The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1906.

Evening Star, Issue 12865, 14 July 1906, Page 6

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1906.

Tub news of the return of Mr T. E. Seddon for Westland by a subIh. Wertlwd stantial majority doe, not Section. oomo as ft rarpri£ei

- son of the Jat<j Premier was able to draw upon a rich fund of quite intelligible sentiment, and it was generally recognised from tie start that if be managed to display adequate or even averse ability during the campaign ho would win the eeat with comparative ease. Sentimental considerations would probably not have sufficed to bring about this result, seeing that the Westlanders, with all their allegiance to the name of Seddon, had no wish to be represented by a duffer; but the young candidate soon showed that he had inherited a respectable share of bis father's platform powers, and the electors could not resist the union of paternal sentiment and personal worth. There is no reason to suppose that they arc likely to regret their choice. At twenty-two years of age the Dew member for Westland is not a novice in political study and savoir faire, and the way in winch he has gone through' the ordeal of the last month justifies the hope of a distinguished career. The parliamentary ordeal remains,' no doubt, but his special advantages will not leave him when he takes- his seat, and he can depend upon an encouraging reception from the legislators who followed or admired his father. The sentimental assistance will decrease and disappear in course of time, however, and if he is to retain the Westland seat at the next General Election it will have to be mainly on account of his own merits as a parliamentary representative. No young politician could have a fairer—perhaps we should eay a more partial— start; and, if only for the sake of the great Premier's memory, we trust that the half-pathetic confidence of tho electors will be amply justified. Mr Michel polled respectably, and a measure of sympathy may bo accorded to him as tho victim of an exceptional situation. After the result had been

announced he promised hia supporters that ho would stand again, and predicted that on tho next occasion his services as a local politician would outweigh sentimental con■.deration*. Perhaps eo ; but if the new member continue*, to display adequate capacity Mx Michel will have aWt a 8 hard a batUe to fight in iftM. Certainly he contest just over was sufficiently keen bough both side, seem to have kept £ temper m hand a 9 well as e*Ud b?" allnding to his "fair young oppoMnt <S while at least one message sent fromWeiw« painfully infelicitous. An old friend bghted and snubbed because ho couldTt consciously 6Upport the r *ntative of the family. There was an 1 fortunate blunder, too, i„ conDection w^h Mr Soddons meeting at Hokitika, when Mr B van a well-known and highly respected resident, was prevented from speaking to the motion of confidence. Mr Bovan was w opponent of the candidate's father in old days and presumably the chairman thought that a hostile element was to bo introduced : anyhow Mr Bovan was silenced. In point of fact, it was his desire to pav a tribute to the memory of the father L to wan success to the son. Even had his intentions been different, however, Mr Bevan should have been allowed to speak and Mr, T. Seddon blundered badly when he supported tho chairman's indefensible ruling, though we are glad to hear that he subsequently admitted his mistake, and expressed his regret to Mr Bevan. The rights of orderly electors at public meeting cannot be too jealously guarded. In conclusion, we sincerely congratulate the roung. member for Westland on his trust that his public career will bo worthy of the name he bears.