The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1914. THE TARANAKI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 30 November 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1914. THE TARANAKI SEAT.

The contest for the Taranaki seat will | be fought largely on the question of ! personal fitness. We all know the present member to be a very conscientious and very hard-working member, and that he gives of his best to his constituents and country. But he lias limitations. Parliamentary life is obviously uncongenial to him, and, if wo mistake not, he would a hundtea times rather be engaged in his ordinary avocation. How distasteful political life must be to him is shown by his disinclination to meet the electors during the recess and give 1 them an account of his custodianship, and a resume of the work of Parliament for it is a fact that he has not addressed his constituents since last election. Then, in the affairs of the town or district he takes none but a passive interest, being identified with none of its activities, except the Oil Company, of which he is a salaried director. He cannot hope to keep in touch with his constituents in this lackadaisical way, for the district has a big future before it and 1 equires able leadership, vigorous championship of its interests, and cap- j able advocacy of its needs and aims. ' Besides, it expects its representative to j participate in the discussion and assist in the solution of the several big ques- ] tions before the country. Our present member lias not filled the bill, not because of lack of willingness or spirit, j but simply because he was never "cut : out for the position-into which his sup- ' porters placed him. This fact tliey must ! admit by now. Ho has been given every ! opportunity—no electorate has been more indulgent to its member than Taranaki but the time has arrived when, in the interests of the community, a change in its representative should be made in favour of a more virile and able personality. The particular "brand" of politics our member professes is really of less consequence than an all-round fitness to fill tiie position. The other candidate in the field—Mr D. J. Hughes—is ft comparative stranger to most of the electors, but they must all have heard of his persistent and successful championship of the deep-sea harbour in the Waimate Plains, which had previously been hostile to the harbour, and everybody and everything connected with it. This feeling of antagonism he was largely instrumental- in removing, and the day will assuredly come when the people of that district will be grateful to those who have given tke province a safe deep sea harbour. Mr. Hughes,, too, is known by repute as one of Taranaki's best exponents of football and sports generally. Lately the electors of Taranaki have come into direct touch with him, and have seen that he is capable of just the same ability and vigour on the platform as on the playing field. His blunt outspokenness and obvious sincerity have gained him many friends, and as time goes on there can be little doubt that he will gain the confidence of many more. Of Mr Hughes' character it should be unnecessary to refer, but, like that of other political aspirants, it has been the subject of adverse criticism. Mr Hughes used to be noted for his "clean" football, and for always playing, the game, and we must add that lie has played the game of life eqnally cleanly and successfully. By dint of hard work lie has gained a competency, and is now in the position to oiler his services to his fellows in the district he has elected to make his future home. It lias been mentioned that he has met with reverses at semi-public elections on the Plains. A man of decided opinions and firm judgment must always meet with opposition. The man who meets witli no opposition in any department of life must lead a very colorless existence. But om this point, everyone knowing him will credit him with being a "battler," and this is the type of man this district wants very ' badly just now. All will acknowledge that the present is a critical period in the history of the town and district, and that if we are to take advantage of our opportunities we must have stronger representation in Parliament, active leadership in all affairs touching our welfare, and a practical helping hand extended. Because we believe we can confidently expect these qualifications from the Liberal candidate, we claim, politics quite apart from the question—because the interests of our district and country are greater than those of party —he would make the more fitting and capable representative. At any rate, the district could hardly be worse served I than it has been by our present very estimable but very unsatisfactory representative.