The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 14. CLOSING UP THE BANKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 14 May 1907, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 14. CLOSING UP THE BANKS.

Ere to-day merges imo to-morrow the L.iUie of llk- Taranaki bye-election will have been fought and '.vim. The forces of llie three aspiring political ycnui'iilrt wiii luivo iih't mill I rial conclusions :il. i tin- baUot-bo.s. ami in- whasc svit-nyili lis greatest will ha\e achieved the honorable distinction of being chosen the I li'iiili'i- nml representative of I lie united forces of political opinion of Taranaki. | Any one of t ho three, we believe, would, lY'.'m a personal point of view, iill liie obligations and duties appertaining lo tier, high ollicc Willi credit. This election however, is obviously not being decide, 1 , i.u the ground of llie personal little's of any'one of the i.indidales as ag,iin-.l llie' others, lor ail ale worthy men. There i, .mlv one i>-,ue before the electors, and liiaf'is wheiher ihis electorate is to b.' represented by a follower of the Government or a supporter of til.' ilpposiiion. That issue is clear, and the eieeiors l.v this time, we hive no itnlilii. liave de'ei.led in (heir minds as to which party llry are to give allegiance. We would prefer lo have .-een a straight-out issue between reprcsi-nta lives of the rival political parlies. As it is there are two Liberal candidates vielng with each oilier for llie support of the parly. We cannot help feeling that it is a calamity that the Government should be ill such good favor with aspirants lor purlittinentary honors. We concede that any elector has the right to | enter tor a Parliamentary race, but all members of any party must agree that only the littest horse in the stable should be accepted on a party's behalf. Mr. Malone's appearance in the present race, it must be admitted, is most disconcerting to llie parly to which he gives almost uuipiulilied general approval. ill'. Dockrill, as. the elect of the party, was assured from the outset of the grant bulk of the Liberal support, but we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that Mr. Malone, who has conducted a • vigorous campaign, may secure a percentage of that vole. In' proportion, as Mr. Ma- ! lime's candidature allccls tile solidity of the Liberal vote, will Mr. ('(key's chance I of election be enhanced or minimised, if, as the lion. Air. Carroll pointed out last night, there is serious splitliug in the casting of votes for (he (iovernment, the voters may defeat the object of their I hopes—the retention of the. seat liy the Liberal party. We endorse the high opinion formed of Air. Alanine bv the Hon. Air. Carroll, and, that being so, beIlicve he would regret, as keenly as any one, the loss of the Taranaki seat lo the Government. \Yc have no intention at this late slags of entering into reasons in support of the policy of the present Government. Last night's rival meetings undoubtedly showed oil which side the support ami sympathies of the very great bulk of the people of New Ply mouth, at any rate, are. The whole position, as we stated before, and we are speaking directly to those who believe tlie present (iovernment should continue in power, resolves itself into a question of Liberals so casting their votes that their desire shall lie realised. There must be no division, no breaking away from Hie ranks, if that object is to be attained. "A house divided atrainst itself nuisl surely fall." So might the Liberal edilice in Taranaki be in danger of collapse if a division is made. We do not anticipate Iha l the lowering of ihe Liberal colors will be brought aboui by any such iiul'ortuuale circumstances, but assurance may be made doubly sure l by a combination of the Government's supporters in ensuring the return of the party's nominee, Air. Dockrill.