Wellington Independent TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1880. THE COMING ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 20, 9 November 1880, Page 2

Wellington Independent TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1880. THE COMING ELECTION.

An absurd canard was recently published by the Wanganui Herald that a journalist from "town" was to brought out as a candidate for Manawatu at the forthcoming general election. The Marton paper, which is rapidly falling into a species of literary busybody, minding the business of every district but its own, professes to interpret the rumour of the Wanganui Herald as meaning j that Mr G. G. Fitzgerald, editor of the Wanganui Chronicle, a«pires to being the representative of Manawatu, and thereupon pronounces a glowing panegyric upon the abilities Mr Fitzgerald would display if he were elected for this constituency. We are not aware, of course, whether Mr Fitzgerald will respond to the scratching his back has receive 1 by suggesting that the editor of the Marton paper would be a fitting representative for Wanganui, instead of Mr Ballance We don't think he will. When Mr Fitzgerald does announce himself as a candidate for the suffrages of the electors of Manawatu, we shall have something to say about even him, and the prospect of his doing any I

good for this district as a member of Parliament, but until he does we will dismiss him from mind. Nevertheless, the remarks that have been made about Mr Fitzgerald, or whoever else this " dark horse " may be, bring to mind the necessity o the electors thus early taking steps to determine upon whom their choice shall fall at next election. It is tacitly admitted upon all sides —as well by Mr Johnston, we believe, as the electors — that our present representative will not again sit for Manawatu. Such being the case, it is desirable that direction should be [ given to public opinion, and that the electors should have brought before I their minds the desirability of seeking ! out some gentleman possessing the necessary qualifications to represent their cause in Parliament. Speaking generally, four qualifica- ! tions are necessary in a representa- ! tive. He should bo a man of character, upon whose word implicit reliance can be placed, and who has by his uprightness and integrity gained the confidence of the people whose representative he aspires to be. Secondly, he should possess sufficient ability to be able to place the wants of his district — as regards i both legislation and administration — before cither the Government or the House ; and he should bo capable of forming an intelligent opinion upon broad questions of Colonial policy. Thirdly, his interests should be identified with those of the persons he seeks to represent; so that in the work of legislation he may not be swayed to the right hand nor to the left, but literally and truly represent his constituency; and also, in the expenditure of public moneys, -secure as far as possible justice to his district. Lastly, he should be a man with sufficient force of character to be able to resist the efforts of crafty politicians to ensnare or wheedle him ; and who would not sell his constituents' birthright for a mess of Ministerial pottage. Those are the qualifications which the electors of Manawatu should seek in their future representative. '' Mr Johnston's failure has been under the third head. His interests not being indentified with Manawatn, he has not thrown himself with heartiness into the work of advancing the district. His voting for the ! abolition of the payment of the 20 per cent, of land fund to the Counties, and his laggardness in the matter of the West Coast railway, arc sufficient proofs of this. As to the future, it is pretty certain Manawatu will not again return a non-resident member. The opinion is gaining ground that a second rate local man would be better and more : reliable thau another absentee. Fortunately, however, there are gentlemen in the district constantly taking part in public matters, who are capable of doing credit to themselves and the constituency as member for Manawatu. Foremost amongst these stands Mr D. H. Macarthur, the present County Chairmun. In an eminent degree Mr Macarfchur fulfils the qualifications we have mentioned as indispensable in a good representative. Ho is a man of stern rectitude, high business ability, clear headed, endowed with great force of character, and whose interests are necessarily identified with the County as a whole, not only from his position as County Chairman, j but because of the large stake he holds in it. We are of course aware his interests lie almost exclusively at the northern end, but he is a man who, if we know him at all, would do evenhauded justice to both North and Sonth, whilst the interests of the North are as a matter of fact identified with those, of this end. He is at present esteemed, both publicly and privately, by the settlers throughout the County, and there can belittle doubt that if he were to contest an election tomorrow for the House of Representatives, he would be returned as against any man that could be brought against him. Whether Mr Macarthur will contest the seat is uncertain, as we have not discussed the subject with him. Mr Halcombe's ambition to sit for Manawatu is well known, and doubtless he will at all hazards follow the injunction of the hymn which encourages those who do not succeed the first time to try again. Mr Halcombe, however, will never be returned, we believe, by the people of this district, unless it is simply to keep a worse man out. Possibly the relative positions he and Mr Macarthur sustain to each other in con nection with the Feilding Corporation would be an obstacle to the latter ! gentleman coining forward. Still we do not anticipate that ; as, if Mr Halcombe were plainly assured that the electors would not have him as their representative, he would be scarcely likely to court another defeat. So far as we can see at present, circumstances point to Mr Macarthur as " the coming man."