THE EGMONT SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 7 December 1914, Page 4

THE EGMONT SEAT.

For the Egmont seat two unusually abla 1 men oiler their services. The sitting ' member (Mr. C. A. Wiliknsori) is carry- i nig the bauner of the Government, and : Mr L. A. Astbury standing in the interests o£ the Opposition. These two candidates fought out the last election. Then "Reform's" star was in the ascendant. To-day the feeling of the country as a | whole, as far as one can gauge it, is not as favorable to the Government, principally because it has failed to make good its promises and professions. But party apart—and, in our opinion, the interests of the country come before those' of party—Mr. Wilkinson has proved a very useful and successful member. To him a great deal of the credit is due for settling in what to us appears a satisfactory and equitable way tlie West Coast Settlement (1881( Reserves leases difficulty. The Local Sail ways Bill, that makes it possible for a district to undertake the construction of a railway itself, instead of waiting for the Government to do so, was largely helped by the member for Egmont. This measure was promoted by the Opunake-Moturoa Railway League, and permits the district to lay down and equip a coastal railway, lie succeeded not only in getting the ■ Government to authorise, but to make ■ an actual commencement with the Opu-liake-Te Eoti railway, wjiicli must prove ' of inestimable service to the settlers of ' that closely-settled district, whose 1 claims for railway communication had ' been overlooked for years. In other than ' local matters lie has proved a valuable ! member. (His proposal to set up the ! equivalent of a Board of Trade, to watch I and regulate rates and ' charges, has | been adopted by the Government, and in many subjects of national importance lie lias taken an important share, and done, justice to his constituency, and Taranaki as a whole. For these reasons we would be sorry to see Mr. Wilkinson out of politics. It is not often men of

his wide experience and commercial ability can be persuaded to enter the political arena, and when he is prepared to make the sacrifice, and devote his time 'to the people's interests, his services should be gratefully retained. Mr. Astbury is a man of great natural attainments, a true champion of democracy, and always ready to fight in its interests. We are only sorry he is in opposition to a man like Mr. Wilkinson, who has earned and deserves the cordial continued support of his constituents, of whatever shade of political opinion.