Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1890. The Coming Election.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 7 October 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1890. The Coming Election.

Thk (i-.>\ eminent have put oii' the date f>r lidding tlie election till the fifth <-f iu'i-tniWr. This unquestionably i.i a Invach of faith with the leader of the O]>position, and at present the (■SovovnniL-nt have assigned no satisfactory reason for thw delay. For our own part we are oetter pleased at the lengthened time, as it will prevent thy electors from being " rushed " at a candidate, and will allow them to ascertain s^methia? of

any political Tiews they may hold. We have Mr Wilson's outline on those point! he considers of prominence, and we have had Mr Pi rani's. These two candidates have very clear and distinct platforms, as one fights under the banner of bir Harry Atkinson, the other undor the protection of the Hon. John Ballance. Were these the only two the choice would not be hard, but we have still a third candidate who has not yet spoken. We understand that Mr Stevens has no support from either the Government or the Opposition, ao that it becomes very interesting to know what he will do if elected. We think all should abstain from making promises of support until the candidates have declared. There is one matter we should like to say a few words on, and that is, that every candidate should urge upon his supporters to see that the election is conducted fairly and orderly, so that this district may be saved from the reproach that the Unionists have caused to Wellington. The other night when Mr Bell, a gentleman, who being a candidate for the Wellington City, addressed his first meeting, an organised opposition was arranged feo interrupt his spea'ung and disturb the meeting. Anything more unfair, and likely to frustrate its object, can hardly be conceived, and it casts a disgrace ou the community of which the rowdies torm a part. The theory about holding an election is, that the voters exercise their judgment as to the candidate who will best represent them, and the electors are as much interested as any one, to secure a fair hearing to each speaker. We feel quite sure that the candidates' friends who cause the first commotion will do more harm than good tor their man, a^ nothing so excites the average Briton as opposition. We hope to be able, to say, at the close of the contest, that even tiling passed oft' pleasantly.