THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 217, 29 September 1893, Page 5

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

[B-sr

W. Tatarariki Esq.]

A few months more and New Zealand will be turned topsy-turvey ; business will be almost suspended for the time being; old friends will look at each other with feelings of distrust and suspicion, and politics will reign supreme in the whare of the gumdigger, and the mansion of the would—he aristocrat. It is nearly time the people in that part of the Bay of Islands electorate lying within the Hobson County were beginning to cast their eyes about in search of “a suitable representative, for although they might easily find a worse man than Mr Houston, they might with much greater ease find a better.. (And here let me remark that “ The editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.”) I happen to 1 eside in a district that did not support Jb/Lv Houston at the last election, and in com—pany with other unfortunates have to pay the penalty of practical disfranchisement for not being of the risrht colour. It was clever move on the pert V£ •’ •> p ®fi_ tionu and 1 give hi n credit he deserves tor so doing. Another thing I give him credit for : he looks carefully after the interests of his own immediate neighbour—hood, and if the electorate were comprised within, a radius of say six or eight miles from J his residence I know of no one more deserv— I ing of support. Unfortunately for the Wairoa, such is not the case and perhaps it may not be considered presumptions iu an out- A sider to offer a few remarks in view of com- I ing events. At the last election contest we xaß.d four candidates to choose from, some of m whom will undoubtedly come forward again. 1 I need say nothing more of Mr Houston, and J next on the list is Mi Trounson. This gentle- I man was well supported and only defeated M through the misguided zeal ©f some of his ■ most active admirers: no doubt he will again will be close up at the finish. 1 Then there is our mutual friend John Lun- M don. Honest John ! There was no constit—nency in New Zealand which had so many honest men offer themselves for selection as the Bay of Islands. Had Diogenes lived a few short years back he would have had no V occasion to light his lantern in the noon day to search for an honest man—we could have supplied him with the exact article he was fl in search of and wished him joy of his bargain. When I look back and call to mind a the number of baukers, directors, et hoc genus oinne who only the other day were looked —- upon as honesty personified and who are now doing various terms of penal .servitude in H.M. goals in Victoria, I cannot help asking myself the question, Did old Diogenes require the use of his lantern after all'? ' But John is really honest, he said so himself and who is mere capable of forming an opinion ? John is also possessed of a large amount of cheek, and some ability; but I think we may put him on one side. Even if he should come to the poll still put him on one side, for John is not. the vno.n for Gcilwcty* The question to be considered is : What is best to be done under the circumstances ? And iu reply I would respectfully suggest as follows Let the Hobsou County Coun- * oil at its next meeting lay all petty differences aside and select a xcerson who in their opinion would be suitable for the position, and give a thorough and loyal support to the person so elected. Without going outside the Council they could find one or more v good men among ttiomselves, men who for years have given their best attention to- ■ wards the interests of the district, who have taken an active part in everything- concerning it, and whs have given almost,' if not complete satisfaction, in every office they nave filled whether as County Councillors, members of School Committees, or Cricket Clubs. If I had the selection of such a man I would go to Councillor Bassett and say, ‘Tom, old man the Wairoa want you to represent them in the next Legislative Assembly, will you accept the position ?’ And Tom would probably reply I will see the " Wairoa damaged first. But he might be persuaded and we could not get abetter man ©r one who would moreloyally or conscientiously look after the interests of the constituency. The Chairman might have an equal claim to be considered but he would not get the same amount of support from the working classes. The majority of the settlers, gumdiggers and others would support Mr Bassett. Ido not forget that Mr Dargaville Junr. is already in the field : he is a young man and a New Zealander, and the Council might possibly do worse than give him a trial after he has had a few more years experience. In any case if this district is not to be left behind in the march of progress we must pull together—forget our pettylocal squabbles—bury the hatchet for the time being and send a local man of some ability to represent us at Wellington. For the last three years we have been most shameiully neglected, and we will i-iehly deserve a repetition of this neglect if we will not work together for the common good. Now County Councillors; you are the only representative body we possess, Will you be true to your own interests, and the interests of the district ? Put your shoulders to the wheel and the Wairoa (even mutilated as it is) will place the man of their choice at the head af the pell. ‘ Teinpus omnia revelat.’