THE RICCARTON SEAT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12365, 2 December 1905, Page 8

THE RICCARTON SEAT.

IWo do not think that those electors of j Riecarton who favour reform in, the Government need hesitate aa to which candidate they ought to support in tho coming contest. Mr Efford, wo take it, is out of the running, so that practically tho choice lies between Mr Witty, the present member, Mr G. W. Russell, and Mr Caverhill. A number of Oppositionists were misled into voting for Mr Witty at tho last election, mainly owing to his professions of sympathy with the policy of Mr Rolleston. Once safely returned to Parliament, ho proved one of tho most subservient of Mr Soddon'e "dumb dogs," and the indignant electors who were thus tricked and deluded are hardly likely to be again taken in with hie, professions. Mr G. W. Russell, in his time, has played many parts, but ho stands at this election pledged to support Mr Seddon. To our minds one of the most nauseous features connected with the contest is tho shameless way in which botli of the candidates we have named are seeking to trade on the honoured name of Mr Rolleston, knowing tho esteem in which ho is hold in tho constituency. Mr Russell, who was responsible for Mr Rolleston'e retirement from public life, now interlards his speeches with fulsome references to tho land policy of tho departed statesman, and a stranger might almost te led into tho belief that Mr Russell was one of Mr RollesWs meet loyal disciples. What Mr Rolleeton himself would think of the pair of shifty politicians who thus take hie name in vain, those who know how he abhorred anything like trimming and shuffling can easily imagine. Mr Caverhill, on tho other hand, is eminently straightforward. He stood es an Opposition candidate for the Ashley seat at a previous election; he is now an Opposition candidate for Ricoarton without any reserve. Hβ is pledged to support Mr Massey, and his policy of reform, and to give his vote against tho Seddon Administration at the earliest opportunity. Thero is absolutely no "α-rriero pensce," no reserve, in regard to these main points. An attempt has been made "to excite prejudice against him on account df his supposed sympathy with tho Nc-licenso party, and his views in regard to the totalizator. As to tho former, Mr Caverhill has pledged himself to maintain the existing licensing law, except that he would vote in favour of the licensing poll being taken definitely once every threo years, instead of, being left to the chance of a general eleotion, as at present. As to tho second question, he ie in favour of submitting the totalisator to a rei forendum. Many Oppositionists will not agree with him on these points, regarding which ho has at least tho merit of being perfectly candid eind outspoken. Wβ cannot think, however, that when it comes to the poll they will, on account of this divergence of opinion, deliberately reject the Opposition oandidato and voto for either of the two Seddonians pledged to maintain the prescnb corrupt administra- ; tion in power. The main issues at the coming election are whether this colony is to go on at an accelerated pace in the direction of extravagance in expenditure, Tammanyism in administration, and Socialism in legislation, or whether a check shall be applied to the process of degeneration. Let those ■ who aro anxious for reform place theso issues on ouo side, and Mr CaverhLll's political disadvantages from their point of view on tho other, nnd we cannot think that they will hesitato to give him their vote. We believo that it is quite possible at tho coining election to win back Riccarton to tho Opposition side. But it can only be done by a loyal and united Opposition vote.