POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 566, 8 November 1902, Page 3

POLITICAL.

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, last night' The Fox ton correspondent of the New Zealand Times stales that Mr Piram, late member for Palmerston, intended to contest the Manawatu seal, against Mr John Stevens, hut Mr Piram, in answer to a question on the subject, stated that he had been asked to contest the seat, but had declined to do so, in view of the fact that Mr Vile .is already in the field on behalf of Ihe Opposition. It is understood that Mr Luke is to receive the support of the Ministerial Party for Newtown.

REPLY BY MR MCLEAN. Napier, yesterday. Replying to those who had asued

him to stand for the Napier-seat, Mr McLean said he felt very much flap fered and 'honored at the requisition they iiad made to him. It was, naturally, a matter to which lie had given a great deal of consideration, lie realised, of course, that when a man accepted such a responsibility, lie took upou himself very onerous duties, He could honestly say that when lie ivns their member, he tried to represent all classes in the community, irrespective of the political views they held prior to the election. He did not, however, at this late stage, see his way to come forward as a candidate for the House, though he hoped on a future occasion to ask them to elect him as their representative. It was not for him to disclose the reasons of his present refusal, but he had not done with public life in New Zealand, whose interests he had at heart as well as any man in the colony. He had never shirked any public duty since he had i l ' - "'’ j" tll« Community, and ho hoped ' that they would realise tiie fact that in refusing to stand lie did not wish to shirk any responsibility. Under tiie present condition of things, lie did not see his way clear to stand. He desired to speak plainly and cxuididly about certain tilings in connection with the Opposition side of their political life. He regretted that in this prow ince, as in other parts of the colony, there were men of wealth and position who apparently did not take the slightest interest in the general welfare of the community ; so engaged were they in their own affairs, that they never seemed to bother their heads in the slightest way about the future of the country. Such a condition of affairs, he thought, was utterly contemptible, and he felt strongly on the matter. Hp was pleased to think that they were satisfied with his efforts whilst he had represented them in Parliament. It was a difficult position, for they would recognise the enormous advantage tiiat tiie Government side had had over those in Opposition, and, they had seen how Government money nad been spent in constituencies for political purposes. Unless the people took a greater interest in the public affairs of the colony, they would find, before many years were over that the colony would he in a state they little dreamed of now. When that day came—he hoped it would not come—the people, he supposed, would come to honest and independent men who did not seek oolitical life for self-interest, but who would work for the general welfare of the colony. If the present condition Of affairs went on, the day would arrive when the colony would he in a -,position compared to which the time •when Sir Harry Atkinson succeeded Sir George Grev would ne a mere trifle- He thanked them again, hut he could not at the present time accede to their request, though he would always help as a private individual to further the interests of Napier, e’s Bay. and the colony.—(Loud applause.)