A Political “Reject.”

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42795, 24 October 1905, Page 2

A Political “Reject.”

MR McCARDLE’S PUBLIC RECORD. The Pahiatua Herald, in its issue of yesterday, under the heading of “ political rejects,” has the following regarding the Ministerial nominee for the Franklin seat: — “ The public of this district, and also in the Wairarapa district, will remember that, in 1884, Mr W. W. McCardle was defeated for the Wairarapa seat by Mr Beetham. In 1887 ha was defeated for Woodville bv Mr W. C. Smith. In 1890 he aqqounciea himself as a candidate fqr the spocmd time for the Wair&nmft North seat, hut, finding his chance hopeless, he retired lin favour of the Conservative candidate, Mr Beetham. In 1893 he again faced the music, and was soundly defeated for the Mastqrton seat by Mr A. W. Hogg, An amusing and instructive incident ooourred in connection with this contest which is worth chronicling. Mr McCardle agitated for a polling booth to he established at Nikau, a few miles from his own residence, The polling booth was established, but by cruel fate, on polling day it was found that not a single vote was recorded to him at Nikau, In 1896 Mr McCardle, no doubt thinking that having lived in Pahiatua for so many years, he would be bonnd to win the Pahiatua seat, therefore once agai n announced himself as being reafiy to work, Weed and die for his country, On polling night, however, it was found that the late Mr O'Meara had easily topped the poll. Three years later (1899) he again offered hU time and talents to his bleeding country, and appealed to the district that knew him so very well to reward him by returning him for the Pahiatua seat. For sundry leasons bestjknown to himself, his chances were not rosy, and he retired in favour of the Government candidate. During all these years Mr McCardle boxed the political compass \ quite a number of times, Jn one contest he would bless the Government, and in the next he would just as loudly curse it, In 1902 he was spoken of as a candidate for the Egmont seat, but after spying out the land he found that the Egmont electors were not taking any political rejects just then, so he gracefully, but regretfully, retired. When the late Mr O’Meara died, an urgent meeting of the great Liberal and Labour Federation was held, and several candidates* names were handed iq foe selection to take Mr O'Meara’s place, Mr McCardle's name amongst them. Needless to say, the delegatesldid not select the oft-defeated political hack. This year the Liberal aqd Labour Federation again met fq select a candidate for the forthcoming general election to contest the Pabiqtua seat, and again Mr McCardle’s name was tabled as a suitable politician to take the job on. Mr McCardle attended in person to press his claims, hut notwithstanding ah the pressure, the set-, tleifl again rejected him, This is the poll* tioian that tq-day seeks to defeat a gentle--iqan of Mr Massey’s ability and record. We feel quite sure that the electors of Franklin will deny the right of the Liberal and Labour Federation, plus the political boss, to foist upqn them a candidate whose record has been one long unhrokeu period of rejection. Self-respecting electorates re-, sent the impudent interference of the. present or any other Government in the matter of selection of the man whom they wish to send as their representative to the colony’s legislature.”—N,ss, Herald,