THE RIVAL CANDIDATES FOR THE DUNSTAN ELECTORATE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1035, 9 December 1881, Page 3

THE RIVAL CANDIDATES FOR THE DUNSTAN ELECTORATE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik, —We know that at election time, to serve the cause of a candidate with whose political views they agree, or it may be solely to gratify some unworthy feeling, many persons are found, who, while professing to serve the cause of right ami the public cause, are yet willing to “pervert the prophets and purloin the Psalms,” if by so doing there is the smallest chance of gratifying their desires either through the Press, or h_y their personal influence •on weaker minds. With such, honor and truth, ami the character of their favored

■candidate, as wed as the credit of the Press, are matters of small moment. I make these remarks in reference to a report of Mr Poke’s Alexandra meeting appearing in the ‘‘ Ucag.) Witness,” as also to a letter, “From a Mauuherikia Point of View,” signed “Elector,” in the “ Cromwell Argus,” both‘evidently from the same person. It is plain, from the pitiful display of feeling against Mr Pyke and the distorted form in which his speech at Alexandra, and his exeitions m connection with the public works of the district have been placed before the public, that Mr Fraser’s fiiemle are not quite unimpeachable, and that Mr Fraser’s candidature would be better served by their silence than by their speech or writing, and certainly Mr Fraser can have little reason to be satisfied with their advocacy. Now, as one who does not wholly agree with Mr Pyke’s political views, and have no spleen to give vent to against either candidate, I siy emphatically that it is the duty of every elector who is able to appreciate the past labors of Mr Pyke on behalf of settlers—many of whom in this district owe the possession of their landed property in a great measure to his exertions on behalf of the agricultural lease system—l say that if they duly value such services, and consider the value of his labors in the establishment of the form of local government we now have, and in promoting the interests of the county particularly and the interior generally by railway projects, they will not he doing tlWr duty to themselves or to society if they fail to vote for him. Of course those whose interests have been injuriously affected or placed in jeopardy by his public lalera cannot be expected to agree with this view, and, without any moral or intellectual bias, naturally gravitate to the other side. This is not surprising, but what is surprising is this - that so many little minds throughout the electorate should exptet the mass to sympathise with their feelings and aims and be led, on behalf of the public interest to vote for Mr Fraser.

Now, what are the issues raised as between the candidates upon which electors should vote S One is very broad in regard to < lie public character of both to what each has done for the commonweal ; the other is very narrow, and refers to the comparative character of both as gentlemen. No question of great public interest, apart from such issues appear to be involved in ihe contest. Both are professed Liberals—whatever that means in the colonies. Mr Hall thinks that a poor man is necessarily opposed to rights of property, ami that a rich man should havc tw v o* dr more votes, and we know as it'fact that nearly all the Laud Acts in the colony havq, been formed by Liberals, and that

land swindles to' a largo extent have boon carried out under the provisions cf such Acts. The Halt Ministry are clearly bent on making our Laud Act useful, so ns to promote the sinister designs of thu pastoral tenants on the public estate, Mr Win Fraser’s ftiends claim that ho hits been of some use to the Government on the land as well as on the rabbit question. Very likely 3 What that means would ho to inquire too curiously, but the greatest enemy Mr Pyko has would not say that Mr Wra. Fraser’s services t-s member fur the district would tend to a more satisfactory settlement of tho land question than thereof Mr Pyko. The chief question the electors are called upon to decide is the gentleman question. Mr Fraser asks for support on tho ground that he is a gentleman, and his opponent not one. Now, that is a rather do. licate question for the public ,to decide by the ballot.

“ Worth makes the man, and want cf it the fellow ; The last is nought, but leather or prunella . and though Mr Fraser may he the wisest, most virtuous, and greatest of mankind in this district, yet, as virtue is its own reward, and the public have had no proof of his transcendental qualities, it would have been better lor him m t lo have raised tho question. Of Ins public worth no one in die county can say much, seeing that he lias done so little for the common weal, and as compared to Mr Pyke he has not a plank to stand upon. Mr Fraser first proposed Mr Pyke as Chaiiman of the Bounty Council. I presume this was the act of a gintlemm who now asks the electors to discredit his own judgment and to return him as their representative, partly for what his friends must regard as his equivocal services to lha cause of local government in proposing Mr Pyke.—l ant, etc.,

SCRUTATOR. Alexandra, Deo. 5, 1881.