Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1884. THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 198, 18 July 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1884. THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

The crowded attendance^ elec-> tors that gathered to hear the popular. candidate, -Mr J. Stevens,-; address them at Marton on Monday, shows that the, duties of a re-. presentative were performed by that' gentleman during the last -Tarliamentin a manner that was eminently satisfactory to his constituents. Mr Stevens does not ap-' pear before the the people as a new and untried political aspirant, nor do his. opinions seem to be other than those of a practical man, and lone who has Parliamentary procedure at his fingers' ends. With such recommendations alone it were sufficient for us to urge the electors m the Rangitikei district to keep fast hold of a tried man, and not to discard him for any political adventurer that may come along and offer himself for the position. But Mr Stevens has more points than these to recommend him. The lines on which he runs are evidently chosen both from.n careful study of their probable woVkhig and also from a careful observance of the past. Though of free opinions, Mr Stevens dpes not run away with any of those foolish and contemptible fads, such as the nationalisation of the land and other similar fancies, that it is fashionable to adopt at the present time. He believes m the leasing system only if purchasing clauses are granted, and is opposed to settling men on land, and only allowing them a very long lease of it, with no chance of ever making it their own. He very rightly objects to the Crown extorting something like a million of money every year, m the shape of rents, from the very men who are pioneering on the land and toiling m all the difficulties of early settlement. For the small settler, we should say Mr Stevens is, the very man to represent them m Parliament, whilst the interests of the large land-holder will also receive his careful attention. This is plain from what he said on Monday. He eulogised some of the large, holders round about Bu}}s & n d Marton, for the energetic manner m which they put the land to its fuljest use. Thus the country should find an cn r thusiastic representative m Mj? Stevens, whilst the town communities have sufficient knowledge of him to be assured that he is well aware that the prosperity of all towns depends entirely on that of the country surrounding them. So that if the country is well represented, so also is the town. But Mr Stevens has for many years been ii» toWU a, 6 » business man himself, so that on the score of town representation they can hit doubly assured. He has certainly not boasted, $$ vet at any rate, of " blue-blood/ although it does not follow that he has none for that reason. Neither have his supporters traced out a fjjrept descent from Noah or Adajj, although there is every reason to believe he is descended from both, One thing the electors

must make due allowance for — although the fact of his having been their representative m the past gives a certain test of fitness for such a position — still there is a disadvantage which is perhaps greater to a candidate to contend with than the advantage. There are always old scores that some electors will keep harping on anA always some discrepancies that can be picked to bits. No man can be so perfect as to do the duties of a representative perfectly, and without any blemish whatever. Now a fresh candidate comes forward with all sorts of promises for future achievements, which are easily made but may not be carried out and no chan' s of discredit for the past. Thus, due allowance should be made when a candidate like Mr Stevens contests an election with an untried one like Mr Bruce, who can have no aspersions thrown on his past career. Much keen interest has .been displayed m the attempt of still another candidate's supporters to wrest Mr Stevkns' seat from him. In fact, so enthusiastic were his committee to secure the return of their favorite, that it is alleged they infringed the provisions of an Act that has been very rightly made most stringent m its measures,to enforce the equitable contest of elections, and the uninfluenced vote of all those by whom such a power can be claimed. ' Let electors be careful when the day of the poll comes round, to make the fullest use of their electoral rights. They have been well and honestly served by Mr Stevens during the past three pose that if returned, he will be more years, and it is only reasonable to suppractised and that his influence will be more extensive, than it was during the serving of his apprenticeship, so to speak. If constituencies are to change their representatives at every possible opportunity, they cannot expect to be so well looked after, so far as local interests are concerned, as they would be if they were more consistent m their ideas, and gave those who were once chosen reasonable time to get used to the very responsible work of a good representative, and allow them time to make such connexions as are necessary before they can obtain support to the measures it becomes their duty to bring forward. We do not consider this admonition necessary, since Mr Stevexs' wide popularity alone would, we believe, enable him to head the poll with a large majority, even if the test of a past career and evident ability were not also salient points m his candidature. But with nothing but good work m the past, and such aptness as he displays m grasping subjects of importance, and a ready flow of words to give clear expression to lucid and carefully formed ideas, to add to his general popularity, we think the ballot box will evince the renewal of the regard and confidence that the electors hold m Mr Stfvens as a representative whose past conduct and faithful discharge of his duties as a representative have proved him true to the trust reposed m him, and eminently qualify him for the position which such* large number of persons, both within and also outside the Bangitikei Electoral District hope to see him again occupy.