THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12638, 27 October 1905, Page 5

THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE.

To the Editor.

Sir, —It is manifestly unfair, in youjr leader of this morning, to refer to Mr Bassett as tine Opposition candidate,. when you aire perfectly well aware that* Mr Hase'den was in the field nianyweeks; if not months, before we heard*,* anything about Mr Bassett's candidature. Mr Bassett may l>e opposed tothe present Government, but I am inclined to think, as do many other staunch Oppositionists, that Mi* Bassett. is bhe Prohibition candidate. It would be a sorry day for Wanganui if ourfair district were represented by a faddist. Surely we have seen enough of theharm done to communities, and the; country as a whole, by those at present, in Parliament who (hold extreme views'It is strange, too, that you should have* discovered, " all of a sudden like," that Mr Basisott is " head and shouldere "* above the remaining quintette, whenonly a short time ago yon almost bewailed the fact that, although you: agreed with his views, Mr Haselden was comparatively unknown, and yout stated in your leading article commenting on his speech—" This much at least may be said, that if in the fortune of" war it is Wanganui's lot to be represented hy Mi- Haselden, she will have noreason to be ashamed." As a true Oppositionist myself I sincerely trust tha.fo those opposed to Seddonism will not behoodwinked, but will vote straight fortho man who was first in the field—&■ ■main who has proved "himself an ableand keen debater in the House, and: ope who gained the .respect of bothe sides whilst there. —I am,, etc. ALEXANDER STRACHAN. Wanganui, October 26, 1905. [We are inclined to think that Mir Strachan is not conversant witlh ■tfhe<position. Unfortunately, {he has not resided in this electorate for a good manyyears, and, naturally, must have gotr- " out of touch " witlh local feeling. We--bave no doubt that Mr Bassett will be? the selection of the local electors, wbo-i-eoognise, as we do, uhat. he is by faar the strongest candidate in the field. Werecognise Mr Haselden as a strong opponent of the present Government; but:-, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that Mr Bassett has. much the better chance? of success. Mr Straehan is a strong-, vigorous, and energetic party man, ancF is, we doubt not, actuated by the best of motives. We trust that he will usohis best endeavours' to make the return of Mr Hine a6 certain for Patea. as we are confident of Mr Bassett's return for Wanganui.—Ed. " Chronicle. "Js