THE INANGAHUA ELECTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1270, 11 May 1883, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA ELECTION.

(From the Christchurch Press ) Interest in the Inangahua election increases as the polling day draws nearOwing to a variety of circumstances^ this contest is being watched with not a little curiosity by a much larger section of the community than usually take any notice of a by-election ori the goldfields. Both candidates, aS 'it happens, bring into the contest qualifications which make the battle quite a different affair from the ordinary run of such proceedings. Mr Wakefield, : who offered his services to the electors after being invited to do so by a large and influential section of the contitnency, is, in the best sense of the word* , a ColQniaL It was, we believe, solely in conseqwmoe-ef-the posiliuu lie occupies as a public man that he was requested to become a: candidate; for. we learn from the early speeches which he lately delivered in the district that he was at first personally quite unknown to any section of the constituency. He was invited to come forward because his supporters were anxious that their district should have as a representative a gentleman who has already made a reputation, and who, while giving due and proper attention to the interests of the locality for which he was returned, would not forget that he had a duty to perform to the colony as well Almost from the time Mr. Wakefield began to take a part in the politics of the country, he has been distinguished for the broad and statemanlike view which he has taken of the various questions which have occupied the attention of the Legislature. And were any evidence wanted to prove that he does not look at matters from a narrow and petty standpoint, it would be furnished by the attitude he has taken up in the contest which is now going on. With the full-knowledge of the fact that his opponent was entering the field, backed by all the support the Government of the country could bring to his assistance, Mr. Wakefield did not on that account cast aside his convictions and take up the position of a pronounced opponent. The circumstance that the Ministry were doing what they could to hinder him from securing a scat in Parliament did not prevent him from acknowledging that they had many claims on the confidence of the country, as against any Administration which could be constitued out of the ranks of the existing Opposition. In these circumstances it is to be regretted Mr. Wakefield's candidature has been opposed at all • least of all that the opposition to it has arisen at the instigation of the Government, and that the Ministerial candidate is supposed to be backed by all the influences which an Administration are so well able to bring to bear upon an election. This then is why we say that there ; are circumstances connected with the . Inangahua election which teud to invest it with special interest at the i present time. The battle is really < between an able, experienced, and an * independent politician, by no means i disposed to be unfriendly towards the 1 Ministry, on one hand, and a totally in- < experienced canditate on the other, i but who enters the field supported by 1

the Government,. to»whom they hare entrusted their cause; The electors o Inangahua ought to have no difficulty iu deciding upon what course they ought to take. They have withoutinflicting- the slightes injury upon themselves, am opportunity of setting an excellent, example to the rest of the colony by selecting a representative who has already made bis mark in Politics, and who may be expected before- feng to j^^ part ;in the councils of the Colony; If we were disposed to take a somewhat narrow view of tbe situation^ we might point out, in addition, that Mr.. Shaw is in reality & Wellington man,, and were he returned lie-wadd' naturally add his weight, whatever it was, to the already too powerful influence exercised oyer public affairs by the seat of.Goverment. Mr. Wakefield, on the other hand, would be free from all such influences. He is a Canterbury man we are constantly reminded both here and on the other si<%^^|ypaiimerous common interests as opposed tothose of the colony at large. This is a point which we ourselves are not disposed to make anything of, and only mention it for the purpose of pointing out that if such considerations are to be taken into account at all, the electors of Inangahua will probably be anxious to strengthen their connection with this part of the colony in preferj ence to being treated as a mere dependency of Wellington.