The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1441, 11 May 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1881.

In a fetter which appears above Mr Edward Masters informs the electors of tire Grey Valley that he has, owing to ill-health, resigned his seat as one of the members of the Grey Valley Electorate, With our contemporary the Grey River Argus we deeply regret the event—that our sister electorate and the colony should be deprived of the services of one who has at all times proved himself a faithful servant of the public. At this time the West Coast can ill afford to lose such a Representative. Conscientious to a fault, ever ready to assist in fighting our battles against the older and more favored provincial districts, his place in the

ranks will be bard to fill. By his sterling qualities and gentlemanly demeanour in the House, he had won the respect of both friends and opponents, and was at all times listened to attentively. Should the West Coast continue to send men of his stamp to Parliament, then the deep-rooted prejudices that have existed against those whom we have in the past selected as our Representatives will be for ever removed. That this prejudice was in many instances ill-founded we admit, for tb some members from the settled districts the fact of being a goldfields Representative was ‘in ‘itself sufficient cause for everything said dr done to be looked Upon with suspicion. Seeing that a more favorable impression has been made, it behoves the Grey Electorate to select a fitting and suitable successor to Mr Masters-; else all the good lie lias done will simply go for naught. We differ with that portion of our contemporary’s remarks wherein it states that this being the last session of the present Parliament it will not necessarily follow that the member now to be selected will be the one chosen at the next general election. Why not 1 ? The concluding remarks of the same article states, and truly so, that we as a community are judged by ouv Representatives ; therefore we contend that the same care is required in selecting for a session as though for a whole Parliament of three sessions, otherwise the Electorate may for a time be prejudically misjudged. Surely our Greymonth neighbours are not now to be found wanting: they are generally the first to lead the van in all public matters affecting the West ‘Coast, and now when their most vital interest is at stake, we hope to see selfishness laid aside, and that candidates will 'Come forward amongst whom will be found men of education, experience, and integrity ■; and that the one selected may reflect credit on the constituency, and follow in tike footsteps.of his worthy predecessor,-?.rid be reelected at the next genera! 'election. Changes in some respects are lightsome. Too frequent changes in Representative!}, are not, however, beneficial, seeing that it takes one session for a Member to become thoroughly acquainted with the other members, and to know the forms’ and usages of the House. These are too cumbersome by far—the House of Commons being aped in every respect. If the member selected is made of the right grit, the more experience he gains the more valuable are his services to the constituency and the colony. Each candidate should therefore be prepared to say that, if elected for the present vacancy, he is also prepared to reoffer his services at the next general election. Now that we have triennial Parliaments this only means a period of four years. We object to constituencies being experimented upon : either let candidates be prepared to sit the four sessions or refrain from coming forward. Whilst on this subject we would remind our Westbrook and Greenstone readers that it is imperative upon them to see that all persons eligible are placed on tire Electoral Roll. This requires seeing to at once. Section 30 “ Registration Electors Act” provides that after the first roll has been printed, at any time thereafter whenever not less than one hundred names are added to any roll, as herein provided, a new roll shall be formed by inserting there*in the additional names. The same section further provides, that it shall be lawful at any time instead of reprinting the Roll, to print a Supplementary Roll thereto; and a Supplementary Roll shall be printed immediately previous to a general election, or when a vacancy shall occur in the representation of any district. Prom this it will be seen that the printing of a Supplementary Roll now becomes necessary for the Grey Valley Electorate. There is therefore no time to be lost, seeing the Supplementary Roll must be printed prior to the day of nomination. Forms of application can be had from Mr Barton, the Clerk of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Kumara, and when claims to be enrolled are

completed, they may he forwarded, post free, addressed to the Registrar of Electors, Greymouth. In Westbrook and the adjoining terraces thei’e are at least one hundred persons who are entitled to have their names placed on the roll. Should they negl'ect to do this, they signally fail to avail themselves of the privileges placed within their reach, and are neglecting their duty to themselves, to the district, and to the colony.