THE BY-ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 4

THE BY-ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR. * Sir, —As a working-man, may I make a ■few comments on the approaching byelection, .and state some of my reasons for supporting a labour candidate? At the present time, I understand there are three candidates before the public, the labour candidate (Mr Charles Taylor), Mr A. HTurnbull and Mr W. Hoban. All three gentlemen, we are informed, claim to be Liberals and supporters of the present Administration. If this Administration was in jeopardy, then. I, as a worker, think we should heed your timely warning, and concentrate our energies on the candidate who, while not being our beau ideal, would give us a large measure of support in the House, and at the same time command the support of ai large section of the public who have no finely-defined political faith. The Conservative Party is acknowledged, even by its own members, to be practically defunct, and this phase of the matter does not require to be put in the scales to ascertain the balance. This being the case, there is more freedom in selecting a candidate! In the present position of things I should support the labour candidate because I am desirous that the' interests of labour should be still further protected. With the nominee of the Trades and Labour Council, I presume this will be a first considera' ion. Possibly'this, to many of your readers, will appear to be a very selfish reason, but I contend that every time the condition of the worker is improved, the whole community benefits; and if those who are not included in the labouring class should bo pushed, or accidentally fall off the coach, they may not find it so hard to push as those who had “ been there before.” With regard to Mr Turnbull, all I have learnt has been to that gentleman’s credit. He is reputed to be a clever business man, and a straightforward gentleman. But as he is largely connected' with capitalistic concerns, I do not think he would be so' unfettered or so jealous of the workers’ interest as would the labour candidate, Very largely I hold capital to be. inimical to labour, and those who “ work up ” .the dividend its strongest champions. I do not know much about Mr Hoban, but think that ini the two previous mentioned gentlemen we have all that is required. If we want oi representative who would, doubtless, thoroughly appreciate the rights of eriiployers and commerce, then Mr A. H. Turnbull should amply supply our want; if, on the other hand, we wish the interests of the worker to come first, then Mr Charles Taylor should be selected.—l am, etc., YAXLEY.