THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11245, 10 April 1902, Page 4

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

The announcement which appeared in yesterday's paper, issued by an intending candidate for the Ashley seat at the general elections, is the first shot of the coming fight. Probably a good many people did not realise, until they saw this notifLca- ' tion, that a new House of Representatives has to be elected at the end of the present year. Too much has always been left to the last in Canterbury, especially by the opponents of the party now in power, and the necessity for organising and- working before an election seems to be as little recognised now as it has been in the past. We should very much like to see greater interest taken in the coming elections, and hope that every effort will be made to induce really good men to offer themselves as candidates. Few woold be hardy enough to assert that the present Hou3e represents the pick of New Zealand's intellect and common sense, or that Canterbury is at all accurately represented in that House. There is this year especial reason for choosing the best men for Parliament. At the conference of colonial Premiers in London, which Mr Seddon -will attend, he intends to introduce questions of the greatest importance. The conference will probably endorse, possibly in slightly modified form, some of his suggestions, and the Imperial Government may agree with, some or all of them. It will then rest with the New Zealand Parliament to consider and decide upon the means by which effect may be given, so far as this oodouy is concerned, to whatever proposals may have been accepted. Upon their action, may bang issues of vast importance to the colony, and even to the Empire, and the men who will have to deal with, such questions sibiouLd bring to thjedr task minds capable of seeing beyond the boundaries of their own constituencaea, of treating more important, matters than roads and bridges. For this reason we hope that such interest may be taken in the approaching elections, that men fitted to deal with really large questions may be encouraged to come out, and that thedf public spirit may be rewarded by the support of all who have the credit and honour of New Zealand at heart.