The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1891.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9604, 23 December 1891, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1891.

It is not at all surprising that the Conservatives should be straining every nerve to return their candidate at Wellington. Both parties recognise that the election will be, to a largo extent, an indication of the trend of public opinion ; but the Conservatives have special reasons for trying to secure the prestige of a victory. The Land and Income tax ia one of the severest checks the Conservatives of New Zealand have ever received. The affirmation of the principle that land is justly a subject for special taxation is a severe blow to vested interests which have hitherto been considered safe from the sacrilegious criticism of progressive politics. Equally unpalatable are the graduated tax on land, the stringent proposals for the suppression of dummyism, the one-mim-one-vote, and social legislation introduced by the Liberal party. Conservatism is in fact fighting for its life. It sees all its most cherished privileges and perquisites drifting away with the current of progressing Liberalism. Therefore, it attaches the utmost importance to such a contest as the one now being waged in Wellington. We are bound to admit that the Conservative candidate is a strong opponent. Mr Bell possesses ability and experience. He was recently elected Mayor of Wellington; he is wealthy, and on personal grounds has many points to rec6mmend him. But, as the representative of the Conservative element, Mr Bell must be opposed by all who wish the progress already made to be retained. Mr Bell’s success would mean the success of principles of reaction. It would mean the support of the Legislative Council in its unwarrantable and unprecedented stamping upon , Liberal measures which had passed the Lower House by enormous majorities. We, therefore, trust the Liberals of Wellington will not allow themselves to be led away from the main issues. Those issues are not any of the paltry questions raised by a section of the Wellington press as to the expenditure of public money, and so on; but they are whether the Colony is to go forward in the path of Liberal legislation; whether the progress made is to he sacrificed to the interests of the classes; whether, in fact, there is to be a return to power of the Continuous Ministry, with its Property tax, its policy of land speculation, and its patronage to members of the governing families. These are the issues the Wellington electors are asked to decide. We have little fear as to the result. The electors will recognise that subsidiary questions must be laid aside, and, uniting their forces, they will record a solid vote for the Liberal candidate.