Manamatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 18. 1895. The Auckland Seat.

Manawatu Herald, 18 July 1895, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 18. 1895. The Auckland Seat.

"• ' ■ A great deal of trouble has arisen in Auckland over the nomination of a Government candidate. We have read of telegrams from the Premier and the Minister of Labour having been sent offering the gratuitous services of a Minister, who should travel to that City at the expense of the public, to secure such unanimity amongst the Unions as should lead them to agree to support the particular man the Government think will be most amenable to their directions. AMr Napier appears to be the moving spirit, and for a time showed a desire to act, either independently or in accord with the Liberals in his town, as he favoured the nomination of a Mr John Fawcus, an employee in the Government printing office in Wellington. Mr Fawcus was induced to travel to Auckland, thus leaving, his employment, and was duly nominated for tbf Seat last Saturday. Hence all the trouble. For iom« roiuon, not

yet disclosed, the Premier desired that a Mr Thompson should be the Party's candidate, atld in a telegram to Mr Jackson Palmer said " Napier has telegraphed to me more than once he would support Thompson. He has telegraphed UoW advlsiiig Thompson should be withdrawn. Jbly reply to him will be that we prefer to lose the seat rather than allow deceit, treacheiyj and trickery td preV&il.'' Showing clearly that the blood of the Seddons has been aroused. The Central Council met the day following the receipt of this | alarming announcement) add carried a resolufeiob proposed by Mr Napier, by 12 votes to 8, leaving out 7 votes which abstained from voting, asking Mr Fawcus to retire; Thß numbers of vdtes &re worth repeating, there were in all 27 votes, 12 of which were only used in asking Mr Fawcus 1 to retire. On this very unsatisfactory result* the Government organ in Wellington burst out yesterday with " We congratulate the Central Council on the sensible practical resolution' passed Jast night. . . They, it is evident understand Party Government and value its power." From the telegrams which have been made public, Party Government i 3 shown to mean the dictation of the Premier, for he was ready to lose the seat rather than submit to Mr Napier's change of mind. It mattered nothing to the Liberal Government whether Mr Napier was right or wrong in his guaging of the feeling of the electors, he had more than once said he would support Thompson, and afterwards found Thompson not so popular as Fawcus, but as Thompson was the man for the Government he must be put in at all hazards and Napier must not change his mind. All this is a pretty little row and is useful to show the way the wind blows in Liberal politics. The Government must have all their Party men to " toe the line " as the Premier warned some discontent last session, and it shows, how very little independence is to be expected from members of the Government party. We have the case of Mr Fawcus, who cannot be said to be able to do what he thinks best. He was allowed to leave for Auckland in the event the Government not being able to force Thompson upon the Unions, but if they were, then Mr Fawcus must retire. Not a dignified position for one who seeks to be the representative of a number of free men, but such are the Party's orders. The telegrams from Auckland put the matter in a still more unpleasant light, inasmuch as the Liberal party in that City understand the ways of their Government better than we who are outside. Mr Fawcus met his friends after the Central Council passed the resolution asking him to retire, and it was discussed whether he should do so, or carry on the fight. " The only fear expressed" says the telegram, " being that in the event of his defeat it would mean a great injury to his financial prospects." NoS that he would not have a good show, but if he was not elected and the Government nominee was also not elected v " the deceit, treachery and trickery " of the Party would be visited on poor Mr Fawcus and he might find " the value of the power " of Party Government in the appointment he lightly left to have the Honour of serving the electors, being filled up during his absence. Thus is Party " a refreshing thing in the midst of all the twaddle we have lately had about the abolition of Party Government" as the New Zealand Times puts it.