THE ASHBURTON SEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7242, 30 July 1907, Page 4

THE ASHBURTON SEAT.

••:'*" (To the Editor.) Sir,—The electors of Ashburton will have read with much satisfaction a paragraph in your issue of Thursday last, wherein it is stated that the members of a local debating society intend to nominate a candidate for the Ashburton seat at the next general election/ , , . I must congratulate the young men of this town for having at last awakened to a sense of their responsibility as citizens, and sincerely trust that they will persevere in their attempts to bring forward a candidate. . For many years past the electors of this county have, at election time, been faced with the necessity for choosing the best of a bad lot. In this Ido not wish to cast reflection upon the personal character of the candidates. They have been, for the most part, very fine gentlemen; but they have generally lacked that power of vigourous resolution on public questions which every representative of the people should possess; and they have been very deficient in oratorical and argumentive powers, which are the very hallmark of political ability. It has been my good fortune to have been present at many of the public debates between representatives from the different debating societies, and I have been struck with the ability displayed by some of the speakers. These young men have generally shown a great deal more knowledge of public affairs, and have displayed more tact in debating political questions, than many of our candidates have done in their camj paign addresses. I trust, Mr Editor, that you will give all the encouragement you can to the movement. ' OBSERVER. Ashburton, July 29, 1907.