THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 224, 17 November 1893, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

OUK REVIEW OE THE CANDIDATES,

Election day is drawing very near and it devolves upon us to review the various candidates who are seeking- to represent these parts in the new parliament. Although the four gentlemen who are contesting the Bay of Islands seat are well known to us we would like to have heard their addresses before passing them in review, but they have hung back so long evidently waiting for the last say, that some of them will only with difficulty be able to find time to address meetings in this County. It takes some weeks to traverse the Bay electorate speaking in all the little centres, and as the election takes place at the end of this month some of the election.eering tours will have to be much shortened. The two candidate:; for Marsden have, however, both appeared before the electors of these parts and we are thus enabled to judge them by their utterances. MR. ROBERT THOMPSON was the first to come forward, and having now held a seat in two parliaments he is pretty well known to electors generally. He has shown himself to be possessed of several good qualifications for he is energetic, determined, and courageous. His denunciation of the Midland Railway job, the Minister of Labour, and other features of the present Government, has been fearless and strong,—in fact so strong that it is difficult to fit it in with his support of that party. He has secured a reputation for determination and it is thought by many that he is of all men the most likely to secure the expenditure of money in his district. There are some on the other hand who give him no special credit in this direction, and they ask what has been secured by Mr Thompson during the six years he has represented the North. It is true that he has loudly drawn attention ts the neglect of the North but justice has not been secured ; and even on the eve of an election when Government supporters are said to be liberally dealt with in the apportionment of the Public "Works expenditure S'- does not appear that much notice has beers takers of our cry for redress. Mr Thompson I moats the lack of unity amongst Auckland members and would have them all band together with the one aim of securing money for the north, but there are those who say that he himself is one that will not fall in with others, but desires all to fall in with him. We cannot say that we admire Mr Thompson’s seemingly sole desire, for if Aucklanders did combine as one man in demanding certain expenditure, then other provinces too would combine and make their demands and we should be no better oft' than we are at present. Mr Thompson himself has shown us, by his references to the Midland Railway compact, the narrowness of such local combinations and we can see that but little good would arise from the plan he desires to introduce. Our parliamentary sessions would degenerate into mere scrambles for mouey and no good would result. Mr Thompson’s aim, that, of securing justice for the North, is a good one no doubt., but his plans for securing it are impracticable and unwise. .11 Ms Thompson can do will not effect a combination of Aucklanders, and, even were it possible, the very tact of Auckland presenting a solid phalanx in a demand for money would only rouse the strong opposition of other provinces. In his speech at Te Kqpuru Mr Thompson said “I go down to Welling ton to get what I can for my own district, I take no further interest in politics than that, I care not a fig for anything else,” so that.it is really on this one plank that electors are asked to support him. We Lave disagreed with Mr Thompson’s plan of securing justice for the North as we consider it an ineffective one. so we will briefly point out what we consider a wiser, nobler and more effective method ; one. too, in which the North may expect to rouse the support of Southern members rather than their op position. In the North we ask for simple justice and no more, and such being the case we do not want a compact of Auckland representatives only, but one of all the honest, mil’ and truly conscientious members of the F; ouse to secure first a Government composed individuals of undoubted righteousness, .hen an impartial enquiry into the Clam of the North and prompt action therein, In following such a course we should

lv- ; lying upon right more than upon might, on which latter Mr Thompson seems to build his faith ; and we are reminded of “The (opo*? time coming when E'yffi un* Mi-flit - ,11 Wi ir , .. - ±ii

- I tics outside n n-cy matters, bat we canx, ,t on that, score ouiit all reference to his politics. Mr Thompson, though not a teetotaller himself, had up to the last session worked harmoniously with the New Zealand Alliance and is said to have pledged himself to that body. Whether or not such be the case we are not in a. position to speak positively, hut. we do know that the Alliance has never wavered from its demand to have the control of the liquor traffic placed in the bands of the people, so that the disagree -

