The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1893. Matters Political

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 126, 13 April 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1 893. Matters Political

« ■- Although there may be no outward and visible signs of what is callt-d political activity in the Kangitikei electorate at the present time, yet there lias been and is an under current moving to which botli sides have contributed, in a greater or lesser degree according to locality. The Ministerial party have, so far, persuaded themselves into the belief that j they are safe to win the Kangitilcei seat, even if they put up a Chinaman, while the Opposition are treating that faith with a contemptuous inditl'erence which is not, in our opinion, justified i by the circumstances of the case. The biggest blunder to make is to despise one's enemy. It is no use attempting to disguise, or conceal, the fact that the financial policy of the Government, joined to the substantial prosperity of the farmers in this part of the electorate, has alienated many electors who, at the last contest, voted for the opposition candidate, Mr Bruce. Another source of weakness lies in the declaration made by Mr Bruce to the effect th.it he does not intend to seek re-election. If he had done this after a possible successor had been chosen by the party to which he belongs, possibly no harm would have ensued, as it is we know that several influential supporters have, consequent upon what Mr Bruce has said, declared their independence, and intention to wait " and see who is coming forward ' before further committing themselves. There is also a lack of poUtical, or any other kind of sympathy, among the Rangitikei electors. The river which lends its name to the electorate divides it in more ways than on.«. The only nexus — the Onepuhi bridge — is a continued source of irritation among residents in the Kiwitea portion of the electorate, who are not likely to forget the old battle they fought, and lost, when the commission sat some years ago, and, so long as the rate has to be paid, that feeling will exist, and be a potent factor in fuvor of a Liberal Ministerial candidate, notwithstanding that the bridge question was never properly within the limits of practical politics. The position is this : A candidate, no matter for what side, may be thought •• a Jit and proper person" on one bank of the river, and the reverse on the other. The candidate therefore who is going to win will be the man who has most friends on one bank of the liaugitikei river, and fewest enemies on the other. It will be well, then, for committees or associations, or whatever names they like best to designate themselves, to keep that point steadily in v : e.v when they pick their candidate. By the way, we would like to contradict a rumour which has been tjuietly butindustrously put about of dissensions in the ranks of the Opposition now in the House. There is not a word of truth in these reports, and there are far more subsoul ial grounds for similar reports on Ihe other side. Mr Bnl lance's health, ii' tv ith&'anding allegations to the contrary, is a very disturbing element, and (here are other causes of disturbance " alloat in the air."