The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1892.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 4013, 15 January 1892, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1892.

The election to bo determined at Wellington to-day is probably tjte most momentous one in the history of the Colony. We are told on excellent authority that it is to decide whether Mr Bell or Mr McLean is the move proper man to 1 serve in Parliament, and not to determine whether the Government continue to possess the confidence of the community. We venture, how ever, to believe that if Ministers win ' the light tbey will claim that their victory is conclusive evidenco that they still have tho colony at their back, and that I lie unions still rule New Zealand; if they lose, from one end of the Colony to the other they will be warned that their term of power is over, and their prestige is hopelessly gone. It is this issue ; which invests the election with such i unusual interest, and which thrills \ the Colony in overy centre of its 1 population. Who can, with confidence, even on the day of (he poll, predict tho result ? In the preliminary engagement Mr Bell has had the advantage, but on the eve of the field day it was found that chances were guaged as equal. We believe the Government party to be in a minority, but it is a party «hich is quite capable of turning a minority into a majority at the last moment by i some fell proceeding, There are doubtless some .block votes in the market, aiW if it became necessary to secure these it is probable that the Ministerial party would be hindered by few scruples, If the fighting be fair we believe thnt Mr Bell will bo elected, but if at the last moment some strategical movement on the part of Mr McLean's friends disturbs tho chances, the result will be doubt, ful. Tho unions are at the throat of the Colony, and Wollington is malf> ing a noble effort to free itself from the constricting grip. Should it succeed it will be worthy to hold with honour a title once given to it in derision, " The Empire City" will give the Colony a losd end animate New JJeuland to join it in putting down the garotte of the unjous. We hope for victory, and sincerely trust that Mr Bell will parry the position for which he has made an almost heroic fight.