MR BRYCE AND THE WAIPA SEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2692, 12 October 1889, Page 2

MR BRYCE AND THE WAIPA SEAT.

The Herald says.—The prospect of Mr John Bryce entering the House of Representatives as member for Waipa, will bo hailed with gladness all through New Zetland. He is emphatically the man for the colony at the prosont time. If Mr Bryce became a member of the prosont Government, it would have more backbone than it exhibited last session, and even his presence in the House will at all events strengthen those who are opposed to jobbery as a factor in politics. The constituency of Waip.i will lay tho country under a debt of gratitude by sending Mr Bryce to Parliament, and we are sure that ho will fully appreciate the honour of being called, as a colonial statesman, to tho representation of a district with which he has no personal connection. A private telegram from a pionunont settler states that Mr Bryce's nomination will secure enthusiastic support in Pukekura.

Mr Lake, who formorly sat in Parliament for Waipa, has telegraphed to Mr Bryce, offering him his support. We are pleased to see that the requisition to Mr Bryco is being eagerly and rapidly rilled, and already a largo number of electors have unhesitatingly affixed their names to it in places where copies havo b-en issued. This is the surest evidence of tho popularity of his candidature. It is expected that fully six hundred signatures will be received before the lists aro called in. The Herald correspondent telegraphed from Wellington on Thursday, a.s follow?.— The intelligence received here, last night that it was the intention of the electors for Wnipa to secure tho return of Mr John Bryce as their representative in Parliament lias had the effect of stimulating the interest that is felt in the approaching political settlement of Ministerial offices. The newspaper which is reputed to represent the views of the Government, and more especially those of Sir Harry Atkinson, gare emphasis this morning to a rumour, before any rumour conld have rnacbcid very far, that Mr Bryco would bo olf.'.red tho first vacant portfolio. This has tended to make tho vacancies presumed to exist at present in n sort of political hotch-potch. There can be no doubt at ail that till return of Mr Bryce to Parliament svonld greatly strengthen tho Government side of the House of Representatives, and his accession to the Ministry would bo a double advantage. Friend and ant.igoni.sr, the Times and Post, congratulate tho Waipa settlers upon their resolution to take so remarkable a man from seclusion. Tho electors are told that they have it iu their power to do a " real service" to the colony, that no man could be more missed from Parliament and public life than Mr Bryce has been duiiug the past three sessions, and they go on to remark upon tho public loss occasioned by the imprudence of the Waitotara voters. Tho paper concludes by saying " any constituency in the colony mighty be proud of having such a representative."

fuv TKr-Kou.vi'H.—own (xmiusroNMOT;. AjTcicr.ANP, Fiiday. Tho Star, in an article) on Mr Brycu's candidature for Waipa, siys: — "We believu tho electors of Waipa will make a very great mistake it they choose Mr Bryco as their representative. Waipa is a district which has many local wants and the future prosperity of tho settlers depends entirely upon those wants receiving proper attention from the Government. The question of railway management alone is one which calls perpetually for the personal interest and local knowledge of the member who represents tho district. Matters in connection with the administration of native affairs are als. > a perennial source of trouble and difficulty, and the local bearing of these questions can only be fully understood by a member who is constantly accessible to the settlers. Now Mr Bryce, owing to his residence outside the district, is practically disqualified from lending the settlers that help which is so important, we may siy indispensable to them, and even irrespective of the practical difficulty interposed by his inaccessibility, the Waipa settlors could not rely upon receiving much sympathy from him iu such matters. Mr Brycu's defeat in the district where he resides ,mhl which he formerly represented, was, we believe, due to tho dissatisfaction prevailing among tho settlers on account of his inattention to purelyloc.il aftVus. No doubt he has rendered tho country sonio service, aud might still ba a. very useful member of the Legislature, but we bclievo he is better adapted for a city constituency than to become the representative of a largo country district, which has so many local wants.' We have very little doubt that if sent as the representative of Waipa the electors would soon discover that in all matters of local concern they had by their choice become practically disfranchised. (iiY Tur.KGiurii.—l'iiKss association.) Wkllincton, Thursday. Tho authorities h ive been looking up precedents of cases where a ini'.nibur of Parliament has disappeared, in order to ascertain what course to take in regard to the Waipa seat. Tin; Speaker must satisfy himself of the death of the sitting member before issuing a writ, and in Major Jackson's cise there is no proof of death. Tho Speaker will probably wait till application has been made to the Supreme Court for letters of administration, and the attitude of the Court will regulate tho coursa to bo taken. Wkllincton, Friday. Tho Speaker of the House of Representatives has decided to declare the Waipa seat vacant at once, without waiting for the Supreme Court to errant letters of adniinisi tratiou in the lato Major Jackson's estate.