Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1008, 6 December 1881, Page 2

Captain Porter notifies tliat he will address the electors m McFarlane’s Hall on Thursday evening next, when he will review the situation before going to the Poll

of different individuals. It may be a weak point in the triad contest, but the fact is apparent that if the majority of the electors are to be represented, Mr McDonald must not be elected. We do not infer that, H there were but one candidate opposing Mr McDonald, the 1000 voters would necessarily vote for him ; because it might so happen that the supporters of each of the three gentlemen now in the field, would prefer the election of their old member to either of the two for whom they do not vote, and would vote for him accordingly ; but there is no escape from the unpleasant and somewhat paradoxical dilemma, of returning a candidate at the head of the poll who will represent the minority of the electors only, except by the simple and effectual process of abstaining from voting for him at all; and by the electors making common cause of their franchise ; pick out one of the three other candidates, and combine so as to make his election sure.

It to say the least, unfair in Mr McDonald not to continue his : reading from Hansard when requested to do so at the meeting on Saturday night, by Mr McLean, in reference to his (Mr McDonald’s) share in obtaining £20,000 being put on the Estimates for this district. It was Mr McDonald’s object to score a point in his favor by reference to the Parliamentary record of his vigilance in the interests of his constituents. He wished the meeting to understand that he lost no opportunity to sling a shaft at the Government for alleged neglect; and he quoted the remarks made by the Premier, in explanation of what Mr Rolleston had said of Mr McDonald. Mr Rolleston said: That Poverty Bay had not much to thank the Honorable Member for, and had a good deal to thank the Government for. * * * The proposals of the Government this year would tend, he hoped, to develop that part of the country very materially. The hon. gentleman had, on several occasions taken upon himself to say that the Government were doing nothing for his district ; but, if they did no more than they could do at his instigation, very little would be done.

Of course this was very bitter, and Mr Hall thought it as well to give a reason for it, which he did as follows, and*this is what Mr McDonald read:— He (Mr Hall) desired to point out that the remarks made by his honorable colleague, although perhaps somewhat severe, were elicited by the constant complaints of the honorable member for the East Coast, that the Government did nothing for his district.

It was at this point Mr McLean suggested that Mr McDonald should read on ; but as this was refused, and for an object that will be apparent on perusal of the following, we append it for the information of our readers :—

He ventured to say that if the case were fully gone into it would be proved that no member of any Government had done more for the district, and no Minister .bad taken more trouble to induce his colleagues to grant something to that part of the Colony, than the Minister of Lands He must not reveal the “ secrets of the prison-house,” but when the proposals of the Government with reference to the district of Gisborne were before the Souse it would be seen that the inquiries of his honorable colleague and the attention he had paid to that district had borne fruit. What the district wanted above all was roads to open up its country ; and it would be seen that, not at the instigation of the hon. member for the East Coast, but as the result of his own inquiries, the Minister of Lands had done a good deal for that district. In answer to the very undeserved taunt of the honorable member for the district that the Government had neglected it, his honorable colleague had been tempted to make remarks which, although severe, were not nltogether uncalled for.

The italicised portions of the foregoing extracts are our own, which, taken with the Premier’s flat contradiction, at the Wairoa meeting, of Mr McDonald’s statement that it was through his influence that the votes were made, will show how little dependence can be placed on his recollection of facts ; and the reason why he objected to read his condemnation on Saturday night. And this is the man whom his panegyrist said, in moving a vote of confidence in him, that his conduct had been consistent, straightforward and honest.