The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3099, 3 June 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1881.

We have said on previous occasions that the next general elections will make some difference in the representation of the Hawke's Bay constituencies, and, as time wears on, it is more and more evident that the component parts of bar local political parties have become somewhat mixed. Mr Ormond, who in former years was always regarded as the conservative of conservatives, is now looked upon as a convert to liberalism. And some of the chiefs of the head centre of liberal reform have been heard to declare that had they really known Mr Ormond's views they would, never have opposed him. But, in truth, Mr Ormond has not changed. He has always been anxious to help himself and those belonging to his class, knowing that the legislation which would benefit the large producers must of necessity be of advantage to the country. For this he has been charged with selfishness, but it is a selfishness that very few can find any fault with. His late address to the electors appears to have put him on better terms with many of his constituents, and his return to Parliament for Clive is as certain as most things can be in this world. NTot so with our other two representatives. Before the elections there will be a re-dis-tribution of seats, and the Napier constituency will be divided into the Napier town and. Napier country districts. Now, it may be a curious circumstance to those not behind the scenes that neither of our old representatives expresses himself desirous of continuing to represent the town. They are, however, both anxious to stand for the country. We do not know whether in Parliamentary society a seat in tbe House for a country constituency is considered more respectable than a seat for a borough, but, so far as we can ascertain, neither Captain Russell nor Mr Sutton has up to the present time any intention to stand again for the town. The true reason of their apparent desertion of the principal portion of their old constituency may, perhaps, be found in tbe fact that no man courts defeat. There can, however, be no doubt about this, that there is a general impression in the minds of electors Jthat neither of the two would stand much chance of being returned for the town. It remains therefore an open question as to whether the members have deserted the town, or the town turned its back upon the members. Be that as it may, the town owes nothing to its representatives, who, indeed, have been as incapable of devising as thye have been powerless to execute any scheme for the I advantage of their constituency in general or of this borough in particular. Mr Ormond has represented the town in a greater degree than Captain Russell and "Mr button put together. A good instance of this was furnished in the matter of the Meanee racecourse reserve. It was known to the Government equally as well as it was to our three Hawke's Bay members, that the town coveted that reserve for a public pleasure ground. When tbe Jockey Club resigned its lease over the land, to whom did the Government refer the nomination ot the Domain Board P Not to Mr Sutton j not to Captain Kussell; but to

Mr Orraoad. It was not a question that affected MrOrmond's constituency; but, nevertheless, the two Napier members were ignored in a matter that intimately concerned the town. Mr Orraond, having nominated the Board, informed Captain Russell of what he had done. He did not submit the names for the approval of the town members; he, apparently, considered that quite unnecessary. Captain Russell disapproved of the constitution of the Board, and entered a feeble protest, which had just as much effect as though it had come from a mere nobody. A thousand town electors then signed a petition to the Government praying that the reserve might be vested iv the Corporation, and this petition was treated with contempt, because the Ministry knew that they could afford to do so with such halt-hearted representatives as the town possessed. And these things occurred at a time when the Government knew itself to be too weak to carry out its own proposals. If either Mr Sutton or Capt. Russell had gone to Mr Rolleston when he was here, and said to him that they intended to stand by their constituency, the Government would have made a virtue of necessity and done an act of common justice. But our members neither supported the petition by word or deed, and their passive resistance to it confirmed the Ministry in the impression that, in leaving the matter in Mr Ormond's hands, the best course had been followed. Under these and other circumstances we think our two members have shown a wise discretion in holding back from soliciting again the suffrages of the town electors. Unless existing intentions are altered the two will oppose each other for the country districts, an arrangement that, with a little organisation, will enable a third candidate to slip in. We have thus a prospect of some " new blood " being sent to the House.