Evening Post. Wednesday, JUNE 25, 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 545, 25 June 1879, Page 2

Evening Post. Wednesday, JUNE 25, 1879.

THE HUTT CANDIDATES. ■♦ Thb two candidates for the representatioi in Parliament of the Hutt Electoral. Dis trict, Messrs. Henry Jackson and Thomai Mason, have now had an opportunity o tpkcing their views before the electors, am may be presumed to have made full deela ration of their political faith. The simi larity between the opinions of the tw( candidates is most remarkable. Botl profess themselves in favor of dired taxation on property other than land, ol farther public borrowing, of triennial Par liamentfl, of vigorously prosecuting th« public worka policy, of the settlement oi the land on the deferred payment system, of carrying out the Wellington and Wesl Coast Railway via the Hutt, of restricting Chinese immigration, of pushing on roadl and railways through the disturbed native district, as the best means of putting aa end to Maori difnoultiefc, and oi framing any re-distribution of representation on other bases than that oJ mere population alone. Both agree in disclaiming all intention of giving unqualified adherence to any particular sel of men, and in asserting their determination to support good measures by whomever brought forward, while at the same time displaying no great love for those now in power. Both avow "liberal" views on the education question, but nevertheless hint pretty plainly that they are not prepared to accept "the secular system without considerable qualification. It is realty touching to find tnat as "birds in their little nests agree," so do the candidates for the Hutt seat in Parliament. Some people might even be ill-natured enough to suspect, and rude enough to assert, that Mr. Mason's Bpeech at the Lower Hutt last night not only was in most respects a r6chavffe of Mr. Jackson's speech delivered at the Upper Hutt the previous evening, but that the published report o\ the latter actually formed the "notes" for the former. We do not for one moment accept so unkind a theory, and cheerf ally adopt the only -alternative explanation— that there really does exist a most extraordinary unanimity of opinion in the Hutt district on all public questions. At the same time it is impossible to help indulging in some little speculation as to what Mr. Mason's views might have been had they not been ready cut-and-dried for him by Mr. Jackson. It is perhaps rather unfortunate that Mr. Mason was not the first to speak, as in that ease wo might have had some sort of contest between "measures" and not merely between " men " as the coming election now must be. Mr. Mason, however, deemed it advisable simply to "follow suit," and no doubt he was wise in his generation. He admitted last night that he did not hold very decided views on some questions, and probably he made a mental reservation that those he did mildly indicate " If they don't Buit, kin be altered," like those of the celebrated American politician, indeed he practically implied this in his speech. It was very judicious, therefore, on his part to wait and see what Mr. Jackson's political platform might be and how it wa3 received before venturing on any rash self-committal. Mr. Jackson made a plain and straightforward exposition of his views and received a unanimous vote of confidence. Mr. Mason duly noted this favorable result, and next evening delivered a speech which may be summed up in one line, " Gentlemen, those are my sentiments exactly." Mr. Mason lays great stress on his long experience of public life as his chief claim to support. It is unfortunate therefore for his chances of success that he had no original views to put forward — that he could not find something more to say than a mere bald repetition of his opponent's utterances on the previous evening. Again, as to several important important question* oft, which Mr. Jackson, although cabfoiiaedly a novice in public life, expressed clear and decided views, Mr. Mason could only say that he "had not experience endugh to assert opinions— he waa not prepared to give a definite expression of opinion." Among these subjects were electoral reform, redistribution of seats, and triennial Parliaments, although he did venture to- go so tor as to say that he saw no harm in them. We cannot help pointing out to Mr Mason that a candidate is expected to form some opinion on these matters before he solicits the votes of a constituency, and that a gentleman who offers himself as a candidate for Parliament, and then admits that he has no formed opinions on the Questions he asks them to elect him to deal with, is guilty of a very great piece of impertinence, insults the constituency whose suffrage he woos, and lays himself open to the charge of seeking election solely for his personal advancement. It must be confessed that Mr. Mason has not profited much by the long experience in public affairs on which he founds his claim to support, and we feel bound to say that on his own showing we consider him a very unsuitable person to be returned to Parliament at this critical time. Mr Jackson, on the other hand, has definite and comprehensive opinions, which he puts forward in a distinct and understandable manner. His views generally are liberal and progressive, while he h»s the advantage and extensive experieno^and teohnical knowledge in regard to certain important subjects, and has amply proved his possession of excellent abilities and aptitude for public life. It may be urged with some force that he is "a man with a grievance,!' and **"* *»•« grave wrong he has sustained from the Government might unconsciously bias his views. We concede the force of this objection, but Mr. Jackson has solemnly pledged himself, if elected, not in any way to use his position to obtain redress or revenge, and it is more than probable that the chivalrous spirit of fair play which animates every iiiglish community will make the fact of his having been wronged by those in power more than counterbalance this theoretical drawback. In any case, we regard Mr. Jackson wttk his grievance as infinitely preferable to Mr. Mason without one, and the Hutt electors apparently are of much the eamo opinion, for we notice that Mr. Mason only secured the customary formal vote of confidence last night by a very favorable Bystem of counting and by the casting vote of the chairman.