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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2243, 26 May 1880, Page 2

TIIR Waitaki election is exciting some attention, inasmuch as it promises to be a somewhat exciting struggle. People in this part of the colony are anxious to see how the Oamaru electors will comport themselves. The duel is a trianguhrone, and it is consequently a most dangerous one for the popular candidate. Who the latter may be wo arc not in a position to say definitely, but we have a strong belief that the fortunate individual is Mr George Jones. 0£ the other candidates, Messrs Held and Roberts, we know but little, beyond the fact that the one is called a Conservative and the other a Liberal. As Mr Jones is also a Liberal, it is feared, that although the Liberal voters in Waitaki arc in the .majority, their votes will he split up, and the least popular man will thus he enabled to glide in. Such a state of tilings is peculiarly unfortunate for Messrs Jones and Roberts, besides being unfortunate for the cause of popular representation. Unless wc arc far mistaken, the minority is already too well represented in Parliament to make it desirable that one should be added to the number of their representatives. Mr Roberts, wo think, ought to gracefully yield to the wishes of electors, Avho have a natural abhorrence of a novice being conducted to a seat by the outgoing member. The privilege of representing the people, not being a family heirloom that can be transferred at the pleasure of the wearer, the electors of Waitaki threaten to resent ihe aifront, and Mr .Roberts’ chances of success have naturally diminished. Mr Roberts, we believe, is a young man, and he ought to step aside rather than risk the defeat of the Liberal party. IJy such a graceful act, ho will pave the way to his preferment, as a candidate, on some future occasion, should he come forward, like a herring, hanging by his own tail and not depending on the support of Mr Hislop, or any body else. Mr George Jones has all tho qualifications of a useful representative. He is neither disguised with cobwebs, nor encrusted with mould, and he has plenty of go in him. If elected, he will add one to the Young New Zealand party, on which the hopes of the majority in this Colony are at present concentrated, and wo trust for that reason that the Waitaki electors will giro him a generous offeri gat the polling-booth.