THE MANAWATU HERALD. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1878. THE COUNTY ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 17, 22 October 1878, Page 2

THE MANAWATU HERALD. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1878. THE COUNTY ELECTION.

Tiie forthcoming election promises to be holly contested, and a considerable amount of interest will attach to the result. It is a healthy siga when tho electors become thoroughly aroused to the value of tho franchise, because a strong public opinion is thus created, and the re» presentatives are zealously watched iv the discharge of their duties. Wo hold, further, that an open opposition to a candidate is better than a simulated friendship. Frequently, in election contests, newspapers trim between the candidates, and in such cases are regarded with contempt by both parties, as they are considered false friends and cowardly enemies. We do not desire to fall under sucli a stigma, and are assured that both friends and opponents will respect a straightforward declaration of oui views.

Four candidates are almost certain to be nominated for the two seats. It is true Mr Rockstrow said on Friday night that the statement of his coming forward was only a newspaper report, but it is well known that two nights previous that gentleman held a caucus of his supporters, at which

!ip gave cerlaiu plmlgvs, and dudaiwd his intention of coming forward. The other three cuudidates — - MbSSi'fc Thynne. Dawson, and Loiiilon — have declared themselves. In looking over the names, it would he well :hut wo'tiike .hem seriatim.

Mr Thynne is known from on;l to end of the ""ftlanawaiu as mi anlo, h arclwork ing aud successful politician. We look unon it as cer am that ho I will iioad tlie poll. As a moinbov of tlie dufun t Provincial Council, ho did good sorvico to llio district. A s a representative of tliia Hiding in the County Council, and as Chairman of that body he has worked hard in tiie interests of Foxton. As a member of almost every governing body connected with this end of the district, he has an intimate knowledge of evory detail of the governmental machinery ; whilst his long connection with public • matters, and the estimation in - which his opinion i 3 therefore held at the Seat of Government, make him an, invaluable man in the district. Mr Thynne is the most thorough-going public man in Mana\satu. No comparison can be made, from a public point of view, J between him and any other candi- | dato. The electors know this, and we therefore regard his return, as certain. Next comes Mr Dawson. This gentleman has not hitherto talcen a prominent part in public inattera ; but we are sure he has, the qualities necessary for mailing a good repreventa'ivo. With a largo interest in the district, a thorough knowledge of its requirements, a determination to carry anything through he tokos in I hand, and thoroughly respected for maul}' qualities, we think Mr Dawson should stand second on the list. In the railway meeting, on Thursday, j Mr Loudou pointed out very foicibly ! the difference between landed pros perty, and properly such as he pos-. sosses. He showed clearly that Mr Dawson' s laige landed estate would be greatly increased in value by the railway, and the consequent improvement of Foxton. Wo entirely ■ agree with him. Mr Diiwson's in- i terests are bound up in tho progress of this Hiding. Every thousand | pounds spent in Foxton, every thousand people who settle in it, largely enhance the value of his propeny The expenditure of a hundred j pounds on country roads, is nothing to Mr Dawson, compared with what he would gain by the progress of the port and town of Foxton. Where Foxton people have been mistaken in tho 2)ast, is in trying to centre everything in the tovm. Tuwn% are only needed whore there is ; a back coumry. • Our country around is not openod up for j settlement, and instead of constantly pushing population inland, and opening up country districts, which would have been feeders to the port, people j here in the pa-t have boon uuablo to look beyond the outskirts of Foxton. Wo must break up this idea. Let the outdistricts grow, and the town must. Mr Daw3on is noi; a man of words, but of deeds.; Ho is deeply inierested ia tho Riding; aud as a representative, if elected, will command the respect, esteem, and attention both of the Council and tho electors.

Undoubtedly, the contest will li« between Messrs Dawson and Loudon. We oppose Mr Loudon's candidature strongly, on three grounds: — First, ho comes forward as an avowed sujjn poner of Mr ßockstiw,and therefore they stand or fall on the same ticket ; if they are returned, the Riding will lose the services of Mr Thynne, which would be simply a disaster. Secondly, Mr Loudon said he came forward merely to prevent Mr Dawson being returned, as he was not a resident of the Hiding; but why then is he not consistent ? Why does he thrust himself forward, when he supports Mr Bockstrow ? If he thinks that gentleman a good man for the position, and if ha has no complaint against Mr Thynne, what need is there for Mr Loudon to stand ? From his own words, his candidature is proved unnecessaiy. And wo would advise him to bo consistent, support his pet candidate, and retire from tho contest. But the third reason is stronger than all. A sense of propriety and modes iy should have urged Mr Loudon to retire from public life for a year or two, af tor event s which have recently occurred. His position in the Council has been woakonod to such an extent that wo hold it would be almost throwing away a representative to elect him. Mistakos of the kind that have, been committed, are invariably held to necessitate retires ment from public life, at least for a period, and wo had hoped Mr Loudon would ha\o accepted the advico of his friends, and not have entered into this contest. Wo would fain pass this rnatior, but in the interests of the Riding, wo reluctantly say that Mr Loudon admits an error which will place a barrier boiween himself and tho old members of tho Council, which will therefore stand in the way of his usefulness as a representative, and which will consequently damage the Riding he seeks to represeut. Privately, wo respect Mr Loudon for his many good qualities ; but he has nude a mistake in coming forward again two months after his resignation. . lie is ambitious, and by no means destitute of ability. Hospif able and enterprising, he is a good citizen, but just now would be far better away from public life. We write with no animosity to Mr Lou* don, and under other circumstances, we should heartily second his candi-.

uauira. At present, wo urgo tho' t'loo'or.'j, fVii" thu cogent re;is;iiis wo huvi. 1 .slateil, to puss him by, ami to reiuni jMI-s-uvj E. »S. Thyimo nnd il. -.Daws^n. Mi' IJiKilv.stvOrt' is so fiiv out of the rr.Cv. 1 , that \vu noisl noi tli.-iM.-.s liis lunniuatiou. Ho is simply uufilt-.'il to. liu'jlic. iil'-i.