THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1892. THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2302, 7 January 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1892. THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

' The Government appear to have set their heart on winning the Wellington election, and consequently the result of it will have more than ordinary significance. If the Government candidate is defeated it will be held up as a proof of the unpopularity of the policy of the present Ministry, and efforts will be made to show that they no longer possess the confidence of the country. Our opinion is that if the Government win this election it will undoubtedly prove a great victory to them. In every country with which we are acquainted, the seat of the Government is very Conservative. London is the most Conservative part ot England, and so on with other countries : Wellington is no exception to the rule. There are large numbers of wealthy people living in Wellington, the Civil Servants are very numerous, and of course not very friendly to the present Ministry, but worse than that the plural voting has not been abolished so far as byelections arc, concerned. In addition to this Government candidate, Mr W. Maclean is not popular. He is a spiritualist, and for that reason lie is

disliked, and it is also said he gave offence to the Irish portion of the community in connection with Horne Rule. In all this of course there is nothing which ought to militate against Ills election if the people looked upon politics from the right point ot view, but unfortunately they do not always do so. They are more frequently guided by prejudices than by principle, and consequently there is a danger that Mr Maclean’s personality will exercise some influence on the election. On the other hand Mr H. Bell has the advantage of being a lawyer of considerable ability. He is, besides, a son of Sir F. H. Bell, late AgentGeneral, and has recently been elected mayor of the city. He is smoothtongued and oily, and in his speeches he is as Liberal as any body else, but he would turn the present Ministry out of office as soon as possible. The honest truth is Mr Bell is an Electioneering Liberal, who, if elected, would prove a Tory. All the odds are therefore against the Government

in the contest, and if they lose, it is nothing more nor less than what might be expected, considering the circumstances of the case. But after all there is something in their favour. A meeting of eleven trades-unions was held, and at this it was decided unamimously to support the Government,candidates but the question is; are they numerous enough to secure a victory ? In any other city they would be but the Civil Service vote in Wellington is very strong and will undoubtedly be given against a Ministry who cut down salaries. The contest is therefore expected to prove a severe one, and the result is watched with great interest.

The Tories affect to be shocked by the fact that members of the Government are taking part in the election and lending assistance to Mr McLean. For our part it appears to us that it is their duty to do so. In England it is always done by both Liberals and Conservatives, and it is absurd for any one to find fault with so good an example being followed. But what the Conservatives of this colony would like is that they should be allowed to represent matters as they please, and that no one should criticise them. We have had them banquetting each other all over the South Island recently, but when the Premier made a few speeches they deemed it very wrong of him to do so. However, it appears to us they are getting powerless, and the least they may be allowed to enjoy is liberty to scold.