South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2721, 8 December 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1881.

“ Whex Greek meets Greek then comes the tug of war.” The triennial parliamentary contests will take place to-morrow, and as the elections are to be held all over the colony on the same day, we shall soon know whether the Liberal cause is to be victorious, or whether the people are going to bo led away by the plausible statements of the squatfocratic class and their associates, the large loan companies. The Liberals, at the instigation of Mr Turnbull, made a noble stand in the House some time ago to strike out the clause in the Electoral Bill which give the a hereditary politicians ” of the colony, and their wealthy friends, votes in nearly every electoral district. The system adopted for a number of years by the leading Conservatives has been to purchase a quarter acre section of land in each of the electoral districts in order to have a number of votes, so that they can turn the balance in favor of themselves at all the elections. Property has a perfect right to be represented by cumulative voting where the property is taxed for Municipal or Road Board purposes, but it has no right to special representation in the election of the law-makers of the country. The Liberal party in their place on the floor of the House opposed the double voting power, but they were defeated. They then moved, on the principle of reducing the evil as much as possible, that all the elections should be held on one day. The motion was carried by a very small majority, and some were sanguine enough to imagine that the people in each of the electoral districts would limit their votes to two districts at the most. These people reckoned without their host, however, as we received information to-day that a special train has been engaged to leave Christchurch to-morrow forenoon with a large Conservative team of voters. Their main object is to vote for the “ hereditary politician,” Mr Wakefrkl, at Temuka. Will the resident electors of Geraldine tolerate this ? Will they vote for a candidate who is handled and patronised by the large land holders, the representatives of the companies and their friends? We trust not. Wo have carefully watched Mr Wakefield’s career as a politician—we have

watched his political turnings and dodgings, first with one Government then with another, and his strenuous efforts to secure what is colonially termed “ a billet,” We consider he is a totally unfit man to represent Geraldine or any other constituency, especially when there are local candidates in the field. His only qualification is that he has a glib tongue. He is what may be termed a calm weather orator—namely, an orator who can work off" a set speech, if his audience are all “ very good boys indeed ” and don’t interrupt. We hope that all true Liberals in the Geraldine district will carefully draw their pens through his name on the ballot papers tomorrow. The other two candidates — Messrs Postlethwaite and Hayhurst—• have each special claims on the district. They are residents in the county, and as such are likely to attend well to all the local requirements. The active part which Mr Postlethwaite took in establishing the Farmers’ Cooperative Association, and the zeal and disinterestedness with which he has continued to work for that institution, should secure for him the hearty support of the farmers during the present election. The Gladstone election is the next to claim attention, and it may be stated that the travelling contingent from Christchurch intend stopping at Washdyke to vote for Hr Fisher. This indicates the current, and there is no doubt if Hr Fisher is elected he will bo the Hon. John Hall’s humble and very obedient servant. Hr Fisher will represent the squatting and large landed interests, and those interests centre in the Premier. Captain Sutter is, we consider, the gentleman best fitted to represent Gladstone. His views are liberal and in perfect accord with our own. He is against the property tax, and in favor of a tax which will prevent speculators holding large blocks of uncultivated land to the exclusion of settlement. Wo hope to see him elected. Mr Anderson’s supporters will only split votes against Captain Sutter, and in favor of the Conservative candidate, Hr Fisher. He has no chance of being elected, and we ask the electors not to waste their votes on him. It is unnecessary to speak to Mr Newton’s supporters. The travelling contingent will proceed to Timaru, and poll their votes for the “ Herald’s ” nominee, Mr J. S. Gibson. Let the electors of Timaru remember what we said in our article of yesterday, and unite themselves together in Mr Turnbull’s interest to baulk the attempt that is to be made by outsiders to thrust on us a candidate whose views we cannot endorse. “ Unity is strength,” and we again ask the electors to meet the enemy in a body and not divide their forces, and thus court defeat. Again we say, do not split your votes. For the Waimate election there are a number of candidates, but the contest will lie between Messrs Manchester and Stewart. We wish the latter success.