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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8061, 23 September 1887, Page 4

Applying our principle to City North electorate, the review of the contest proceeding there may be briefly disposed of. For here among the candidates is one who represented the constituency in the Last Parliament, and aided in bringing about that defeat of the Ministry which led them to ask for a dissolution, and make that appeal to the country on which the electors are now asked to give their verdict. He is opposed, however, by two other candidates, Mr. Farnall and Mr. S. Vaile ; but, as the former of these is obviously out of the running, the struggle for victory will practically be between the old member, Mr. T. Thompson, and Mr. Vaile, the persistent advocate of railway reform. In so far as the issue put before the people is concerned, both these candidates occupy substantially the same platform. With respect to their opposition to the Stout-Vogel Administration, and their views on ietrenchmeut, ae well as other kindled matters at present engaging public attencioi there is not much, if anything, to choose between them. In ordinair circumstances, therefore, the choice ol the electors might be left for decision 01 personal considerations, and their satisfaction and that of the public generally wmld be, that, however the contest might terminate, the seat would be secure for the Opposition, and for promoting tht paramount objects of political and financial reform. The rule, however, whiei we have laid down for guidiug the electors in dealing with the appeal against the sentence of the House which the Ministry have made to the constituencies, h*e comes in, and, unless good cauee can ta shown for a departure from it in any case, it must of necessity be adherel to. ' Briefly put it is, that, other things being equal, the member who took part in passing the condemnation, from which the Ministry have appealed to the country, ought to be returned by his constituency, if the action he took in securing that condemnation is approved of. It the electors of City North therefore desire to show that they are in full sympathy with the no-coutidence motion on which the Ministry were defeated this will determine them on giving a preference to their old member. Should tney, how* ever, for reasons which are not placed under our notice, but which may seem to themselves sufficient, resolve on returning his competitor, they will «till hare tae advantage of possessing a good representative. We have the utmost confidence that they will act at the polling booths as their eense of public duty prompts them.