Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 955, 28 February 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1871.

The ten gentlemen who stand before the constituency of Napier Town district, as candidates for the honor of representing it in the Provincial Council do not act in the most courteous manner towaids the electoral body. With one solitary exception, nothing that can be called an address to the electors was published previous to the nomination; at the hustings two of the candidates failed to put in any appearance ; and of the eight who did appear before the electors, (with the exception above mentioned) not one had any political platform upon which to take his stand. Even on the education question and the uniform household rate for educational purposes, the most vague and unsatisfactory replies were given to the questions of the electors. All of the candidates told much the same tale—they acknowledged the objectionable character of the rate, but had nothing better to substitute for it, and on that account thegreater numberof them could not promise to seek its repeal. We are unable to tind in any of the addresses, either of the candidates or thesr friends, one .solitary reason why any of them should seek the responsible position of representatives. Between the day of nomination and that of taking the poll an opportunity was afforded those gentlemen to remedy the omission of which we complain, and if on consideration any of them could think of any subject on which to express their opinions to the electors, ample opportunities have been afforded for the purpose, but four days are already passed and the day of polling rapidly approaches, without bringing forth anything of a more satisfactory character, and the electors have nothing to guide them in the choice beyond the vague and most unsatisfactory commonplaces expressed on the nomination day.

The only way in which we can account for the nonappearance of customary addresses to the electors is that the candidates, one and all, are totally unprepared to legislate ; and we cannot help regretting that five men could not be found who could give some valid reason for asking the suffrages of the electors, and an outline of the policy

which they proposed to pursue in the event of their being returned. Beside the question of the education rate, there were two others brought before the 'notice of the candidates, these were the payment of country members and the Pet missive Bill. Tt may be worth while to examine the sentiments expressed on these several points by each of the candidates, but we must reserve this discussion until to-morrow.