THE STRATFORD SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1922, Page 7

THE STRATFORD SEAT.

j : (To the Editor.) Sir,- —*dn the Stratford notes of yesterday’s issue of your paper I notice your mention of Mr. E. S. Ruth erf urd’s name being one of many mentioned as a probable candidate for the Stratford seat. Mr. Rutherfurd, however, has according to your repot, declined this honor. I wonder when the public will awake to the enormous expenditure that is unnecessarily marie in contesting elections merely for the sake of an eleetion. There is no doubt that Mr. Masters has so improved his position as member for Stratford that an election is a foregone conclusion. Proof of this is evident in almost any Taranaki paper one picks up. County Councils and local bodies generally are all according this gentlemafi unstinted praise for his good work in their interests. This likewise applies to Mr. 0. Hawken, member for Egmont, who has proved himself to be an excellent representative in Parliament for the farming community. In fact, in my opinion, Taranaki is particularly -fortunate in having two representatives of the type of Mr. Masters and Mr. Hawken. However, election itis is now rife amongst us, and, irrespective of the class of representation, be it good or bad. there arises a section of extremists that simply must have an election irrespective of any chance of success. It is to be hoped that our Egmont neighbors are not emulating a section of the Stratford public, by carting around to every possible individual an olFer of candidature that has in the Stratford electorate become not second hand, but at least, up to present moment, fifth rate. Not only is such action bordering on the ridiculous, but unbecoming on the part of those who should by this time have at least some regard for the feelings of those to whom such an approach is usually made as an honor, not a fifth rate insult.—I am, etc., AN ADMIRER OF THE MAN RATHER THAN THE PARTY.