THE BAT ELECTION.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 216, 22 September 1893, Page 5

THE BAT ELECTION.

“ Backed by our supreme authority, He’ll command a large majority ; Into Parliament he shall go.” Thus wrote "W. S. Gilbert in the liheretto of “lolanthe,” and so also, though not in the same words is the substance of the address to the Bay electors published over the signature of ,l F. J. Dargaville.” And how ingenious is the bait thrown out for ignorant electors, that with Mr J. M, Dargaville as a member for Eden, of which ‘ there is an

excellent prospect—almost amounting to a certainty ” (so runs the impudent assertion), and his talented son member for the Bay of Islands, the electorate would “ thus practically have two representatives in parliament. . to attend to all its great needs.” Thus electors are quietly asked, by their combined votes, to help replenish the family coffers with the contribution of £4BO per annum. What a dream for such a lad ! It takes a smart man now-a-days to be worth £240 per annum, and electors very naturally ask what has this young gentleman done, or what has he within him, that he should presume to ask the country for such a sum for a few months’ work. Let a man first show that he can earn his wages before he enters upon an agreement to work. Mr Dargaville speaking at the Gumdiggers’ meeting said, ‘ I would like to stipulate that you elect for the Bay of Islands some one, your chairman (Mr Fitzpatrick) for instance, with whom I could work cordially.’ And at another time he Jsaid that the diggers could elect whom they pleased, also that Mr Fitzpatrick was as good a chairman of a meeting as ever he had seen. Since then, however, Mr Fitzpatrick, as Chairman of the Gutndiggers’ Executive, in a letter to the Wairoa Beld said that the diggers would not be made e catspaws ’of by any man; and in the last meeting of diggers ruled that none but diggers should be allowed to speak, and when Mr Dargaville essayed to disobey his ruling quietly called him to order. All this was evidently contrary to the Dargavillian plan of campaign, and now Mr Fitzpatrick is attacked as an ambitious schemer, and a tool in the hands of others; and in the Dargaville “ Family Bullatin ” is toid that he is not a suitable man and has not the ghost of a chance. Many diggers are now saying neither have you, Mr Plausible, we have now got your weight pretty correctly, and if diggers don’t vote for you look out for your deposit.