merit which has now arisen between the two is due to ‘he action of Mr Thompson* The two had been treading the same path.; the Alliance still pursues its course but Mr Thompson has departed on another track and the License! "Victuallers have decided to give him their support in the present election. Mr Thompson considers the Alcoholic Liquors Control Bill of last session a great advance ; the Temperance peop’e have good cause to think otherwise, and as such cannot support their old member. In speaking of denominational education, a question of the greatest importance at the present time Mr Thompson shewed great weakness. He said he would vote for the present system while it was in force but “ that it was a matter of indifference” to him which the country had. And in reference to the protection of our guinfields from an inrush of aliens Mr Thompson had nothing to offer, and asked how aliens could be prevented from going on them if there was no work elsewhere Placing before us the Labour platform let us for a moment compare this candidate’s views with it. In some points the two coin - eide fairly well, but in other very important particulars the candidate is in direct oppos - ition. Mr Thompson has always voted against The Shep Hours Bill as he considers it would be the ruin of small tradesmen ; looking into Hansard we find also that he voted with the Opposition in Committee on the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill,'and also on the Lands for Settlement Bill. He is also opposed to a State Bank and styles those who demand for the people the right of vetoing the liquor traffie as faddists. We give Mr Thorny son every credit for persistency and attention to his constituency, but if these traits are going to secure him a seat in the new parliament in spite of his many defects as a liberal politician we very much mistake the tone of the people. MR JAMES HARRISON the other candi date for Marsden is well known at Whanaarei, having been in business there for many years. He is well spoken of by those who have had dealings with him, and is assured of a hearty support in his own district; he is in fact about the only man in the electorate who had any chance of being returned against: Mr Thompson. He is a man of some ability and well versed in the politics of the country and the age. In his addresses he has shown himself a man of advanced ideas, bent sn remedying many of the evils under which the people are now labouring. If elected, and he has every chance of being so, he will be found a much closer friend of the Liberal party than his opponent. He is an advocate of the Shop Hours Bill, Lands for Settlement Bill and the Arbitration and Conciliation Bill and in this respect shows up in marked contrast with his opponent as on the side of the people. Another difference between the two candidates, aud one which should commend Mr Harrison’s candidature to electors in preference to that of Mr Thompson lies in the Alcoholic Liquors Bill. Mr Thompson approves of this illiberal measure which tightens the monopoly of the liquor sellers on the people, and denies to a majority of the latter the right to control the trade, whilst on the otter hand Mr Harrison is determined to have the the Jail 1 repealed and to give the control of the trade into the hands of the people. In the matter of roads and neglect of the North Mr Harrison is as fully alive as his opponent, and of other matters of politics he appears to have a far deeper acquaintance. He sees the necessity of conserving the gumfields and finds no difficulty in suggesting a means of preventing a rush of aliens. He is not in favour of legalising sweeps and would vote for the abolition of the totalisator. His views on other matters are in accord with those'of the Liberal and Labour party. He will not receive the support of the Licensed Victuallers, but, if we mistake not, the ladies and true Liberals will give him a good position on the poll. BAT OE ISLANDS ELECTION. There are seemingly four candidates for this seat, namely, Messrs Trounson, Houston, Lundon, and E. J. Dargaville. Three of these were candidates at last elections and the fourth is son to the fourth candidate on that occasion. Mr Trounson was then defeated by only seven votes, Mr Houston gaining the seat, Mr Lundon on mo third and Mr J. M. Dargaville fourth. From inform - ation gathered from various parts of the electorate we find that the contest again lies between Messrs Trounson and Houston, the other two being quite out of the running.

Mr R. M, HOUSTON, the late member, entered upon his first campaign with some Views quite-opposed to the Liberal platforms, suck for instance as his opposition t® a Land tax, but his career in parliament has. been that of a,true Liberal,withbut one exception as far as we can call to mind. Mr Houston has been a hard working member ever in his place and giving a hearty support to the Liberal policy, and until last session we had but little fault to find with his work in the Ilons3. The introduction of the Ternperaq£je question into thy House last session

was a trying one to many members and Mr Houston did not come well out of the ordeal; the N.Z. Alliance looked upon him as pledged to their platform but have now informed their branch auxiliaries that he is not approved by with them. MrHouston votedin favour of Sir Robert Stout’s Direct Veto Bill, affirming the principle of a bare majority ruling, and afterwards supported the Alcoholic Liquors Bill with its many iniquitous provisions, in opposition to the Alliance party. At the last election very few votes were recorded in these parts for this candidate and it was not until last session of parliament that our urgent claims were attended to, and only after many complaints had been made as to his neglect of us. Taking into account the population and wealth of our County and comparing it with such Counties as Mongonui and Wangaroa the neglect is all the more apparent, and Mr Houston cannot consider electors in these parts unkind if they ask him to now give place to another.

