The Temuka Leader THURSDAY JANUARY 29, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 229, 29 January 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY JANUARY 29, 1880.

"The calm in the political world is about to 1>« disturbed, so far as the Gerald : ne disiiict is concerned. It is put down as a matter t* at, .when Mr Wakefield

leaves for the Noitii, lie. wil! in honi'iir le bom d to resign bis seat as number tor Geraldine. In view of this, chr. tors have been turning over In their mind who are likely or suitable candidates for the honor of representing this important district. Two gentlemen e - p-ciid!", a e jut now talked of as prepared to offer their seiylccr, to wit, Mr Postlcthwaiie, (Jhainnan of the Geraldine. Road Bon'd, and Mr Seymour Tancred, son of Sir Thomas Tailored, a gentleman who has evinced so warm an interest in the welfare of South Canterbury. Of the gentlemen whose names we have mentioned, Hi* first has been so often before the public as a member of the -Road Board, and ad so on one occasion as a member of the Geraldine County Council.that, if he merits any claim to public favour in the district, he wi-'l now have a chance of proving how- much ,it is appreciated. As regards the other gentleman, Mr Seymour Tancred, we hear but one opinion : that he is a gentlemanly, well-edncated scion of a most respectable and highly csteemed’family. Sir Thomas Tancred, as well as his - eldest son (Mr Selby Tancred), are well known, and were ever spoken well of while living amongst us. Air Seymour Tancred,a younger sou,if he has not mixed much with the political world, has been a careful observer of passing events, and, being well educated, well read, and moreover an advanced Liberal, gives promise (if lie will come forward) of being a most useful young member. His knowledge of the district, and his connection with some of the leading settlers, constitutes a claim by him upon fha electors for support. Some may object to Mr Tancred for his want of experience in political life. To our thinking, this is one of his heat recommendations. The young Liberal party formed in the Assembly a short time before the close of the session, expressed a strong desire that Its leading members should be men whoseminds have not been warped by prejudice created during the heat of party strife.

With this view we most heartily agree. We see, in the new Government and its supporters an inclination to ignore anything that a former Government had a hand in, however good ; so has it been to a greater or less extent with other Governments- Now, if a few well-educated and intelligent young men, like Mr Seymour Tancrcd, could be induced to come forward, and set themselves heartily to work, they could form an able opposition in the Liberal interest. Mr Tancred i s not one of the large landed party, and if he comes forward at all, it would be with the view of .gaining for himself a name as a public man, ns well as to servo the district in which ho end hia'family have so long resided. It may be thought hy seme that we are cutting before the point. We would have such to remember, the warning we gave sometime ago that, while the Liberals may be sleeping the enemy may be sowing tares. The present Government—although it may by necessity have been compelled to adopt some of the measures previously brought forward by the Liberals— is nevertheless a Conservative Government still. Liberalism cm. not exist in a healthy state when it is mixed up with Conservatism. Consequently it is the duty of every true Liberal to exert himself to ad\anco the interests of the Liberal cause. Therefore, we say it is well to be in the held in lime. Even, although Mr Wakefield may not re' sign before next session, if the present Government keep its promise, it mast bring in a bill for re-distribution of seats, which will necessi ate a dissolution, and a new election. Mr Tancred, therefore, if he will come forward*. would do well to let it be known as soon as possible. The chances are that he would be the favorite with the people, and it would prevent adventurers coming forward ua pntchers in our preserves, who have no right or interest in the district whatever. A local candidate, with even a moderate amount of ability, would always find more favour than a stranger, but we are of opinion that Mr Tancred has good abilities, and only wants to bo put in harness to show hia paces. Further, the old,/ members must soon bo shelved. We hay© always done our best to draw out our young men, to prepare them for taking the places which is rapidly being vacated by the older settlers. On this account, if for none else, wo would like to see Mr ’fancied in the field. If Mr Wakefield had not been a resident in Timaru he might possibly turned out a more useful member for the district, but sitting between two stools and allowing family connections, and their prejudices to be jumbled up together in hia mind, ho has fallen clown between them. We do hope the electors, whatever they do, w 11 not allow themselves again to be led into the same unpleasant situation as regards their representative in the General Assembly.