The Telephone. GISBORNE, MONDAY, JUNE 9. THE CANDIDATES.—MR. GANNON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 152, 9 June 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. GISBORNE, MONDAY, JUNE 9. THE CANDIDATES.—MR. GANNON.

Ths Cicero of the occasion is Mr. Gannon. Endowed with many natural talents that go far to make a successful public man—able in address, quick at reply, keen in conception, cynically humorous to the verge of sarcasm when the vein serves. These talents, combined with ready command of speech and eloquent powers of oratory yet unmatured, commands the ready ear and touches the sympathies of an audience. “ Cicero, we admire and praise you, but are concerned for the fate of Greece.” That Mr. Gannon rightly conceived the tendency of public feeling at the outset of the contest by offering to stand aside in favor of Sir Julius Vogel is now to be seen in the large amount of support he is receiving, many of the original supporters of the other two candidates having ranged under Mr. Gannon. Speaking upon the various questions of policy, Mr. Gannon ably treats them all, and points out defects, but fails to originate any means of remedy. This, in fact, applies equally to all the candidates. We have enough and to spare of what has been done in the past, but little or nothing as to what is to be done in the future. That that future is pregnant with lines of policy of vast importance to the weal or woe of this district all can see, and whichever of the candidates is returned to represent us, he must be prepared to accept the onus of a great responsibility, and to fight strongly on behalf of the constituency, which is so vitally affected by the proposed amendments in the land laws of the Colony, both Crown and Native. The restrictive measures proposed by the Government in both these must, if

carried into effect, directly retard the progress of settlement, and bring this district to the verge of utter ruin, dependant as it is solely upon its land resources. In this direction Mr. Gannon’s interests are identical with those of the district generally. We are not favoring Mr. Gannon’s candidature, but consider it our duty, as a public organ, to point out impartially the merits and demerits of the candidates, seeking our suffrages, and this we have endeavored to do. Mr. Gannon at the present time is not to be entrusted with the suffrages of the electors, the time is not far distant when he must command the respect of all, and take a high stand on the political platform. It entirely rests with himself to attain that standard by a judicious use of the talents he possesses “ Grave age approves the solid and tho wise; Gay youth from too austere a drama flies ; Profit and pleasure, then, to mix with art, To inform the judgment, nor offend the heart, Shall gain all votes.”