ESTABLISHED 1875. Manawatu Daily Times. The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Conducted by E. D. HOBEN, Editor & Proprietor. Published Every Morning. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27. 1908. THE OROUA SEAT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 422, 27 May 1908, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1875. Manawatu Daily Times. The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Conducted by E. D. HOBEN, Editor & Proprietor. Published Every Morning. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27. 1908. THE OROUA SEAT.

The announcement conveyed in another column of Mr intention to retire from politics will bo received with wide au'l general regret. Mr Lethbridgo is an Opposition member and as such would have, in the ordinary course of party politics, been <>;•: •;,•■<! by a Government candidate—that is ono of the drawbacks of party politics—yet no one would rcgrtt more than individual members of tho Government Party Mr Lethbridge's absonco from Parliament. Ho is ono of the best liked men there, and tho liking for him is not confined to ouo side of tho gangway but runs right round tho House. Mr Lethbridge'ri generous action in connection with tho offer of 50 acres at his Feilding home for the Dairy School or for an experimental station was in keeping with the public spirit of the man. We have felt eouYinced

personally that the Oroua seat was practically certain to remain his while he contested it, ami as we havo said, though he would have boon attacked iu it on political grounds, his successful defence of it would have caused no cjualms to his opponents ami the sting of defeat, if defeat camo to them, would havo been well tempered by the consciousness that tlicy still hail him as a tellow member if not as a supporter. Mr Lethbridge's retirement, regarding which we are now released from any reticence, alters the whole political situation in the constituency and makes it most open and interesting. Steps are already being taken to select a Government candidate. There aro three known aspirants, Messrs Orabb, FiUherbert anil Hornblow. Our referendum (in which Mr Crabb still leads) is <i phase of that. Now there is the question of selecting an Opposition candidate and J Messrs Atkinson, Guthrie, Hockley ami Trewin are ali mentioned. No doubt Mr Martin, the Opposition organiser, will move hero m the exhaustive manner in which lie moved at Hawera, but meantime wo have added another referendum for our Opposition roadors, to that we were, already conducting, to ascertain from Government supporters their choice of a Government candidate.