Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1879. A UNITED DISTRICT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 6, 12 September 1879, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1879. A UNITED DISTRICT.

The recent election contest has shown the residents of South Manawatu how large an influence they can wield, if united ; and this fact we regard (apart from the return of our member) as one of its happiest results. We are npw conscious of the possession of power, which can be brought into operation for defensive purposes. In the recent contest, our action was purely of that character, and should ever a similar necessity arise, we anticipate the same unanimity will be aroused, we hope with a correspondingly good result. Just after a successful election contest, all the electors are in a happy frame of mind, and the question has doubtless been asked, why can we not always work so well together, and be a united people ? The reply is plain. Whilst men are differently constituted and work from different motives, there will always be conflicting opinions and methods of acting. Each individual considers his ideas better than those of his fellow^and a contest is the result. A perfectly united community is therefore an impossibility. Nor is it desirable it should be different. Carlyleremarks in one of his works, that " the history of the world is only the record of the doings of its great men." Comparing great things with small, the remark applies to each district and township. Its history is the record of the doings of its leading spirits, and if there were perfect uniformity of opinion, a settled inactivity and lethargy would soon result. But in small communities so many causes combine to promote dissension, that frequently honest differences of opinion gradually become strengthened* into personal dislikes. Old Identities, who have ruled the roast for a number of years, are apt to look upon new comers as intruders, and question their right to interfere at all in public matters ; whilst new comers are at times inclined to regard the Old Identities as antiquated individuals, with cramped ideas. A number of other causes might be particularised, which create and foster unpleasantness and dissension, but we have said enough to show that it would be Utopian to expect the^pajne unanimity at all times, as was awakened during the recent defence election contest. Let \oxa public men be guided by the principles of rectitude, integrity, and patrigtiwa, and let them credit

those who differ from them with equally honorable desires for the public good. With such impulses throbbing throughout the body politic, there would at all times be such confidence in and between the leading men of the district, that our forces could be united on an emergency,^ to the signal defeat of our opponents. Another lesson the late contest teaches, is the necessity of a systematic registration of eveiy person in the district qualified to vote. During the registration months of the present year, we repeatedly brought this matter before the electors, pointing out the strong probability of every vote being required. Our warnings took effect in Sandon and Carnarvon, but Foxton was lamentably deficient in political activity, and as a consequence a great number of persons qualified to vote could not give effect to their opinions, owing to non-registration. Every vote should be hunted up, and enrolled. At Invercargill, a few days ago, the Opposition candidate gained by two votes. In the Manawatu election, without the Wellington votes, Messrs. Johnston and Halcombe would have run very closely. We trust the electors of Foxton will profit by this experience, and when the registration period again returns, see that every man in the district, or who is otherwise qualified to vote, is placed on the roll.