"HOBSON'S CHOICE."

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 65, 13 August 1879, Page 2

" HOBSON'S CHOICE."

< "'\ :T$ THE 'EDITOR, " : - < ' ;l - ' ': ,' .7 Si^4rtl -was ,not| one of the chosen ones to whom a circular of invitation had been for warded^ to attend- the meeting last Thursi day. ; nevertheless : t took the liberty : 'of being- present, and I must confess. that I was highly amused at the nature of; its pi g.; jjeedingß, It was. stated that there were two cwididates m the field, and it was ur^e ) that ; it was ; highly r . desirable that pne . of them should retire, |<o as not to divide the length of ; the Upper District. Yaruras schemes were suggested to bring about that, judicious end, but their futility was. evinced by the declaration of Mr. Halcpmbe's; alter ego that there was no use m mincing matters; for his Chief was determined to stand under any circumstances. Well, the announcement was honest and' straightforward, and I for one would not take exception to it, were it notf for the further utterances of Mr. Mac-, arthur. , Following- up, his flat : point bl^nk doclaration, that gentleman continued : to enlarg3 upon the suicidal po'i -y, of there being two caudi lates, totally for setting^that by his two statements he was taking itVf >r granted that Mr. Haleombe was the 6nlj ; desirable candidate, and that: because hV presumed tb say^ that he would not retire^ the field should" be left of en to him. It was a pity that .-p hen TVfr. Maparthur. had the bnd taste aid discourtesy Jo try to "bluff" the peopleof Paluierston, that he did not ; go a little, farther and give some reason -for Mk Halconibe's '. absolute preemptive right to the representation. But to my mind .the cream ipf the jofee. was m the only resolution passed at the meeting. Mr. Ma.carthur deelaradrthe. uselftw of ■; ''any-:^- ; rangement, Mr! BTaioombe had ttiader"p hi3;mind and would =not! alter i it. That statement was endorsed by several gentleman before whom the, sanve decision had been expressed •' yet m thf ffae.,6f all- that, a committee was appointed to interview Mr. Halcorobe and-Mr.Snelsan to try andrinduce one to retire. That was " Hobson's Choice," with, rengeanoe, and somebhinj? on the \ Tommy Dodd principle of 'Vheads, ,1 win • tails, you lose." b I /live, m the coun f ry I have not beard how. .-this one one;side.d little arrangement worked,': bui I for one. will object to Mr. SaelfOi hanling 6- c:* the representation of . this district: to Mr.. Hal- . combe, aoea3t before the 1 latter meets the electors on the public platform: 'I consider} the action cf-Bfr.Halcom.be m Jtrvine. to bounce th c pec pile* of Palmerston is nothing, more than a game of " brag," and, although I do not say that if JMiv Snebon retired J .should not support Mr. Hilcombc ; yelji am not tp be won by a driad of hia power afc the" poll. So far I certainly anf in.' favor of Mr. Snelsipn,: who possesses qualifications calqukted- to uiake him far md"c eligible than his oppon He, i 9 one of the old crt settlers m the country; ppssessing now aiid always has possessed the entire confidence of those : to whom ! eTts known, and while he. hj^s a cl^ep stake m the Manawatij, it is i)l.

such a character, as to eutirely, acquit him of the supposition that his legislative aetioij could be influenced from selfish motive*. He has held the very highest office— short of parliamentary honors— with ,the greatest credit, and both m the Borough and- County Councils, his constituencies have 'placed tha most implicit faith m his honesty, and not found 'At abused. r 3jr. tfalcombe, on the Qjntrary has been accredited with unreliability, but although I have certainly frequently heard him so accused, I think it but fair to say that I have never heard .the charge proved to my satisfaction. ThW feeling of want of confidence m Mr. Halcombe does prevail however, and that very widely. My great objection- to Mr. Halcombe is his connect ion with the Corporation r as I consider that wtjra he returned, the interests of Eielding, and, Halcombe,' and Pahnerston would be but* secondary consideration against those of the body of which he is the paid servant. I am perfectly cognisant of the influence he would possesses were certain persons in'ppwer ; but for the reason just given I would be inclined to look npon that more as a "drawback, than, m any other light. I fear, Sir, I have, already passed the bounds of lin^ti >o— J am; yours, «lfcc,, ' . MAKAWA-THEEB.