Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2369, 27 January 1915, Page 4

ing energetically to secure fcho success of its candidate, and the contest promises to be a close one. In handing in his resignation rather than allow it to be said that he had won on a technicality, Mr. Statham has acted in a most generous spirit. li{ fact, many of his friends consider that he has been almost quixotic in his generosity. And yet some of his opponents are so blinded by party prejudice that they have not hesitated to make the amazing suggestion that he should have given Mr. Munro a walk-over. It is not enough for them that the people should be given an opportunity of declaring their will in' an unmistakable manner. They want Mb. Statham to throw over his own friends and supporters and present the seat to the other side. Such a suggestion is, of course, too ridiculous For serious consideration. Mr. Statham has a duty to his supporters and to the constituency' as a whole. It is not merely a personal matter. The principal consideration is that the choice of the people should be definitely ascertained, and in view of all the circumstances the only way to enable this to be done was to have another election. Mr. Stathah's action stands out as one of the most chivalrous incidents, in the history of New Zealand politics. _ He was quite entitled to take his seat in Parliament in the ordinary way. There was nothing whatever to stop him from doing bo had he so > the majority of politicians would probably have acoeptcd the official declaration of the poll by the Returning Officer as final and conclusive, and acted upon it. Bui Mb. Statham was unwilling to profit by the mistake of an official which told against his opponent, and resigned his seat in order 'to set at rest all doubts as to whether he or Mr. Munro had the support of a majority of the voters.. His resignation has given his opponent an opportunity of fighting the battle over again on equal terms with himself, and has placed the matter once more in the hands of the electors'of Dunedin Central. 'This is absolutely fair to both candidates and to the constituency, Mr; Statham has proved himself one of the ablest and most promising of the younger generation of New Zealand politicians. During the previous Parliament he showed that he'had a firm grasp of the political questions of the day, and the people of Dunedin Central would do well to retain his services as their representative. His sportsmanlike action in resigning his seat in order to have a straight<mt fight and an indisputable decision will certainly meet with the hearty approval of fair-minded men and women throughout New Zealand.