The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1831.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 905, 21 October 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1831.

" Under which king, Bezonian 1" We bavo very little faith in independent candidates who acknowledge, no leader, and go into Parliament, as it were, on their "own hook" In theory such independence is all very well, but, in any country in which party government obtains, it breaks down in practice. A Middle Island politician recently declared " that it was usually with independence as with virtue—those who made the most noise about it had the least of it," A politician who plays a lone band in a Parliament can do but little for his country, and still less for his constituents, Any man who wishes to exercise an influence in the House must necessarily attach himself to one of the, defined parties in it. An the eve of a general election it may be said that the new blood which will be introduced into the Assembly will tend to disturb existing parties. This may be the case, but nevertheless the, new blood must necessarily range itself round old leaders. The business of legislation requires an apprenticeship like any occupation. Only experienced men m the House are capable of taking a lead in conducting its business, and Ministers are usually selected from its veterans—certainly never from its raw recruits. In the next session of Parliament the members who will lead tlio House will be the men who have been at the front in the one which is past. Of course in some instances a private will be raised to the dignify of a non-commissioned officer and a commissioned officer get bis next step upwards, but inexperienced men will have to follow the lead of exper'enned ones, and the exigencies of party will classify almost every man who is returned at the coming elections, The electors have a right to know under what leader any particular cand date will enlist, In ninety-nine cases out, of a hundred the candidate knows himself, but in very many instances he is reluctant to reveal his colors, He has, perhaps, some axe of his own to grind, some personal interests to serve. and he prefers to be free to dispose of his vote in an open market. Promises of supporting hypothetical policies are of little or no value from the fact that they are unlikely to come before the House in a practical form, and in reality pledge a candidate to nothing. Mr Renall is a ease in point. He proposes to reform the Constitution, but if returned to the House will have just as jnuch opportunity of carrying out : his views as he has of changing the, Russian dynasty. Mr Renall scored a triumph on Wednesday evening. He has succeeded in making the working classes discontented, and has enlisted their sympathies. It will be remembered that Sir George Grey, four years ago, made the working classes throughout the colony discon\ietM, A«d thk k about all he has

done for them, and" all lie is ever likely to do for tliem. Men like Sir George Grey and Mr Benall climb to place und power on the discontent of the working classes, It is but fair to Mr Kenall to admit that he was singularly moderate in his tone at the late meeting, mid that he refrained from " personal abuse," which has 'occasionally been one of his weak points. In .this respect he made .a favorable 'impression on both.those who supported him, and those who opposed him, We trust he will be able (o maintain a similar tone throughI out the contest.