BAY OF PLENTY ELECTORATE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2256, 30 July 1908, Page 1

BAY OF PLENTY ELECTORATE.

GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE Considerable) interest lias been cxcitod throughout tho Bay of 1 lonty electorate through tho selection ot Mr. W. I). S. MacDonald, of Motu, as Government candidate. Tho Rotorua “Chronicle” finds the situation thus created to ho a slight by the Government on tho oiglit rojecterl ones, whoso undoubted ability and intelligence lias received scant recognition by tho Party they support. In a loading article tho “Chronicle gives a few particulars of the proceedings, and passes a lev- sensible remarks that cannot fail to be ot interest to all, irrespective ot 1 arty vioivs:— MADE TO ORDER. NOT IN GERMANY. Exception line been taken by a section of tho Press in the Dominion to the great amount oUtimo dovoled by Ministers to stumping tho various electorates, and rightly so, in our opinion. That is ft political movo on tho part of tho Ministers there can bo but one opinion, particularly in the face of certain, accredited Government candidates accompanying these Ministers and on every possible occasion being introduced, to tho electors. “Ticketed candidates” they have been styled, and it is to bo hoped that when tho time arrives the doctors will show their independence by voting for, not the “ticketed candidates,” hut for tho best man ofteiing his services for tho good of the people of tho Dominion generally, and not for any particular party or section of the community, lhe following circular letter which has come into our hands, will convoy a fair idea of tho tactics being resorted to to socuro men who will readily bend to the will of Sir Joseph Ward; men who will'bo as nlialilo in his hands as a pieco of soft india rubber; men who, puppet-liko, will respond when tho string is pulled; who will do as Sir Joseph Ward bids them, quite regardless as to tho consequences to the residents of tho Dominion.

Tho Liberal and Labor Federation of New Zoaluud. P.O. Box 634. Telephone, 350. Head Office, Wellington. 21st April, 1908. Dear Sir. — > In the interests of the Federation, of which tho Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward is President, and of which 1 have the honor to bo secretary, it is desirable in the opinion of the loading Liberals in the Bay of Plenty Electorate to bo ascertained with a view of, if possible, arriving at a conclusion as to which of the prospective candidates would he most likely to successfully contest the soat in the Liberal interest. Among others, your name lias been handed in as one whoso opinion is ot value, and whom I could write confidentially. I may say that any assistance you can (render in this connection will be strictly private as between Sir Joseph Ward, yourself, and myself. The gentlemen whoso names have been submitted as probable candidates, are— Messrs. A. Peebles, Storekeeper, Taneatua. H. It. Hogg, Farmer, Opotiki. D. Lundon, Auctioneer, Rotorua. W. D. S. MacDonald, Farmer, Motu. W. J. Gaudin, Com. Agent, Gisborne. Hindmarsh, Farmer, Awamii. W. D. Lysnar, Solicitor, Gisborne. —Sheridan, Agent, Gisborne. H. G. Armstrong, Farmer, Opotiki. As there is only one Opposition candidate offering it is essential that we endeavor to agree among ourselves so that a mun-to-man fightmay be secured.

Each of the gentlemen named have adopted a reasonable attitude., having loft tho matter entirely in the hands of the Right Hon. tho Premier, who, bofore making a selection, desires the advice of the Liborals throughout the district, and your assistance in this direction will be appreciated. I have the honor to remain, Dear Sirs, Yours Faithfully. E. GALLIOHAN, General Secretary. All is said to be fair in love and war, but wo question the action oi Sir Joseph AVard, as Prime Minister of New Zealand, in allying himseli with any political organisation. It is very evident from the wording of the letter we have printed above that tho country is not governed by the people’s representatives, but by the Liberal and Labor Federation, and that, as tlie “ticketed candidates” will be puppets in tho hands of Sir Joseph Ward, so that gentleman and his colleagues will bo puppets in the hands of the Liberal and Labor Federation, if the electors return men selected by the body named in the manner set forth above. Of tho nine candidates submitted to Sir Joseph Ward for the Bay of Plenty seat, Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald has evidently 'been chosen by the hon. gentleman, as Mr. MacDonald has definitely announced that he is a candidate for the Bay of Plenty seat at the coming general election. Evidently, in Sir Joseph "Ward’s opinion, Mr. MacDonald is the most tact-able, and tlie others, including our townsmen, have been despised and rejected. We are very much mistaken if the electors of the Bay of Plenty will submit to .having any particular individual foisted' on to them; we give them credit for being quite as intelligent as the ordinary individual—quite as intelligent as Sir Joseph Ward, in fact, —and as free and independent electors they will vote for tho candidate who, in their opinion, is likely to be of the greatest service to the Dominion; of the greatest service to the community as a wholo, and not any chosen individual by tho party in power, who, for the past fifteen or sixteen years, has been legislating for one class only, and that class a small minority of the residents of the Dominion. Men of independence is what is required, and for -the good of New Zealand wo trust men of this class only will be returned at the nex-t general election, not those who will blindly follow a particular party : who will have to do as they ore told by the Prime Minister, he ho Sir Joseph Ward or any other mail, We are already suffering from Party legislation; what is now required is men who, independent of party, will legislate for the wellfare of the residents of tho Dominion as a whole. What is to bo thought of men who will place themselves in tlie hands of tile Right Hon. the Premier, to be approved of or .rejected P Are they men who are likely to rebel in event of any action being taken by the party whom they have announced'a servile nllegiancd, that is likely to be detrimental tc the best interests of the Dominion?

Wo arc very much mistaken if tho verdict of tho doctors at the coming election is “No,” and this being so, tho chosen one of Sir Joseph Ward will bo rejected by tho electors just ns ho has rojoct.od tho eight out of nine candidates that were submitted to ’ him for his approval.