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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5747, 30 August 1879, Page 2

It is somewhat remarkable that a young and comparatively speaking 'untried man like Mr. Levin should have met with such a large amount of unqualified support from the moment of his coming forward. Hisfriends have proved so numerous, and his opponents so few, that it seems almost superfluous to devote space to discussing merits which are so generally acknowledged. In his first speech, so little reference was made by Mr. Levin to the question before the country, i.e., whether the Grey Ministry deserved the confidence of the people of New Zealand or not, that some of his best and sincerest friends openly expressed a hope that he would declare his want of confidence in the Government without delay. They had not long to wait. At his second meeting Mr, Levin quoted a number of passages from “ Hansard ” to point out how little confidence the Grey Ministry deserved. He showed how, when the resolution was putin the House of Representatives in 1877, “ that there should “be two local governments—one for each“lsland,” Sir G. Grey, Mr. Stout, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Thomson all voted for the resolution ; and later on, when the question was put “ That the seat of Go- “ vernment remain as at present, at Wel- “ liugton,” the same sis gentlemen—all of whom either are or have been Ministers -voted for its removal. The extracts formed a telling and unanswerable argument against Greyism. Mr. Levin deserves the thanks of the Constitutional party for bringing them forward, as we believe that it is chiefly owing to their publication that there is no pronounced Greyite now in the field in Wellington.

I In comparing Mr. Levin’s policy with that expressed by Mr. Hunter, the most striking difference that ffo notice is contained in Mr. Levin’s reply to the question put by an elector as to whether he would do his best to secure to Wellington additional representation. Mr. Levin said, “Most undoubtedly “ 1 will ; I would rather see Wellington “ over-represented than under - repre- “ aented.” The applause which followed was only natural, as any such proposition was bound to be popular in a large city. Mr. Hunter, however, expressed his conviction that it would be far better for the towns to be under-represented than for the country districts to bo made subservient to the towns. We fully concur in this sentiment, but wo honestly believe that the claims of Wellington city to have another member granted to it are worthy of consideration. There is not necessarily any antagonism between the views of these two candidates on this point, so far as wo can see. Mr. Levin may be quite as anxious as Mr. Hunter is to see the country districts fully represented. It should not be forgotten that the fullest measure of representation can only bo secured by returning members who may be reasonably expected to pull well together, and to back one another up efficiently. We have no doubt that this would be best secured by returning Messrs. Levin and Hunter at the head of the poll, and we have every reason to believe that a largo majority of the electors are of the same opinion.