THE CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 6

THE CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION.

In the midst of our preparations fra the Royal visit we must not forget that Christchurch will he called upon, almost immediately, to elect a representative in Parliament. So far we are promised at least three candidates, all of them. Liberals, and the position is- serious enough to warrant very close consideration. Mr A. H. Turnbull, who has yet to define his political faith, has been annoTinced as a candidate, Air T. E. Taylor has .been asked to stand in the interest of the Progressive section of the Liberal Party, and the Trades andi Labour Council is even now selecting a candidate of its own. We are least dear concerning the reasons for the nominationj of a special candidate by the Council. Is it that neither of the other Liberals in the field represents the ■dews of the workers, or are the workers under the impression that they should be represented by one of their own number? We are raising no objection to the special the labour.interests, but.

it is desirable to have tbe position clearly explained. This superfluity of Liberal candidates, we suppose, is an inevitable-, result of the divisions in the Party. No harm would be-done if we had some system of voting which would require an absolute majority of votes for the man elected, but at present the distribution of the Liberal. vote offers , a splendid opportunity for the Conservative section of the community. We hope, by, the way, that our Conservative friends-, will not lose heart, and that they will find a champion less sensitive than Mr Lewis. It is true that the treatment -accorded to that gentleman is not calculated to impress possible candidates with-, the idea that Christchurch is at all a desirable constituency, and the more we learn the more we sympathise with the retiring member. The solution of the difficulty suggested by the “ Evening Post” is that tiro Conservatives should support Mr T. E. Taylor, on- the ground that the election of another Ministerialist “to swell the Premier’s unwieldy majority” would be a calamity, and “ in the circumstances the election of a member too closely associated with the old! Conservative Opposition would be only a shade less unfortunate.” We hardly fancy that this view null appeal to the Christchurch Conservatives, and. in the circumstances we should not be surprised to see them, putting forward a strong ■ candidate. We hope they will. Mr Holies ton's name has already been mentioned in this connection, and- while- it 'is not likely that the veteran leader will be induced to contest the-vacancy, we recognise that a candidate possessing such claims upon Canterbury and tbe colony might hold' the seat for the Opposition. We do n-ot regard the situation- with any alarm, because a victory to the Conservatives would not affect the relative strength of the -parties', and we are not sure that a capable Oppositionist would* not be as useful in tile House just now as another Liberal. ’