Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1893. THE NAPIER ELECTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9540, 28 November 1893, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1893. THE NAPIER ELECTION.

We regret) to hear that) a great many electors on the Napier roll, the great majority of them ladies, have expressed theirintentiontoreirainfronivotingto-day. The reason they give is that they are not in entire accord with either candidate. If they wait until they get a candidate who can see eye to eye with them on every question they are not likely to register a vote in their lives. Politics must to some extent be a matter of compromise, and electors must choose those candidates whose views approximate most closely to their own. For example, the Herald is a strong supporter of Captain Russell, but it differs from him on such important questions as compulsory arbitration and the abolition of the totalisator. Differ ences must exist in the uature ot things. \V c hold that every elector should vote, whether for or against the candidate we snpporb. Woman franchise was demanded and cjneeded as a right, not as a privilege, and thab right iovolves the duty to vote. Parliament has emphasised this In the new Electoral Act, which piovides that all negleciiug to vote shall be struck off the rolls. It is true that thote struck off can register again, but it is less trouble to carry out t*ie duty imposed upon every elector by vo ing than to get on the rolls agiiin after the election, It ia all the greater matter for regret thab those who have expies.ed their intention of not voting belong mainly to the more eduoated classes, and ate the more capable of forming accurate opinions on political questions. Part of this apathy arises from over-confidence. " It) Is all Lombardstreet to a China orange on Swan," said one resident tjthe writer the other day. A great many people cinuot bring themselves to believe that any very considerable seotion of the electors will choose Mr Carnell as against Mr Swan, That might be the case if Mr Carnell simply stood as Mr Carnell. But he stands as the chosen representative of the Siddon party, and he has at his back a actong and uofced party organisation. Oue speaker on the other coast advised tho electors to vote for the chosen Government candidate "if be were a Chinaman or even a broomstick." And that ieilly represents the position. Mr Cornell will get the party vote, entirely irrespective of bid qualifications as a member for Parliament, and it is the duty of all opposed to the present Socialistic trend of politics to vote jagalnst him. We put the matter before every elector in this question : " If you had to give a oasting vote between Mr Swan and Mr C*rnell, which way would you give it ? " Let each one regard his or her vote as a oasting vote, and give it with the sense of responsibility they would feel in such an event, We have not the slightest fear of the result if there is a full poll. But we frankly warn those who are apithetic through over-confidence that if they abstain from voting it is quits possible Mr Carnell may snatch a victory, The polling places are ample. Residents on Birrack Hill can vote at the old Grammar School, Napier- terrace. Those living on the Bluff Hill have a convenient booth nt the Matht Brother*' schoolroom —which, unfortunately, was omitted from one published Hat, from wh'ch that issued by Mr Swan was copied. On the flit the polling-places are the old Provincial Council Caamber; the Orange Hail, Raffles-.street ; the Presbyterian Schoolroom, Spit ; and the Sunday School, Chancer-roed South. At Meance the polling-place is the Public Hall ; and at Taradalc it is the Oddfellows' Hall.