Lancings FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1917. THE HAWKE'S BAY SEAT.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 868, 23 February 1917, Page 6

Lancings

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1917. THE HAWKE'S BAY SEAT.

Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, tJnawed by principle and unbribed by gain; Here patriot Truth her glorious precepts draw, Pledged to Religion, Liberty, and Law.

Sir Jotsn Findlay the Liberal Candidate. ' r ' ;■' • ODEI John Findlay has, after all, been chosen as the official Liberal can-, didate for the Hawke's Bay; vacancy. We sincerely trust he may be elected, for he'is a .gentleman, who, no matter from what point of view his political opinions are regarded, would be a distinct acquisition to a Parliament which contains so many mediocrities as does the present House. Next- to Sir John we should have preferred, to see Mr. Jul! elected, for he is a man of broad and truly Liberal views, and enjoys more: than a' merely local reputation for his special capacity for public afThis. is shown in the fact that he has held for some time and ably fills the. office of Chairman of the Napier Harbour Board. «■ . .■» ; <*.' It was a delicate business to smooth over past local failures and arrive at a selection which should meet with unanimous party approval. So difficult was the task that Sir John Findlay was within an ace of withdrawing his consent to nomination.. However, tact and ! common-sense prevailed, and the Hon. Mr. MaeDonald's mission - has been, crowned with success. In the public interest, it is sincerely to be hoped that Sir John Findlay will, be elected, and we look to. the Iteform Party in Hawke's Bay to feonfirm the patriotic . stand it: has taken in refraining from running a candidate, nominally as -, an Independent, as they might easily have done', and, accord Sir John an unbroken supports at the polling booths. Parliament should reflect the best talent at the country's command, and Sir John Findlay's short career in the Legislative Council affords eveTy reason to predict that he will perform useful service for the State in the House of Representatives.