The Fielding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1884. To-day's Elections

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 18, 22 July 1884, Page 2

The Fielding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1884. To-day's Elections

To-day is one which may truly be said to be " big with the fate " aud future welfare of the Colony of New Zealand. Never before in its history have the electors had such serious responsilities resting upon them, nor such serious questions to consider than those which will be transferred to the shoulders of their representatives, in whose hands will then be left the solution or decision Of the questions now agitating the public mind. Briefly, the leaders who may be returned t_» the House are — Montgomery, with his desire for insular separatidn ; Sir George Grey, with a possible repetition of the miserable fiasco of 1879 ; Sir Julius Yogel, with a large borrowing policy, which will be excused by the urgent need of the completion of the main trunk railway lines in both islands ; and Major Atkinson and Mr John Bryce. As to the latter, a large section of the Press in both islands has arrived at a consensus of opinion that the administration of the Atkinson Government was not so bad after all, and allowing for the mistakes of the two last Ministers of Public Works, and the land fads of Rolleston, they have done i.yery jvell. The Native policy of Mr Bryce was admirable •in many -' respects, although faulty in others, and " all sorts and conditions of men" have agreed that he has undoubtedly prevented a coll ision between the races. Sir Julius Yogel is a new factor in the political emhroglio. He will, if returned, take into the House with him a large following, and under the same conditions Major Atkinson will have with liim a large retinue of supporters. Lately, on the part of some of the Northern men, feelers have been put forth to " test the pulse of public feeling " regarding a possible coalition between Sir George Grey and Major Atkinson. The result has been that such a coalition has been declared altogether outside the range of practical politics. Major Atkinson is too wary' to stultify himself or ruin his political reputation by allying himself with his old and bitter enemy Sir George Grey. With Sir Julius Yogel the case is very different. Under Sir Julius, Major Atkinson , first' served the --country as a Minister. Tlidy were' colleagues in twosucces- ; siye Ministries. There is nothing in the past to prevent a coalition between these two leaders, and even in the present position of parties, each could, •by -making' miitualV concessions or compromises, amalgamate a strong Ministry, A .Ministry composed of such men as Yogel, Atkinson, Bryce, Richardson, Ormonde Wakefield, and BallaNce, with Geo. McLean or Sir Geo. Whitmore in,- the Legislative Council, would prove a powerful Administration', and would, without doubt, command the support of the House and the; universal respect of the i f . coun try. /Nearly all the candidates now standing for the' Wellington town ,and country electorates have in favor of Major Atkinson, and in the event -of a Vogel- Atkinson ; Adihihistiration boing, formed, those :eleoted;tP:day'.wiilj.r6bably be' found supporting such a Government.' i For our immediate district we have two candidates— Messrs D. H. Macarthur and" Tf. l Frase r. 'Mr Bu a « 's cahdidature 'is* '.'simply a. farce, and 'un,. worthy of serious consideration. In Mr D. H. Macarthur the electors have a gentleman who is in every retpect qualified for a f seat 'in- the House. He. has worked hard for . the . district for many years, and in- his.^ofncial con r nectibn with ' Our local bodies he has . undoubtedly promoted the welfare of the district, and proved himself, to be possessed'ofthose qualities necessary to, make a .'. useful- and hard working member of Parliament. Iv Mr Donald Fraser' Mr Macarthur has -a worthy opponent. He possesses many admirable qualities — qualities which add to his private worth, and render him popular with his fellow settlers— but as -a politician Mr Eraser would be found wanting. His opinions oh the

!<■■■■■■■■■»■■■——»—»■*— loading questions of the day aro crude and ill-formed, whilst hia knowledge of the wants aud requirements of the electorate is small, in the extreme. Moreover, Mr Fraser ia a resident of Rangitikei — a fact which should tell in his opponent's favor. Mr Macarthur has three important point- in I his favor, each of which should have weight with tlie electors, viz. — His interests are centred in, and bound up with, the Manawatn ; he has rendered the settlers valuable service during his many years' residence amongst them ; he has the ability, both natural and acquired, to make a good Parliamentary representative. In 'this latter respect he is head and shoulders above his opponent — a fact which should render his success a moral certainty. For the Rangitikei electorate there are two candidaates— Messrs J. Stevens and R. C. Bruce. Tlie latter gentleman is new to public life, and consequently an untried man. His address the other night to a Feilding audience was an able one, and proved him to be a man of talent, as well as an accom--plished speaker. Mr Bruce, in our opinion, would lmike a capital member. We contend, however, that; the want does not yet exist for Mi*Tsruce to supply. In Mr John Stevens the Rangitikei electors have a good representative. He has served his district well and faithfully, and proved himself to be a hard-working, useful, and zealous member. The charges made against him by some of " sitting on a rail," and " what has lie done for the district ?" are mere clap-trap, and of a negative character. It is the old story repeated—" No case ; abuse the other side." We would earnestly advise the Manawatu and Rangitikei electors to vote for D. H. Macahthuk and John Stevens, both of whom have been tried in their several spheres of public dtity and found to be good and worthy representatives.