Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, NOV. 20, 1902. The Election.

Manawatu Herald, 20 November 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, NOV. 20, 1902. The Election.

The electors have now beard both candidates for the representation of this district in Parliament. The views of either candidate are wide enough apart on main issues and it therefore should not bo difficult for electors to decide for whom they vote. Mr John Stevens pins his faith upon Mr Seddon and Mr Vile is ready to support, he knows not whom, anything being better than to have Mr Seddon as Premier of this colony. Those who agree with him in desiring Mr Seddon’s deposition from his high estate will vote for him, but the uselessness of such a proceeding has been overlooked. Take up any paper in the colony., and it will be found set forth that at this election Mr

Seddon is bound to be returned with as big, if not bigger, majority than before. In what a position would Mr Vile, if returned, be placed? He would be, truly, as a sheep without a shepherd, an innocent one to be picked up by the first enterprising person who discovered him, the watchword “deposition of Seddon” alluring him towards the unknown. The colony has had some years experience in drilling, in forwarding troops to the war, so that everyone should be cognisant in what is required in dealing with bodies of men. What an unfortunate position our troops would have been if they had been landed in South Africa without officers and leaders, and the same kind of disaster must follow on a lot of public men thrown together without any specific idea of their actions, except the sole one of depriving one particular man of office. Mr Vile, in his address in Foxton was free in the statements ho made as to his objection of what was done by the Government for the last ten years, taking great pains not to admit they had, even by accident, done any good, for what good had been done, bad, by his view, been done because they could not help it. We are thus placed in the position of knowing Mr Vile’s dislikes, hut we were not informed, very clearly, upon his likes, and how he would attempt to give effect to either. The only thing he is clear about is that nothing shall induce him to go into the room of the Government Whip. If we are right in our suppositions, and we took much trouble in getting his approval of our report, unless the most unexpected happens, Mr Vile, if returned, will go into Parliament friendless and forlorn, powerless to help this flourishing district in its efforts to forge ah ad, and the work of the past nine years will be shattered at a blow. This would all arise from the position Mr Vile takes up, an unhesitating hostility to one of the grandest men the colony has

over produced when the whole colony from north to south joined unstintingly in his praise but a year ago. Can it be Questioned tliata man who could so easily secure this outbreak of admiration be a man that an electorate desires to be rid of ? Here, there, and everywhere, Mr Saddon is acknowledged to be the strongest man, politically, the colony has ever seen, and in the fade of ft defunct Opposition, and with the picture of a number of isolated individuals standing bound in no Way together, are electors to be asked to throw overboard a firm and useful Government for a repetition of “ white shirt ” and six to nine months ministries ? All thoughtful men must see the absurdity of the proposal and will take the necessary steps to prevent the hurly-burly which would ensue. Mr Vile is a very pleasant gentleman, and we would have wished he had stood simply as an oppositionist, but the real difficulty Is that ho cannot. At first he decided upon being an “ independent candidate,” and though this is an incongruous position whilst there is party Government, it would have fitted his politics better than the VieW he has declared. Ho is more a liberal than a Conservative, has Almost less faith in' the old Conservatives than in the Liberal party, yet joins the conservatives and, to be of any use to them, must knuckle to their extraordinary views. The odd part is, that Mr Vib while being very touch cinctured with liberalism, is ready, if an opportunity is given him, to destroy the man, which almost the whole of the colony approves of being at the head of the party ! on the principle there’s more where he from. The question is, are there ? The statement is easy to make, but such a question has been found, before now, difficult to answer. Look at the remnant of the Opposition. Sir W. Riisssll was for years the ackaoW ; ledged leader—and two years ago his party refused to acknowledge him as a leader. This party has gone back so far as to be without a leader, and so far as to be unable to point to a probable leader, yet the electors are being asked to upset a firm party for this unfortunate state of chaos. We are much interested in colonial politics but wa are, perhaps, more interested in local matters. If the colony, in our mind, is being fairly governed by men who have had more than ten years experience of, we are in duty to ourselves bound to retain an eve upon our own advantages. Thus if the prospect of a change of Government is distant, and from colonial opinion it is ex-' tramely so, we are fairly bound to ftsk what it would advantage Us in changing the representative. On the one hand we have a man in close contact with the Premier, who has

shown his ability to assist the settlers, and if wo made a change, it Would be to one who has raised his hand and voice against the Premier. It is plain to see until Mr Vile had succaeded in deposing the Premier, o r position would be unsatisfactory. Very much depends on the action of the electors on Tuesday whether they help or harm the district.