Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1884. THE CANDIDATES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 201, 22 July 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1884. THE CANDIDATES.

We have dealt with the respective policies oftfie two candidates now before the electors of Manawatu, viz., Messrs Macarthuij. and Mr Fraseii, m the same manner as they . have addressed the electors, that is one after the other. But the time has arrived when they must not be considered separately, but together. To-day it is the duty of every free elector (and all electors should be free), to view the candidates side by side, and carefully compare the points where the one excels or the other fails, and then give a decision frr favour of the one who seems to be the best. One of the chief points the electors should examine will be the consistency of the views expressed by the respective candidates. He will have to bear m mind that the man who cannot come to a decision at the commencement, will never be a resolute politician, or carry much weight m the House of Representatives. In this respect Mr Macarthur will compare favorably. When first before the electors he announced a policy which had the merits of being both bold and decided. He met the Catholics face to face and told them that he must reluctantly throw up their promised support, as he could not see his way to further their interests m the manner suggested. That was plain and pujtspoken, an,d we bejieve that two thirds of the Catholics will still givehim their for support tflaf reason. Mr Fraser, on the contrary was anything but clear or decided on the same point. He would like, he said, to see the various denominations have their wishes attended to, and he would endeavor to accede to fjjern, provided that such an accession would pot interfere with the present system pf s.ecujaf elation. We think that Mr Ma^^r^ur would also be the first man to gupr port a measure that would be so happy m its results as to maintain the secular system and still aid denominations, In fact, any man that

refused denominational aid under such peculiarly favorable circumstances would be like the proverbial dog m the manger. It is not very likely that any sect is going to be influenced by such promises as that which Mr Fraser gave, the vagueness of which is only equalled by the impossibility of their ever being realised. Mr Macarthuh's suggestions have been both practical and clear. They have also the merit of being more far-sighted than Mr F rase it's m such matters as j the settlement of the land and the management of railways. He claims that land will not lose its value through the adjoining country being sold at a low price. He looks further into the future than the few months during which the cheaper lands would be m the market. He can see the time m the near future, when the present forest that surrounds many occupied lands, and detracts largely from their value, will be converted into smiling homesteads, and when the price ef land will leap up from a temporary fall, and reach a higher value than ever it did before. But he boldly faces the present holders and tells them he is m favor of cheapening all unsold lands, and gives his reasons, which are commendable. They can support him or not, but those are his views, and they are given m such a manner as to imply that they are not to be altered. The non-political Board for the management of railways is also a move that looks into the future, whilst judging from the past. But these are hardly the matters for a candidate to express anything more than a passing opinion upon, for they are questions that most representatives would see the force of j when they had been m the House some time. The chief direction m which the views and capabilities of a candidate should be examined are as to his knowledge of the district, and the requirements of the locality that he asks to elect him. Most stable-minded men, and thoseof sound judgment, would assist m Legislating m general matters affecting the colony at large ; but it is not every one who can thoroughly represent a district, so as to ensure its receiving its fair proportion of assistance from Government, m the way of money for public works, etc. To be a true representative of the latter sort, a man must be, first, a resident m that district; secondly experienced m, and acquainted with what has already been done m it, m the past and thirdly, he must carry such weight with him, as will enable him to obtain a fair hearing when he brings forward a request regarding it. Mr Mac arthur has all three qualities, and more. He has served a deligint and meritorious apprenticeship m public affiiirs. Nearly everything that he has undertaken has met with the most signal success. ' He is admitted to be the man of all the other able men m the Manawatu who is capable of gaining a point, if perseverance and careful manipulation are the chief requisites for its success. We cannot for a moment understand why the electors should require to bring forward an opponent to such a man as this; and would go further m our deprecation of those who brought Mr Fraser out on so fruitless an errand, were we not certain that the majority of the electors will call upon Mr Macarthur to represent them, as the best and most fitting candidate.