The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6. THE TARANAKI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7995, 6 December 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6. THE TARANAKI SEAT.

In common with those on the electoral roll throughout (h? colony, the people comprising the Taranaki electorate will to-day hav; the privilege of choosing a candidate to represent them ii) Parliament for the next three years. The most exacting voter cannot possibly find fault as to the restricted naturo of his choice, for there arc no loss than five lit and proper candidates wooing his suffrages. It may safely bo said that tho constituency has never been so ardently and vigirously canvassed as during the last few weeks. Not only have the candidates visited and addressed meetings at every part of the electorate, but the two great political leaders of the day—the Premier and Mr Massey—have visited New Plymouth to give a full exposition of their respective policies, and incidentally to show that " the other fellow " and his party were bent on ruining the country. This is, of course, a recognised system of political warfare, having the advantage of enabling the somewhat puzzled voters lo sec the weak spots in the armour of those who arc in the forefront of the battle. The strife is over for the time being, and to-day will show to whom the victory belongs. It is, however, by no means certain that, so far as the Tarauaki electorate is concerned, the result of the campaign will be as satisfactory as it wottld have been had the contest rested between a representative of the Government and the Opposition. * '% » *

Tin; complications incidental to the candidature of live aspirants for Parliamentary honours will in nil prolin. bilily result in not one of them representing the majority of the constituents. To a large number of the elect, ors the choice will be n matter of no dilliculty, but (here are others, and ! their number is by no means insignificant, who will up to the last moment be ill doubt as lo how their vote will best carry out their wishes. This,of r-ourse, refers especially to those who pin their faith ou Liberalism. Those desiring to support the Conservatives willbcunder no sort of cmbarassim-nt, as (here is but one candidate recommended by the Leader of the Opposition. It is with the four gentlemen who are sailing under the Liberal 11 jg that the puzzle will lie hard for some roters to unravel. J lore again the respective merits of the candidate* themselves will probably become a factor in the linal choice. As lo (he tine distinctions of Liberalism that are current in the col. ony at Ihe present day, there would be no dilliculty in reducing them to two classes, namely, those who support the Government and those who do not. Just as Mr Mnssey explained lh;l U;„ party hail nothing to do with the |olicy of ISir Harry Atkinson, but was a Voting ?u-w Zealand Parly, so do the Xew Liberals cast off their a!l-gian-:e to the Meddon Mini.lry, and call tliomsclecs Young Xcw Ze.ilanders—hence there is an alliaily between these two parties which at present is only nominal, but possessing Lit out possibilities of n closer association by way of an offensive and defensive alliance. An. other section of politicians professing Liberal principles take unto themselves the shield of Independence. Praeti. cally they are Liberals at heart, and when possessed of natural ability such as is to be found in those who ar? standing for Taranaki, they have much to recommend them to the electors. Then there is the straight out-and-out supporter of that Government which has admittedly done much to raise the status of the colony and improve the condition of the masses.

The intelligent voter will weigh the merits of the various candidates in the scale with their political convictions as a counterpoise. We cannot conceive that there will be much doubt as to how his verdict should be given. Of one matter Tnranaki may well be satisfied—that it would be difficult to find five candidates elsewhere whose individual qunlifi-ations made it so difficult to judge, from a personal standpoint, which of them has the greater claim to consideration. Though we have no doubt that four of these will be disappointed with the result, they will have the sitisfiction of feeling that the light was n fair and upright one, and while it is to be regretted llitit there will be such a splitting of voles, the cindidnles have as n rule R''(|nittcd themselves as true politicians should.