EGMONT AND WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 288, 2 December 1905, Page 4

EGMONT AND WAIKATO.

We do not know what prospects the Opposition candidate is supposed to have in the Egniont electorate; but we cannot imagine that the constituents of Mr. W. T. Jennings can possibly overlook his many claims upon their confidence and gratitude. Egmont is one of the most difficult electorates in the colony to represent successfully, because of the many scattered and isolated settlements, and the lack of proper means of communication in the back blocks. But very few districts in the colony have so much reason to be satisfied with their representatives as Egmont at th* present time. Mr. Jennings has been most assiduous and untiring in his efforts to promote the interests of his constituents; and his intimMe personal acquaintance with industriil, ugricu'tura!, and pastoral matters, as well as the wide knowledge of public affairs giined in his long journa'istlc eireer, and dur ing his ten years' experience in the Upper House, combine to render him a singularly valuab'e representative as well as a remarkably useful member of Parliament. It will be remembered thai Mr. Jennings resigned his seat in the Upper House to stand for Egmont at the last election. The trust that the electors then reposed in him has been fully justified; and next Wednesday's poll should merely serve to cenfirm the verdict that was given so eniphatic.i lly if. Mr. Jennings' favour three years ago.

Turning to another district, which is more intimately connected with Auckland, we believe that in Mr. Greenslarie t':e electors of Waikato will choose an able and efficient represertative. Mr. Lang's claims upon the di trict have not been justified either by any spec al I'arl amentary achievement or by t , c d"«jrre of independence in thought or.action which h" Ins displayed. Briefly, "Mr. Lang's usefulness is, from the point of view of Auckland, hopelessly discounted by tie fact that he is too much devoted to Oppof.itionism, and too violently hostile to Mr. Seddon to deal justly by the interests of the district as a whr.le. When Mr. Massey and his faithful followers at the beginning of last session strove violently though vainly to prevent the Auckland rremVrs from combining, irrespective of party, they shook the faith of Auckland electors once for all in their loud professions of local patriotism and public ep'.rit; and llr. Lang ihonld suffer with the reat of them for their failure to distinguish between personal or political prejudice and public duty. In Mr. Greenslade tho eleieEdre hafe "a candidate who- while in

the Thames district filled a large number of public offices with great credit to himself, and pi;ce his residence in the Waikato , has gained widespread esteem and confidence. An intelligent thinker, an experienced journalist, and a Liberal of the thoroughly progressive type, Mr. Greenslade cannot fail to make bis mark in public life; and asa member for Auckland district he will, if elected, add a distinct element of strength to the representation of Auckland's needs in Parliament.