CANVASSING AT ELECTIONS.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 71, 19 December 1896, Page 4

CANVASSING AT ELECTIONS.

Any bittereness of party fueling engendered by the recent elections may be now slid to have passed away, and the community are prepared to argue quietly as to the merits or demerits of the candidate.-, put forward. Those who were fortunate enough to .secure victory at the polls feci naturally elated, while those Mho were defeated' must be correspondingly downcast. Indeed, these latter, in a large proportion of eases, have just cause to regret that tlu-y put so much faith in the promises of their so called friends and supporters. This applies in nearly every electoral di-tiiot throughout the colony where the candidates were not only buoyed up with hope by the fictitious, promises made, hut were absolutely fooled to the top of their bent to the end of the chapter. It was nothing cut of the usual to read or learn that where, fay, only two candidates were in opposition for the r.oveted beat, both were confident of victory, and after a systematic canvass of the electors—male and female did not hesitate to proclaim far and wide that they had substantial majorities, only to find on the declaration of the poll that they had been absolutely sold, for in the case <>f the vietoi solid figures had been reduced practically to units, and this vanquished, instead of going into Parliament with Hying colours, found themselves rejected by almost as many votes as they expectc-d to win by. it is this vicious 'system of canvass winch is mainly answerable for uufooked for results,'and it is high time that action was taken 1.0 put down what appears to lie an evil calculated to bring discredit into New Zealand polities if it is not at once eradicated. It stands to reason that in the different electorate-; throughout the country the candidates arc bound together'—some by ties of relationship or by friendship, and others again are associated in business matters or private social life. The candidate, thoroughly aware of all this, naturally counts on support from his friend.- and relations, but not content with that he canvasses them tor votes. It may be that they are in sympathetic accord with the candidate,' and believe in the expression of his views, dud so they promise undivided support. I Jut then the opposition man comes round on the sane ei rand. I'or divers reasons il is not politic to stale straight out that support has already been promised, otto give a decided opinion one way or tiio other, and thus the candidate is temporised with, until being actually postered on the matter, and bavin; full knowledge of the scercy of the billot bov, si promise of mppcrt is extracted. Thus the game g us on, and fictitious majorities by such means aie piled up, Iho bul blc only being pricket! when the re-p' etive totals are aunouutetl by the Kctimung Officer. Yin Av.v \uiture t.> I

assert that there is not one candidate who put up at the recent elections but can bear out the absolute truth of what, is here written, and although they •ire wiser men to-day the same complications would ensue were the polls taken again to-morrow. It seems certain, therefore, to eradicate the tendency ot such a growing evil, that canvassing for votes should be put down by law, and as the Liberal Government have succeeded in making so many provisos in the Act to .safe-guard the general rights, and to improve the working of elections, they would be conferring still further benefits on all concerned if they moved in the direction indicated.—Wanganni Herald.