The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1887. MR ROLLESTON'S MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1638, 24 September 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1887. MR ROLLESTON'S MEETING.

One characteristic of the Gladstone electoral contest is that the followers of the Ministry have conducted themselves with the most praiseworthy decorum so far. Mr Rhodes hau beeu allowed to speak in every centre of population without being interfered with in the slightest possible way, he has been treated with the greatest respect, aod Mr Rollraton also received a fair hearing. We are glad Mr Rolitßton was heard, because it shows in a more marked manner the Ministerialists' sense of fair play and justice. Mr Rollrston came to l'emuka avowedly to address the Uangitata.electorf, to innusnce Gladstone electors in favor of Mr Rhodes. It was good policy on his part to say that ho did not wieh to interfere between the candidates. But every one knew for all that that it was not the half dozen or so RangitaU electors who live in Temuka he was speaking to, and it was not for them that he got sfecial reports put into the papers. He came to Temuka to damage the Government candidate, but »e think he has damaged himself instead. If he had come a fortnight or three weeks earlier, so that (hero woulJ hava been time to reply to him, no one would have complained ; but with the cunning ana duplicity characteristic of an office-seeker he delayed his visit nn'ii such time ss a reply was impossible, His speech appeared in yesterday's Herald, *nd it is impossible to reply to it before the election takes place ; and besides, the Herald would not publish a reply, except in the shape of an advertisement. No doubt everything is fair in politics, but though he acted with much cunuingness, he did not escape entirely unscathed, The answers he gave to the questions 6howed off his shallowness. Ho did not give an intelligent answer to any of them ; and he left on the minds of those present a depreciated impression of his abilities. He also brought upon himself the publication of the most crushing indictment made against the Government of which he wop, a member by Mr Holmes. There is one thing which we might point out. The questions put to Mr Kolleston showed plainly the Ministerialist party, notwithstanding , they are principally composed of working men, could ask very awkward questions, yet they have never asked trny questions of Mr Rhodes. The provocation to do so was very strong, but evidently they took pity on him, and allowed him to glide Bmoothly on. Had Mr Rhodes' followers acted with equal consideration a good deal of the bitterness which has been awakened would not have existed, but of course they are gentlemen and consequently privileged to do what they like, and no one must touch them. We suppose some of the Opposition think themselves privileged to do 'what they like, for, while making doleful complaints about nothing at all, they become guilty of most cowardly conduct. We are pleased to find that on the Ministerialist si'ie nothing has been done to which objection can ba raised. The working men and their candidate have shown a good example to the aristocracy, and it is a regrettable thing to find tho latter incapable of appreciating it,