The Manawatu Standard. (PUBLIBHBD DAILY.) Suivant la Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1883. AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 143, 25 May 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. (PUBLIBHBD DAILY.) Suivant la Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1883. AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER.

Mr,. John IStevrhs, M.H.R., gave a very satis factory explanation at the meeting, at Marton on Monday evening of his political action' at the commencement of last 'session i He referred to the attitude of the Marton pap?r, which had denounced him b. cause, he had ventured to. attend .a caucus meeting of the Opposition. Writing no doubt to order, that jcmrnai assailed the member most malignantly for his c nduct/and treated him m the most ungenerous manner, seeking to make him out a 1 culprit and traitor m a political sense ; that he had been guilty of misdeiri^anour; that he was a fraud to the electors ; and other similar accusations. Mr Stevens admitted he had attended a caucus meet'ng of the Opposition. And why shoo Id he not, we should like to know, We_ know :...a little ..more, from certain independent and, iei^ble:sourceß. We know for a "fact that had tlie member ior-Rangitikei chosen to go over to the Opposition, the Government would have been turned out. But Mr Stuvens wisely r.ejected the _ ; overtures linade to him, and maintainad his political independence. He enjoys to»day the confidence of his constituency to the full, through his consistent and straightforward action; " 'Many a young and inexperienced member would have yielded* Bat Mr Stevens considered well the position, and remained firm . Here is his own explanation given at the Marton meeting :— -" I attended W : caucus. meeting, and I will do the same to»morrow, without consulting the local paper. I think it only' fair that I should refer to what transpired m the early part of the session. I had gone as your representative^ and I considered whether this or that would be beneficial to my constituents or not, Time alone will -prove whether- that was right, but as I was elected an independent candidate, I contend that I have maintained a good independence since. I certainly did record my vote with the Government when the no—confidence motion camp before the House, because after having made all that 1 could make out of the £8 ,000,000, if ■I- voted agai r: st the Government, I should have been assisting to knock down the edifice that existed, and jt coujdnqt be/replaced by; the hon. gentlemen who wished to sit on the Ministerial benches. If, gentlemen, m my judgment I had thought tliafc we weria gpirijr. to. itnprove the position of the cb'uh'firy, T have "voted against the Government, bub as the contrary .was the case, I had to do that which . my conscience dictated to me, and which I said m my own mnH was the best for the country. I had no personal feeling ,whateyer-Trprobablyi I had, I might have gratified my personal wishes, instead of being merely your representative.'' Here ia an honest, manly, fearless explanation, which cannot be j impeached, and which redounds to tfie'creclit of r the, njombei 1 . for Rangitikei. "