EGMONT'S MEMBER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 296, 18 May 1914, Page 4

EGMONT'S MEMBER.

Tho Eltham Argus, discussing the Daily Newa' recent reference to Taranaki's representation in Parliament, says: "The News protests too much. Its criticism will not apply to the representation of Hginont. However much people may differ in political views from Egmont's member, we think it would bo hard to find anyone who would describe him as being 'pathetically weak and inefficient.' ■' We entirely agree with our contemporary, which hardly does us justice, for we. qualified our reference by stating that UVranaki members were, "for the most part, obviously and pathetically, weak and inefficient." It would have been misstating the position to say that all Taranaki's members were light - weights, for they are not. Mr. Wilkinson is not, for one. He is admittedly a strong and capable representative. If the other Taranaki members were of the same calibre there would be nothing to complain of. Taranaki then would get justice done to it, and the members would also make their power and influence felt in the counsels of the nation. This cannot bo said at present. As a critic said not long ago, *a politics are going we turn out repre-

tentative Men to make loom lor unrepresentative men, who are mere party vote-catchers, What we ought to do i 3 to put good men, truly representative citizens, into Parliament, and throw upon the parties the duty of selecting these men aa their candidates. If any. party put forward an inferior man, whatever that party is, it should be made to suffer, for good citizens—whatever their polities—can never do a country any harm whatever. Mr. Wilkinson is a good citizen is well a» a representative man, and is doing such valuable work that wo would be sorry to see him displaced even by anyone with whose brand of politics we might be moro in sympathy. Frankly, Tarauaki cannot afford to lose so good a member. Wo are indebted to our Kltliam contemporary for the opportunity of singling out for "special mention" the representative for Egmont, and only regret. 011 provincial and national grounds, that all our other members are not of the same force of character and general capacity, qualities which count more in a member of Parliament than all party predilections.