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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6373, 8 February 1892, Page 2

Although it has been been stated in some quarters that Mr W. C. Smith will not accept a ..seat in the Upper House, even though it be offered him, the generiil impreneiun is that Waipawa will shortly have to oast about for another representative. We havo no hesitation in saying Mr Smith's elevation to the " Lords," while it will in one sense gratify his numerous friends, as being a recognition, of his staunch services to his party, will cause them unfeigned regret in losing him as their member. Mr Smith hae been a splendid friend to his district, and unceasingly attentive to the wants of his constituents. Although it is in the nature of a human being to do more for one's friends than for one's opponents, we will say thi« foi . Mi , Smith, that, whila he has always been ready to put himself to any amount of trouble to help his he has never spared himself to secure the interests of (hose of his constituents who havn been politically opposed to him. He has always been broad-minded enough to regard the district he represents as a whols, and there is not a corner in the electorate that can say it has been neglected because it did not plump for him. We have been politically opposed to Mr Smith for all the years that he hits sat itt the House, but that has not blinded us to the fact that Witipawa may seek far ami near to find a representative to equal him in loyalty to his electorate. Mr Smiih's constituents hope that he will not resign before the next general elections, but his regard for party way necessitate his acceptance of a seac in the Upper iiouse. ia that case, who is to succeed him ? 2\o doubt there will be plenty of impecunious political adventurers ready to offer themselves for election, but it ia to be trusted that they will receive no encouragement. Waipawa will have cause to bitterly regret putting in any one of that class to represent it in Parliament. The adventurer plays hi" cardß for his own benefit, and changes his political views, and sometimes his religion, to catch votes. The difficulty will be for Waipawa to find a thoroughly representative man, who, not identified with any particular class, will serve the contituency with the faithfulness that has distinguished Mr Smith's Parliamentary services.