The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY DECEMBER 25, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 336, 25 December 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

SATURDAY DECEMBER 25, 1875.

■" We ehall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny tone men justice or right: W e shell defer to no man justice or right.”

"We do not think any will accuse us of egotism when we assert that we have faithfully discharged our duty as journalists, in regard to the present election. Months ago we urged upon the electors to make timely preparation for the contest in which they would have to engage in choosing a representative for the new Parliament; but, unfortunately, little or no action has been'taken in this important matter until withiu the last fortnight or three weeks ; and, owing to this apathy, we now occupy a very anomalous position in political affairs. As yet, we have scarcely accomplished anything in the way of furthering our object; and we fear that our representation is now in greater jeopardy than it has ever been. Indisposed as we are to predict untoward results, yet it is difficult for us to stifle our convictions on the subject, especially when those convictions are likely enough to develop themselves into realities which are certain to effect our best interests. We hate, it is true, so far gratified our long cherished desire, as to have induced a local man to become a candidate for our suffrages ; but matters have just taken such a turn as to place us in a dilemma which requires more than ordinary acumen to decide which is the proper course for us to pursue. A meeting of the Committee appointed to adopt the best means for securing the election of a fit and proper local person, was held on Thursday afternoon last, which meeting the gentleman (Mr. Wilson) who, in response to a requisition, consented to become our candidate, attended. In the course of the proceedings Mr. Wilson stated that if any other man in the district could be induced to come forward as a candidate, and that the electors preferred such candidate to himself, he would resign in his favor ; whereupon a requisition, previously prepared, was presented to Capt. Bead, who, although not a member of the Committee, happened to be present. Capt. Read ultimately accepted the requisition—which appears in another column —and Mr. Wilson at once retired in his favor. A discussion ensued in which it was elicited that Capt. Bead would, if returned,

support the present G^verJß^ 11 ** Indeed, he so far committed'/ 1 * 1 * 18 ®, as to have unqualifiedly *V* W ™ his intention of upholding Z P ollc y °j the Government, mJ" au( J. bounden duty, wbich/deelaration ot allegiance ca* in qf' i y e questioned. Now we haw two Government candidates in rte fluid, M F- Kelly and Capt. Reau, which places us in a most awkward preditameat- Mr. Kelly has beenal way s obnoxious to us, not so much from adherence to the Ministry, as free his utterneglectof, if nqts«iprenfecoiitemptfor, Poverty Bay; and the question now arises, whether Capt Read alocal candidate, and, doubtless, identified with our interests —has not, in consenting to stand, suffered himself, unwittingly, to be made a stalking horse, for covertly aiding and abetting thi return ofi Mr. Kelly. From the sbameful manner in which the Goterpment have already treated us, by Mlfully and premeditatedly depriving us of two polling places, we have every reason to believe that they are capable of resorting to any species of however dishonorable, to effect their own selfish purposes ; and it, therefore, behoves the electors to watch their proceedings narrowly. The manoeuvring that is going on just now between the Government and those with whom they know they can exercise their influence, is so very suspicious, as to engender feelings of alarm iu the minds of all who are desirous of saving this district from political ruin. Although the Government have persistently ignored our claims and urgent demands, yet they have the unblushing effrontery to endeavor to thrust upon us a man—in the person of Mr. W. Kelly — whose actions we have always repudiated, and who, we believe, would act towards us for the future, as he had done in the past, were he again to be our representative. Honestly speaking, we cannot regard Capt. Read’s candidature as a free & independent one, until we are further enlightened on the subject; and the sooner this is done the sooner the electors will be in a position to judge as to what course they should pursue. It does seem strange that so persistent a supporter of the Government as Capt. Read is known to be, should assume an attitude of antagonism to them, by opposing their pet candidate, JHr. Kelly, who requires all the propping up that can possibly be accorded to him by the Ministry in the present emergency. The affair is surrounded ►with a mystery which Ca.pt.-Read himself can only satisfactorily solve ; and if he is—as we believe him to be —solicitous of promoting our*welfare, as far as Parliamentary representation can promote it, be should take the earliest opportunity of convincing the electors that he is not what he is suspected to be —a personage inspired by the M'Lean Cabinet to facilitate the return of the Bay of Plenty candidate, Mr. Kelly. If the Government are desirous that Capt. Read should be elected in preference to Mr. Kelly, they should prevail upon the latter gentleman to withdraw from the contest; and if this is done, Poverty Bay will plump for Capt. Read, and for him only. Whilst Mr. Kelly and Capt. Read are both seeking our suffrages, the public cannot disabuse their minds of the strong likelihood of there being a collusion between the two candidates, and that the electors, in supporting Capt. Read, are indirectly supporting Mr. Kelly. If Capt. Read disentangles himself fro&i Government influence in respect to aiding Mr. Kelly, and give us to understand unmistakably, that he contests the election solely on his own account, . and that, moreover, his candidature shall in no wise compromise our interests, every elector, in the district will, we beKeve, support him, ourselves among the number; but without some such assurance from him, his candidature will be viewed with a degree of distrust which must necessarily militate against its being prosecuted to a successful issue.