South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2563, 8 June 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1881.

When Mr J. C. Richmond’s name was first mentioned as a candidate for Nelson City, there was a general impression that he would be returned. He had represented the electorate before, and was one of the leading politicians of the colony. The election took place yesterday, and the telegraphic wires inform ns that Mr Levestam has been returned—a gentleman unknown outside the precincts of “ Sleepy Hollow.” The contest was a close one, the numbers being 438 to 401. Mr. Richmond wilhhavQ to yvait for some time for that seat in the Cabinet which newspaper correspondents—cocksure of his return—had allotted to him. Well, there is nothing very wonderful in Nelson rejecting the services of » tried and able man for one new to public life, and whose abilities may not be of a transcendant order. Wc do not particularly allude to the new member for the city at the head of Blincj, Bay. We arc unacquainted with his merits or demerits, further than, that he appears to have the gift of speeph. According to his own professions, he is a working man’s representative, and as such he should be welcomed by : all Liberals to the Legislature of the colony. The members of that class are few in the Assembly, and those few are not conspicuous either for ability or consistency. However, the broad principles of politics most probably have Lad very little to do with the Nelson election. The' Nelsonites are of opinion that their provincial district has not received a fair share of the Public Works expenditure. Every plank in a political platform sinks into insignificance alongside that one grievance. .

Mr Richmond is not a local politician in the narrow sense of the term, and we take it that Mr Lores tarn in that respect is all that the people of Nelson desire. Whether the citj loses or not by its peculiar views of, the duties of a representative is a matter on which there may be a difference of opinion, but there is no question that the colony will lose largely through the return of men who have not the boldness to lift themselves above local prejudices. At one time the Nelson district was represented by men as able as any in the colony. Mr Staffoid was one of the oldest settlers, and he was in the. front rank of colonial statesmen. He was furced to find another constituency, and Timaru returned him to Parliament. In his parting address he called Nelson “ Sleepy Hollow,” a name which has stuck to the place to this day. Mr Curtis, another man of eminence in the Legislature, had to give place to a less experienced representative. Eight or nine years ago, Mr J. C. Richmond, had to retire defeated from the field. He had spoken vehemently against the grand borrowing schemes of the Fux-Yogel Ministry, and Nelson reasonably feared that one in violent Opposition would not be likely to secure a share of the good things for the district. That Nelson has not repented of its choice of representatives, the result of the last election plainly shows. It is content to’remain represented by mediocrities. The “ weeding out ” of its best men commenced years ago, and others who,

•*.* i... /» public expenditure shows that Nelson has profittod little by the exchange. It does not appear. * that- / there - in- the views ’ held by Mr Richmond and Mr Levestani on the political question of ’ the , '-honr. ; Itwas- not a. contest of Tory. r. Liberal. It will be remembered “that in a telegraphic summary of Mr Richmond’s speech he was stated to have declared himself a Socialist. Socialism in the colonial mind is associated with the dreadful. The assassination of rulers and the division of property —in fact, social and political chaos—are understood to be the aims of the party that are now creating so much alarm on the Continent of Europe. People, therefore, were surprised at Mr Richmond’s avowal of Socialism. 'However, he afterwards explained that .hie Socialistic ideas simply referred to the elevation of- the: jyorkihg classes, and securing to them a fair share of the fruits of their labor. There is certainly nothing dreadful in such views. Indeed, they arc in harmony with the Liberal mind the whole world over.