Mr JOHN LUNDON appears very half - hearted in his candidature which is looked upon by many with surprise. His position on the poll last time was not sufficient to warrant him in again contesting the seat with even the smallest hope of success. He is pretty well known to electors and is so far out of the running that there is no need for us to discuss him. He has no claim on this electorate which has many worthy men within its own borders. We just learn that Mr Lundon has retired in favour of Mr Trounson. Mi E. J. DARGAVILLE, son of his well-known father who was at last election at the bottom ®f the poll though largely supported by gumdiggers aud beer, is a young man in years, and younger still in his knowledge of social and political questions. Were the position he new seeks a mercantile one at £240 per annum and he sought it on bis merit he would have no more chance of securing it than a young lad without experience fresh upon the Sixth standard. He has held a seat in the County Council for three years but has shown no aptitude for public work. We might enlarge upon his errors there but, as he has no chance of being elected, we save ourselves the trouble. He has no qualifications whatever for the position he seeks, and having been always under parental control can scarcely know how to fight his own battle in life. Possibly he relies upon his father’s election for Eden, and looks forward to pa being able to assist him in his work should he be elected. Mr P. J. Dargaville is the acknowleg-ecl owner of the Dargaville paper devoted to the family interests, and the unfair and nngentlemanly way in which its columns have been used to falsely represent a worthy man such as Mr Trounson, simply because he is a rival candi late, stamps its owner as morally unworthy of the support of electors. His connection with the attempt to deceive electors by the manifesto issued by “Torn Somers and E. 11. Pail (E. J. Daugaville’s printer) ” in the name of “ The North Auckland Gumdiggers’ Parliamentary Election Committee ” is not likely to secure him the esteem of any honest elector. The system of monopoly carried on in the Dargaville township iu which he has a share will not assist his can : didature, and it is not, surprising that both the Gumdiggers’ Executive (publicly ap pointed) and the Liberal Association should have discarded him.

Mr JAMES TROUNSON, the only other candidate, has an unsullied reputation. He was within seven votes of winning the last election, though theu practically- unknown to many electors. His chances of winning present election are of the brightest ; with the exception of Mr Dargaville’s own paper the press throughout the electorate is unanimously in support of him. Mr Trounson is an unassuming man but withal a good and conscientious worker, well versed in social and political questions. As a man of business ho has successfully carried on a large concern and is one of the largest cattle buyers in the North. Those who have had dealings with him speak in high terms of his fairness and promptness. As an instance of the large heartedness of the m-m we may mention that a little more than a year ago he called for tenders for some bush work wbich he considered to be worth 30s an acre. Two tenders were received, one at 20s and the other at 225, and instead of accepting the lower Mr Trounson informed the two parties that he wanted the work done well and he considered the price too low. The two tenderers being satisfied with their tenders agreed to combine and do the work at the higher price. When the work was completed it was represented to Mr Troon 1 son, then sick in Auckland that after paying wages the tenderers had nothingleft for them selves, and he thereupon paid for Lhe work at his estimate of its value namely 30s per acre, and actually paid the contractors £3O more than was legally due to the on Mr Dargaville in his paper has charged him with being linked with Me-srs Mitchelson in their guuifields system,— a most deliberate for when taking over the pastoral lease of Mr Nimmo’s block that gentleman offered to insert a clause in the lease giving Mr Troun sou the monopoly of the meat trade on the block, but ikv latter refused to accept it

preferring t.o lot. his Hade stand on its merits in fair competition with otuers. This candidate has in fact acted so generously to gumdiggers (whom Mr Dargaville tries to tarn against him) that some would call him soft. Mr Trounson owns 1000 acres adjoining Messrs Mitchelson’s lease and though‘he has been offered a good rental by- different people for the gum rights he has refused to interfere with the diggers who have been digging there in the belief that they were on Grown land. What is known as the Bush Camp, in the Kaihu Yalley, stands on this block. We might multiply instances such as these to show the liberality of the man but have said enough to sho .v the baseness of the attacks which have been made upon him so unscrupulously by the one candidate who is perhaps more indebted- to him than any other.

The Gumdiggers’ Executive Committee have wisely decided to support Mr Trounson in tnepresent election. They have interviewed him and found hi m to be in thorough accord with their platform. He is also iu favour of all the leading planks of the Labour platform but will not biud himself to a servile support of the present Government as he considers that the personnel of the Ministry could be improved upon. We have not yet heard his present address to electors or we might enlarge upon his views, but we have interviewed him and satisfied ourselves as to his views on all the important topics of the day. Mr Trounson is a supporter of the Direct Veto on a b i .-ft majority and considers the Alcoholic Liquors Bill of last session a retrograde step. Electors (ladies and gentlemen), if you can find a worthier man to represent you by all means give him your vote on election "day, but, if not, then let no side issues or outside prejudices prevent you from voting for Mr James Trounson, a man of sterling integrity and good business ability.