THE CANDIDATES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 169, 7 November 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CANDIDATES.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE STAB.

Sir, — " A. : I thought you intended trying for a seat in the House. B : So I di<l> tiuti Yrt&t c&aacfc has as \uw tried man in this district against our veteran sitting member. A: Well, go and try Cape Egmont. I hear the electors .there resemble the Maoris they live among. You have only to tell them their sitting member has done nothing for them. Tell them you will do wonders for them, and promise them everything they ask for, aud they will vote for you without waiting to consider whether you will have weight or influence in the House to fulfil one single promise." This is how we appear to be regarded by outside political adventurers who become ambitious to fill a seat in the Assembly. In opposition to our silting member, two political aspirants have come forward. The first of these, Mr. Hutchison, a young Wanganui solicitor, the other a Mr. Woolcock who tells us he was once a member for a Southern constituency. Both promise to do wonders for the district, and also to institute sweeping reforms in the General Government of the colony, if returned, Now, what weight, power, or influence would either of these candidates have. The aspiring young solicitor would for some years to come be regarded as a political child in that House ; would require leading strings ; and no doubt in his political infancy would be carefully led by his father, or his friend Mr. Ballance. I next come to Mr. Woolcock, who tells us he was once a member. It is well he told us, or we should not hare been aware of it. He could, never have been a, shining siar in that House, or we should have been aware of his presence. Neither could he have made his voice heard, or its sound would have reached us. It is most unfortunate that all constituencies cannot return strong able members ; consequently in all Parliaments there are strong and weak men to be found — political giants and political pigmies. Mr. Woolcock appears never to have been a shining light. Good and worthy man though he may be, I can only class him among the political pigmies. It is simply absurd that a political child and a political pigmy, who, as members, could carry no weight in that House (neither of them local settlers) should aspire to unseat a representative who is acknowledged by the colony to be one of New Zealand's ablest politicians.-I am, &c, Electob.