TOWN EDITION The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3178, 5 September 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION The Daily Telegraph MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1881.

Mr Sutton would hardly have announced his intention to stand a. a candidate for the representation of " Hawke's Bay" unless he had very good reasons for believing that the Representation Bill would be passed. As regards this provincial district the bill creates three electorates, namely, " Napier," " Hawke's Ray," ami " Waipawa," and these three are coterminous with the borough and tbe two counties which, bear those names re.p.etively. Mr Sutton's announcement will therefore cause considerable satisfaction by reason of it indicating the almost certainty that this town will obtain separate representation. Mr Sutton's announced intention dlso indicates something more than this; it points to the early close of the session, and to the speedy approach of the general elections. Did it not do this it would be difficult to understand Mr Sutton's anxiety to introduce himself as a candidate at this particular period. Unless the general elections are at hand we can perceive no sufficient reason for so hurriedly entering the canvassing field. It is not as though Mr Sutton were new to politics; it was never supposed for a moment that he intended to retire from public life at the close of this session ; his candidature has always been a fore-gone conclusion. Why then this apparent hurry ? We think we can show that he has two reasons. One isv, probably, that he knows the Government desire to push on the elections as quickly as possible for the purpose, if possible.of allowing no time to Sir George Grey to stump the country. The Representation Bill provides that electoral rolls for each district shall be compiled within thirty days of the passing of the Act, and Mr Sutton, learning the design of the Government to push on the elections, is desirous of intimating to all comers his intention to stand for the country portion of his old constituency. There is sound policy in this, for tho intimation may well cause others to pause before opposing an old sitting member in his own stronghold. After such an announcement as this an opponent would have himself to thank if defeat and expense resulted from the contest. Mr Sutton's second reason may be to give timely warning to the electors of Napier that they roust look elsewhere for their representative. The electors we think were already prepared to do this, and for some time past have selected a candidate to represent them. But to tbis we need not now further refer.

Whether Mr Sutton's announcement will have the effect of keeping the field clear for himself, or whether he partly intends it as a challenge to his colleague, we cannot pretend to say. It is certain, however, that Captain Russell does not propose to return to the pleasures of private life without a struggle, and he has made no Becret of his intention to stand for Hawke's Bay. The absence of a public announcement to that effect will not deceive Mr Sutton for a single moment upon that subject. Both members regard themselves as possessing peculiar claims upon the country district, and each considers himself the I rightful representative of that electorate now that it ia cut off from tbe town. This idea in born of the fact, no doubt, that they are both well aware that they have no possible claim upon tie borough, and that neither would stand a chance of being returned by the town. So far as regards Napier it is a matter of perfect indifference whether it is Mr Sutton or Captain Russell who may be re-elected. Provided that they are the only candidates for the representation of Hawke's Bay, it is certain that one or the other will be left out of the next Parliament, and in the interests of the town it does not matter which of the two it may be. Of Mr Sutton it may be said that he has worked hard and worked well for bis county; that he has ever s_own the greatest desire to make the most of the local governing institutions over which he has presided with credit and succes3 for many years ; that he has been attentive to public business, and a consistent supporter of the political party to which he belongs. No one can deny that those are his especial claims to the consideration of the electors. Captain Russell's claims are altogether different; they belong more te the sentimental than to the practical side of every day life. He may possess more influence in the House than does Mr Sutton, and in that on certain occasions he may be more useful to his constituents ; but we very much doubt whether he is half as painstaking as hia colleague. We do not thinklbat Mr Sutton regards the honor of being a member of the House so much as he desires to be of public service to his county. If we are not mistaken, Captain Eussell puts the honor in the first place, and the work that he may do in the second. A country gentleman of education, wealth, and leisure, looks upon a seat in Parliament as one of the honors of lite that falls naturally to his position; and, occupying such a position, Captain Rut-sell is not the man to abandon au honor to which he thinks he has a claim. We may, therefore, look forward to a contested election that will have none the less iuferest of its own through both candidates being of the same side in politics.