WHO ARE WE TO SEND TO PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 19 September 1887, Page 3

WHO ARE WE TO SEND TO PARLIAMENT.

To the Editor. Sir,— lu view of the near approach of the coining election I would with your permission like to give expression to a few ideas as to the, merits of the candidates now before us as to how they will affect two sections of: the electors of Marlborough— that is the working men and the Catholics. r\s a representative of both classes 1 consider that wo have ]U ,sv the host opportunity that we have ever had in the Province of reluming a member in the person of S. J. Macalistcr who, besides holding good sound views on all vital mailers affecting the < ounlry, 1 am sure will be what be pvofenses —:i true and thorough friend to the working classes. lie is not the stamp of man to pander to the wishes and follies of the wealthy classes, who try to crush their poorer fellow-beings that are struggling on in the world for an existence, and I" think that in view of the notion that is being taken by certain classes in the Colony against the Shearm-s’ Union, it is high time we sent men like Mr Macalistcr to the surface, and I sincerely hope that ( v workingman in Marlborough will make use of the power that he now Ims placed at his disposal in doing all ho can to secure his return in the coming struggle. I feel confident that wo will have no cause for regret in so doing. If wo miss this opportunity it may be a long time before we get the chance again. As regards the Catholic view, of the question—and I am speaking as a Catholic parent, and one who lias to suffer by the present unfair , education system —I think there can ho no doubt as to which of the three candidates now before us-js the right one to advocate our cause. Wo have had a good trial of ono, and I think I can safely say that if we had to wait till our late member, or men of his stamp, clid any good for us wo may just as well give up agitating and make up our minds to grin and bear it, which T, for one, do not feel inclined to do. As for the other two candidates, I would appeal to the intelligence of my fellow-Catholic., and ask them to weigh well in their minds the principles of the two men now soliciting their support. Which is most to he relied upon, Air Alacalister or Air Henderson? I say, without hesitation, Air Alacalister. You don’t require to he long acquainted with this gentleman to see Mmt material ho is made of. Ho is not one of tlio men who professes to right the wrongs of Ireland in New Zealand, although ho

in a man tliat would ho one of the first to redress the wrongs of any nation if it lay in his power. But as I said before he is no panderer to any class or creed, and I take i his as the best possible test of the sterling characU/r- • the man. It is an old and a trud saying, and one I think that applies well in this case, and that js-fTho man that tries "to please everyone is no man,” and this we must bear in mind in drawing a line. I feel very confident that if wo had a few members in the House with Mr Macalister’s views, and the same amount of fearless

determination to givo expression to them we would soqn be listened to &nd now is our time to give ; a thancQ to the man who would

both in and out of Parliament advocate our cause, and by all means 1 t,us give him a.trial. I see yen- center, p r- ry strongly advises tjie supporters of Mr Dodson nut to cease in their i Sorts to obtain a' very large majority, as it will give him more influence when he returns to Wellington. I am afraid Air Dodson will have to retire this time, as it is now more than ever certain since the Nomination that Air Alacalister is going to sec us in Wellington this time. In conclusion I hope that both the working men and the Catholics in Alarlborough who have a say in this election will, on the day of the poll, rally round the best man who has ever yet come forward in this Province to represent us in a thorough manner.—l am, etc., Laugher. Blenheim, September 16, 1887.