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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9367, 25 November 1893, Page 4

It has been suspected all along that the most strenuous exertions were being made by Ministers to influence the elections, not so much in the* interests of the Liberal party as in the interests of themselves as holders of office. One of these intrigues has come to light, by the accident that Mr. Seddon hesitates about acceding to the demand which the candidate whom he asks to retire thinks he has a right to make, of an appointment to the Legislative Council. The first step is, that Mr. Seddon asks Mr. Parsons, one of the candidates for Whanganui, to meet him at Morton. What took place at the interview Mr. Parsons does not feel himself at liberty to state, although he freely discloses the subsequent correspondence by telegraph. The Premier seems to conceive it to be his duty to prevent the electors having any choice except such as he may sanction. He writes to Mr. Parsons that two other candidates had retired, , and that if both Mr. Willis and him continued in the field " it is a dead certainty Carson will get in." He acknowledges the claims which Mr. Parsons has on the party, and again urges him to retire. Further endeavours at a settlement take place, and then the Premier telegraphs again making a threat that if Mr. Parsons did not abandon the field his conduct " would militate against your chance for ever afterwards." Mr. Seddon, of course, is only " anxious for the good cause you and I have so long fought for." Mr. Parsons then states that Mr. Ballance had on two occasions offered him a seat in the Legislative Council, and asks, if he now sacrifices himself for the party, can he rely on Mr. Ballance's promise being kept. The Premier does not say that to make such a stipulation is highly improper. The calling of a man to the Legislative Council was formerly a recognition of conspicuous ability and of great public services in some capa-

city. Now it seems to be treated a, 3 simply a means of squaring" inconvenient candidates. To carry this too far, however, may be troublesome even to " the party," because hosts of Liberal candidates will appear when it is known that a retirement from the contest means " a peerage." Mr. Seddon is a little staggered. Probably he has made so many promises already on his own account, that he cannot face those made or claimed to have been made by Mr. Ballance. He says he " would require the decision of the Cabinet upon the matter," and altogether is so unsatisfactory that the indignation of Mr. Parsons is aroused. More than that, Mr. Seddon's telegrams, though marked " confidential," come into the hands of Mr. Willis, and are used to damage Mr. Parsons. We shall leave Mr. Seddon to settle with Mr. Parsons about handing over his confidential telegram to his rival. But it is distressing to find the Premier of the colony interfering, and dictating, and threatening in every election in the colony, with the resources and expenditure of the Government at his back, appealing to constituencies to show how he can make railways for them if they will keep him in power, and chaffering with candidates about seats in the Legislative Council.