The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 873, 1 February 1879, Page 2

The Evening Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1879.

■Vtp. EaTTIIAY did so far as we know, personally i'HVv ni t\\v C«'l'<mia.t Imuiß, t'"f their v.or.ts. in his behtilf; rtov *M hw utitisw ht.-> i-nvn ti?!i.vt'Hof» Ei'pswcl'vni pwrposev IVi;-.iusF.a*cifl suit! hti uouhl not spary them. Thy re- was. ;«;i:i>¥ilJn!i- to his* wka t *>nty ntvw o-<iuw«<>pt?n—tsfi«.t !nien(!».. who would g;ivt v i*U tcuftbte, arut tin th» thing nuwtty. Hut strange as it may »ppe»f, Mr. Rnmavt WttHny. at the lutlf-ytiwty meeting' of tlw pri.prietors vl htu* t'itmkr hyhl t>cv W t itrv«s«hvy hwi;,. annoimuiMt in strong tervns the? method; ;ii!<>pttHli ti> srtjuri? the t?teettort of Mr. R-vrtK-*T iv* » ttirt-ctor. He rt'i-wt cunimimicvtionsi wfuuh he hvi tetsvWvtl ffimi viu-ious parti* hJ tH« C'nCntiy. whtefn ofenw.msit'.rateit that Mr. itW'tKAT who we«s tcm+bteil with sla&ekroa* (Snnttne!*,. hart feo rnt the war path. Tlur ■ oi'innibsion.-* that were paid F>y Mr. BATfitA* about thisi rtwi-r-tt. i:anvasß«9 thought. thevHSctte» ptedgeiil ti>.uialian afwli dan«wi» by every means fjwe ami tout, fcrw chances op the election of Mr. BatpravV opponent >lf. tLvrfKAt is mut'Tt a g¥rtf-I«nwrv tn'itiafc« ttntrKthtut staterawrtts rtimwlif ahottt Sir.. Wttsos. ft wnivUt not have been respectable. He. thevetoee. ptaued such a ceapoMtrttttty trv the hands* of agents. who> tv> ttntbt, much to-the annoyance or Mr. ItvvrfcAV. were tess scvitpntons about such matters. Hiui Mf. RATfRAT wiltefl that theyshowtd secure- hid retiwn by any avaibl'>ttf mean;*, regardless mt alt principle:* of fairness*, Cnali 4j«nCl«man sottttt not have been Wen better »*eve«t They spread at! 9*>tt» ol evil rsportS' about Jlr. Wiw«>jf r w»t b«caasw they wctb tewev t>wt t»«eaaac the better they' sncceedetl in tbmaging Mr. : Wtkwjt,. tfw move votai weeM they win , foe Mr. Rattray, autl therefore- the m©re hivlf-crwwns wottM taey p«t i'nt© their poefcets. The wiles or" tttcse agents cartght th» careless, ami w«?» waverers and even opponents to Mr. RAttßAt** nitr. Wc cannot twli*« that Mrrealty intended that hi* election shoohl iUj secu««l t>y »tt«h mean», anet at such a sacrifice flf pvineiple. yuck tricks are not ttfeety ' rt tw prsductivc of commercial rnoraKCj*—if tfiey ate not :thems»ke» aetoally trnmorat. JtotwithstamUng that men of h«wnr and intettistwh a» the ll'-.w. Mr. CttAMUS—m.'W tUffer from a*,. wr> cannot help stating \>iu" coatiction fh;*S had Mr. IU'STftAV had lest* h> «k> with wnscrur>d!«MS agents it w»utd ha*o- K't»r» better for himadf, the Hanfc, and the community in which he tt«es*. WV- «t<* not think htra directly respunsihte iwr the action* of his poid agents ; fcut it t* lad enowgh to I* even retiu/tely resp...K.*ili>ltf for the injustice that called f»tth sue-h a Koflament as this from

one of Sir. Wnsos's northern friends : " Your friends are sorry to see the way you hare been abused here. It may make yoa uncomfortable, and it will do the Bank no good." Local Bank Directories have their objections, let them be never ■o weß constituted; ono of these was made apparent during the contest between Mr. Raxhut and Mr. Waaopr. They are both merchants; and it would appear that each of those gentlemen thinks that the position of bank director has its commercial advantages. If it were possible to carry out Mr. Wnsos's idea—which, however, is not a new one—that no business man should be allowed to serve on the directory of a bank, it would be well to do it. But as we have not the men in the present early stage of our existence as a Colony to fake the place of business men, the next best thing is to adopt the purest possible system of elect ton, and to cxcercisc the greatest possible care in the selection of directors. W«? d»> not say that Mr. Rattray sought election, and used such extraneous aid to secure his return with any other than a laudable object; but the system which he has t*> thank for his return might some day place a worse man in power—a man who disked and obtained the position in order t»> possess an unfair advantage over another in the some calling as himself, or t<-> have satisfaction out of an enemy. As we have previously said, wc do not like the system ; it places the power of election tn the Hands of those who arc able and witling-1"> expend money, and savours too strongly of corruption and Glasgow Bank swindles. Apart from the circumstance connected with the election, we think Mr. Rattrav* right to the position which has been earnest for him by such means is not indisputable. If it is, the sooner an Act is passed to make such elections illegal the better.