The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, MAY 19.
Mr. Rees has definitely decided that there shall be a contested election, and his inordinate love of popularity and self-aggrandisement has prevented us from taking advantage of an offer which would not alone have resulted in great benefit to the district, but also to the whole Colony. Whatever other arguments he may use to fortify his false position with, the one fact remains that by his own showing the real cause of his opposition to the wishes of so large a number of his influential constituents is based on his declaration that he was “pledged to fight Sir Julius Vogel whenever and wherever he met him.” It now only remains for us to support the man whom we think will have our welfare at heart, and who will represent us, and not himself and his own interests. For years past we have been out in the cold shade of Opposition through our partiality to the visionary Grey policy, and have been victims to that “fatal eloquence” which it is again hoped will succeed in luring us from our object. We shall hear much of the “ certainty” which exists as to the discomforture of the present Ministry and the ascendancy of the Grey star. But we take it that however probable the first event may be, there is not even the most remote chance of the latter event ever coming to pass. No one can be blind to the fact that though Sir George has been enthusiastically received by the southern people, and undoubtedly possesses the strong sympathies of the many, yet all grades of politicians have steadfastly refused to acknowledge him in the light of a leader. To show that such is the clearly - defined opinion of outside authorities we may take the following from the Auckland Herald: — “Some countenance may be given to this idea by the fact, which cannot have escaped the attention of Sir George, that though he has unmistakably carried with him the sympathy of the multitudes who have attended his meetings, he has not succeeded in persuading the Southern politicians to acknowledge him as their leader. Displace Mr. Montgomery they may, but they won’t unite in electing Sir George in his room. Chief of the party Sir George may remain so long as he continues a member of the House; but that the practical management thereof shall not again be placed in his hands is a point on which many of its members seems irrevocably to have made up their minds. It is therefore just possible that Sir George will elect to abide the result of the general election, and meanwhile allow matters to take their course. The decision, therefore, which Mr. Rees has announced, of it being his intention to contest the East Coast electorate may be accepted as final, and the representation of that constituency will have to be determined by the result of the poll.” Evidently referring to Mr. Rees’ indifference to the interests of the district and his personal motives in the matter, the same authority says:— “ Mr. Rees is a man whom it is not easy either to daunt or persuade, and once he has made up his mind to a course he is prone to pursue it, whatever it may lead to. . . . In such an event the contest will be fought on personal rather than political grounds.
. . . The issue then is narrowed down to mere personal considerations.” On the other hand, should we return a member who will take a favorable position during the present transitory state of affairs, and who, in the event of a Ministerial reconstruction will still retain the same advantages, we shall be likely to, remedy, to some extent, the errors of‘ the past. We n want a representative whose hands are free, and who can take advantage of the most favorable gale.
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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 135, 19 May 1884, Page 2
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647The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, MAY 19. Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 135, 19 May 1884, Page 2
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