WELLINGTON NOTES.
. (From an Occasional Corespondent.) i The approaching election of a i member for the city of Wellington . is attracting an unusually keen interest throughout the colony. It is felt that the result of this struggle , presages to a certain extent the fate ' of the Ballance ministry. It the fc Government with their new political I federation, aided by the whole Rtrength I of the trades and labor organisations of that city, fail to carry the election, ' it will show how public opinion has turned against them since their taxal tion proposals have been battel l understood. No more fitting arena for the contest could have been found ' than Wellington, the centre of political and commercial activity, and, as j the late stride proved, the stronghold of the labor organisations, whose 3 mandates were more implicitly obeyed there than in any other city l in the colony. In spite of the importance this election is to the Government, they have exhibited a charactere istio lack of judgment at the beginning of the campaign. Instead „ of selecting a candidate who possessed the confidence of the ' labour party, they have taken Mr McLean by the hand, a gentleman .„ who, whatever his merits may be, is n distinctly unpopular with the classes e he seeks to represent. To remedj ~. this error one or more of the Ministr j find it necessary to plead on his behall n at almost every meeting, thus proving ~ both the gravity of the error and the e importance they attach to the contest, ' v Mr Jjllicoe would have stood a much j. better chance of election, and would , e hnve made a useful member.' He is, f however, a gentleman not very easy tc e drive, possessing strong individuality ! e and foroe of character, and would soon „ kick over the traceß. After the suffer* ~ ingsthe Government have endured from that thorn in their flesh, Mr ti Fish, it is natural they should sees >3 for a more docile supporter, and in Mi Q McLean they hope to find their beau b . ideal of a follower, a human voting n machine. Mr Bell stands an infinitely bettar chance of success now 0 than he did at the last general elec } f tion. He was then a comparative k stranger to the political platform anc Q polled exceedingly well considering y that constituencies always dislike unq known men. Mr Bell "possessei undeniable ability, but a certaii jj reserve of manner has niili< e tated against his personal popu A larity in the past. It is very prob< } able that the Ballance Ministry wil , r not see the end of next session, anc a men of the calibre of Mr Pell woulc j t prove invaluable in the turmoil. Attei j_ all the result of every election dependi c lirgely on the exertiqn of the Cora' { q mittees. In a closely contested ijgh „ there are always rash' partisans to b( ;0 found on either side whose waqt o | v judgment interferes seriously wit! / the success of their own candid? te q The supportws of Mr Bell wil ie have the advantage in this respeot, ai j they are not likely to let their enthu ' siusm for thuir candidate carry then beyond the bounds of prudence. I 1 T is in fact a very open question whet* ~ Ler the personal efforts of the Minis 38 try will secure anything like a fill vote of their own party in favor o '. Mr McLean. Outside of that partj 3 be will scarcoly find a single suppon j ter. .
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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 4001, 31 December 1891, Page 2
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595WELLINGTON NOTES. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 4001, 31 December 1891, Page 2
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