The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16,1908 THE GISBORNE SEAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2351, 18 November 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16,1908 THE GISBORNE SEAT.

The majority of people believed thi.it the Hon. J. Carroll would be ■re-elected for another term as local representative, in Parliament, but-few were prepared for t'he overwhelming vote in his favor disclosed by yesterday’s poll. The result is a remarkable tribute to the personality of one of the most popular of public men in the Dominion. This journal is entirely opposed to the politics of the Native Minister, and has not hesitated to say so, hut at the same time we find it by no means difficult to congratulate the lion, gentleman upon his great victory. It is the easier to do this bv reason of the fact that whatever faults he may possess, Sir. Carroll is a clean fighter and in the campaign that may now be couriered as practically closed he fought in a spirit worthy of the highest traditions of our political contests- The unsuccessful candidates, as they themselves stated, had nothing to regret so far as their connection with.the campaign was concerned. Mr. Darton has every reason to be gratified at the strong support he ree-fived but we think he. would 1 e wise- to recognise the inevitable and siy. the country the expense of a..second ballot. Rightly or wrongly the dldiict will have none other than the . James Carroll as its Parliame r-.a ry representative, and .after yesterday's conclusive demonstration of the fact it would be futile for Mr. Darton to pursue the issue further ct the present time. The Opposition candidate, Mr. Clayton, did not :c :rvi the sup port that it might reasonably have been expected would be forthcoming, hut he is nevertheless to be complimented upon his courage and disinterestedness in coming forward ei. d taking up a fight which we fancy hp must in his own heart have real ised from the start could only end e one way. It would have been tie plorable bad the Opposition party allowed the seat to go by default, and Mr. Clayton in standing fer the principles lie did, has m; reason to regret his candidature. He vorihiiy upheld the banner of the Opposite n Party, and the fact that at the moment success was virtually a.i unpossi bility in no wise detracts from t v o merits of his fight. During the campaign aud prior to it we ha:o iiceJy criticised the Native M in '-lev. particularly from the aspect of his special duty to the district l.e represents, and we shall continue to do so but in the meantime we extend to him our cordial congratulations upon his magnificent victory, and upern tin renewed manifestation -if public confidence in himself.