony to the tender meroles of the Continuous Ministry. Mr Boston favors Sir Robert Stout. M»jor Atkinson and Mr Kolleßton appeal to be welded together aB inseparably as the Simeße twins. The electors have rather to choose between Sir Robert Stout and Major Atkinson than between Messrs Buxton and Rolleston, and we think they will not have much <?iffioalty m comiDg to a cocolusioa on the subject The people are well acquainted with the history of the Atkinson party ; they koow to their cost the pernicious influence they have exerofsed over thia beautiful colony, and they are not likely to desire that they should be re-f placed m power. There is a gre^t deal o capital m ide out of the weight Mr Rollee ton would have m the Bouse, but thin can only influence those who want the weight on Major Atkinson's 6ide. Every member of the House h*B a vote, and Jn a division one man's vote counts as much as another's For instance, Mr Boston's vote, if eleoted, will la a division count one, and Sir Robert Stout's vote will count j no more The question of weight, therefore, resolves iißelf Into " What Bide of ; the House do you wish your representative to record his vote," and there is ' nothing more m it. One man's vote is aa ( weighty aB another s, and the ques ion j is : Is the weight to be put on the right or the wrong side ? On one thing we may congratulate Mr Burton. He la cortesticg tho seat with, a gentleman, and he ] haß not been subject to abuse or violence. Mr Rolleaton ia too well-bred to coun- 1 teoanco followers who resort to mudslinging. He realises too well the value of an honorable repuatlon to tarnish it with such associations, and hence the tm mnnity Mr Buxton enjoyß. Mr Buxt>n ' has everything m his favor, and ho will, we feel cure, score an easy victory, the c pleasure of v.h'ch will be unalloyed with | the slightest recollection of . bltto* opposition. . 1