The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious orEqual and exact justice to all men. political. TUESDAY, DEC. 1O, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2717, 10 December 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious orEqual and exact justice to all men. political. TUESDAY, DEC. 10, 1889.

Tut: (.'lection for the East CJoast seat, which liccamo vacant through tho resignation of the late member, Mr Graham, will take place on Friday next. There aro t\i o candidates in the Held, both of -whom are local men. One is Mr Arthur, the other is the redoubtable Mr W. L. Rees. At the nomination the show of hands was, by a largo majority, in favour of Mr Arthur. There was a strong inclination at one time amongst the electors to follow the example set by the Waipa elaborate to invite a man of colonial reputation, and on colonial grounds, to contest tho seat, and Mr Holieston, formerly member for Geraldinp. and several times a Minister of the Crown, was thought of. in his case, however, although he no longer fills a place in Parliament, it would be difficult to inducc him to forsake the south for a northern seat, particularly as he lays no claim, and is not looked to, to lead a stronjpolitical party or form a new Government. The East Coast electors have had a famous experience of local representatives ; they would willingly bury localism and ali parochial vanities completely out of sight. They must feel thoroughly nauseated with the honour and glory of local men; their pallate has become vitiated with the luxury, and they, no doubt, would gladly accept a healthy change, if the opportunity were ;iHorded them. Hub the two candidates now seeking their suffrages are local men We know little or nothing of the fitness of Mr Arthur to become a member of the Colonial Legislature; we can, however, express a sincere hope that the East Coast electors will exercise sufficient discrimination in their choice not to return Mr W . L. Rocs. Mr Graham, the late member, was not regarded as a credit to the public lifo of New Zeainnd.

What will Mr Rees bo, should ill-fate again place him in political prominence? He will throw into the shade the Fishs. Seddons, and Fishers all put together. The reduction of the House of Representatives to seventy members will be positively nullified, for he will occupy the time,unci bore the assembled legislators, '.vith his interminable verbosity with a power and assurance equal to that of the eliminated twenty-live membors comlined. He will cost the country an much as a full House of ninetytive. and over tax the patience of the iong-sutlering people, who long to see genuine retrenchment effected in the cost of government. If Mr Graham, self-confessed a self-seeker, and who covered himself with obloquy, had an axe to grind, and obtruded himself into Parliament to grind it, it will be found that Mr W. L. Rees lias no less an axe to grind, and that he aims to

re-enter public life for that purpose, and no other. His connection with East Coast Native Land transactions, constitutes the Alpha and Omega of his political hopes and absorb all, or nearly all, his energies. lie may hide them under another name of a philanthropic aspect, by which all the social ills of the Empire are to be remedied, and many silly and misguided people may believe him and accept him as another Daniel come to judgment. But underneath its folds will be uppermost of all the interests of W. L. Rees and his East Coast designs. Let us pray that a merciful Providence will guide the minds of the electors aright and save the colony from another infliction of Mr Rees at this juncture of our improving prospects. He would be a serious disturbing element in the councils of the country, and it would have been infinitely better for the colony had he remained away, and it will be far more creditable to the East Coast constituency to spare us from him. Perhaps it may be said we aro taking more notice of Mr Rees than he is entitled to, but we would not be true to the principles we have so long contended for, if we did not raise a warning voice against the continuation of the evil we wish to see banished from the national politics of this colony. Mr Rees is the personation of a most objectionable type of localism.