Marlborough Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1881.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 311, 16 November 1881, Page 2

Marlborough Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1881.

A shout time before Mr Dodson was announced to contest the seat for Wairau we briefly sketched the prominent characteristics which should distinguish a representative in our Parliament, and strongly insisted that the private or social character of a caudidate was quite open to comment. This view, we understand, is greatly objected to by Mr Dodson’s supporters, and we lure in consequence, been accused of indulging in personalities. Wc were quite prepared to receive this charge, but we should bo guilty of a gross neglect of duty as a public journal if wc refrained from alluding to any matter affecting the fitness of a caudidate for the high honor of representing this important district in Parliament. If, therefore, during the election Mr Dodson’s supporters consider themselves aggrieved by any allusion to the past which may appear in this journal, we can only say that they will have themselves to thank for it. The truth, naked

and bare, will be expressed by ua without any fear or favor. We find that we are not alone in our opinion as to the necessity and advisability of referring to a candidate’s former career, for our contemporary the I Vairarapa Daily has also discovered that one cannot expect to obtain political figs from social thistles. Its remarks upon this subject run as follows :It lias rereceutly been stated that when a candidate seeks the honor of representing his fellow settlers, his private character and conduct ate not questions which should concern the electors. All they have to do is to decide upon his political principles. A man may be a good politician and yet a bad citizen ; he may not be just and upright in private life, but he may be pure and immaculate in a public capacity. We are led to believe that we can gather grapes ofl thorns, and that the political fruit grafted on a vitiated stem will be blight-proof. Can we believe all this ? Are we, who in small matters inquire anxiously into the character and conduct of persons in whom we place our confidence, to shut our eyes to the character and conduct of a person to whom the well being of live thousand persons it to be committed ? If a gardener, a carpenter, or a eook roquires a character to obtain a place, should not a candidate for the Parliament of New Zealand be expected to produce one ? Is a man to come forward and lay down certain political opinions and say to the olectors you can do what yon like with these, but my private charatcr and conduct are not to bo investigated ? Of course a line must be drawn between private and public matters. It is not right to publicly discuss the private character of any settler who does not place himself before the public prominent position. The moment, however, he does this, the instant he aspires to have a great public trust repoicd in him, his personal fitness for the position he seeks to occupy is a subject of proper and legitimate inquiry. If a man whose conduct and character will not bear investiga' tion conics forward for such a position, the responsibility for any disparaging statements which may be made about him rests srith himself alone. By the very act of coining forward he challenges criticism ; lie invites an expression of public opinion into his character and conduct. It would be easy for any man posiessing an average share of intelligence to ascertain the wants and wishes of a majority of the electors of any constituency, and pledge himself to obtain them, blit it does not follow that such a mail is capable of obtaining a single advantage to his constituents. If we send to Parliament a man who will command the respect of the House, we shall get in the future as we have done in the past—fair consideration for all our requirements. If on the other hand we send to the House a brawler or a windbag, Parliament will punish the constituency for returning such a mau by leaving it oil* in the cold when it knocks at its door for assistance.” It is almost unnecessary to remark that we qaitc agree with our contemporary’s reflections, and wo have no doubt a great majority of the electors will hold a similar opinion.