THE Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 187. LIFTINa THE VEIL.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 73, 10 September 1879, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 187. LIFTINa THE VEIL.

'■ -■■■■■..•... -<g : " Words aro things, and a drop of ink failing like ■ dew upon a thought, producoi tlxit wkiah'zitakee thousands, porkaps miUioot think."

The veil has been lifted ; t^Q ballot lias been appealed to, and Mr. "YValteb Johnson is again the sitting member for Manawatu. He has not been our chqiqe, but^~jtnaior.ity ofc ttie electors half declared that he is the Tmost; fit and proper person "to represent the County, and we bow oub heads m deference to the greater number. Duriz|g the past month Mr. Johnston has visited every portion of the, ; constituency, and has made himself conversant with the wants, necessities, and progress of the district, and as it is allotted that we are to have a non-resident candidate j we are pleased to know that our interests are less likely to suffer for the want of knowledge of our representative than hitherto. During his brief residence amongst us Mr. Johnston has won golden opinions by his gentlemanly conduct, and the excellent spirit m which he received all electioneering tactics indulged m to ; further sithe cause of the rival candidates at his expense. The oontest is at (an end, we have fought a losing battle, and while it must be conceded that we have ,waged a desperate struggle for the man for whom we declared, we were pleased to hear from Mr-. Johnston's lip that the election was carried through without a single word being either said or written of a personal or offensive character, and that m his opinion the only one faction calculated, to mar the proceedings was the action of -Mr. Halcombe's committee m issuing the manifesto entitled " a base lie,-'— -an opinion m which it is needless to say we heartily concur. If we express a regret that Mr. Halcombe did, not, head the poll, it is only that if such had' been the case the public would the know the real truth as to his disquajification'ornot. The matter is now beyond recall, and we indignantly deny that the cry was raised for party purposes. v Our opinion was, and our opinion still is, that his contract— no matter m what manner it was signed — disqualified that gentleman, and m the assertion we are borne out by the latest Act and the best legal opinion. If Mr Halcombe be not a popular man m north.of tbe couhjy-^atid we haverepeatedly heard" fhe — it cannot be for a moment denied that as an eligible representative he possesses the unqualified confidence of the electors of Eeilding, and Halcombe, a fact which is indisputable when the votes polled m both places are considered. The manner m which the electors nocked to poll for Me. Halcombe is most creditable to themselves, and a high tribute to. the energy of his committee ; and when a comparison is drawn between the votes recorded at Eeilding and Halcombe and Palmerston, the result is no| Very nattering to the latter. Palmerston could easily have brought 450 electors to the poll, and when it is considered that the the. total r^coi'd was 265, it will be seen that large as Mr; SnelsoVs inaiority was m this place, by the apathy of his supporters fully 150 votes were lost to him. We freely admit that even with that number added: on to his total, ha could not have hoped for success, but had the whole of the Paltnerston voters exercised the privilege which was at their- command, the disparity between the "■/.•numbers at present existing would have been very much reduced. There is not the slightest doubif that with the second Session of Parliament, Manawatu will have two members, a_nd the electors of Palmerston will take experience from the lesson just received, and call assistance to her. from other, portions of the County. There is no experience so salutary a,s that which is dearly bought, and we admit that we have paid a high price for it, but- when we enter tbe lists again to do battle, we shall take such precautions as to reverse our present ppeifcioiii.