THE TUAPEKA ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14382, 27 November 1908, Page 5

THE TUAPEKA ELECTION.

SiKj—Now that tho second ballot is oy«r, and Mr Scofct- has been returned as member fov Tuapeka electorate in the Opposition interest, it may, not'..to out, of place that an impartial statement* should be made concerning the apparent, somersault 0 f a arp body of clectorp. On Tuesday, the 17tli inst., fchq polling, wag as- follows;— Mncphersoi). . 1552, . Qhapple .1301, , ; Soott. 1453,/ ,&ow, as the 'two first, were standing as Liberals, . their, .total ;votes were 2853, against .1453 .pol.led„by tho Conversauvo candidate. Instead, of tlio majority or Dt Chappie's votes going to swell Mr Maopherson's total in .the 'second ballot, what do ( we.:find? ; According to the returns, we find t.hilt from.. 80 to 90 per cent, of these votes, were east for tho other side. Surely there must be a reason for this anomaly, if I may use the word. ' As one who has been an ardent supporter ofLiberalism for 'many years, I may lie pardoned if I. ettits what is - the general opinion concerning tho downfall 0 f the Govcrnmont candidate.', In the first place, w© wished to protest, against the autocratic , manner in which a candidate is thrust us. Sir Joseph .Ward, in ,his sanctuary in Wellington, issues a mandamus to the,electors of Tuapeka that Macpherson is his nominee, and that we must, perforce, vote for him 'in' preference; to exercising , out own judgment as to the capabilities of the: various candidates. Docs Sir Joseph Ward wish us to return men of his choice, so that these same, men may be at his beck and call in Parliament? The late 'Premier, the Right Hon. Mr Seddoii, used to say, "Trust the people," but. his successor is, not of that opinion;, lie virtually says, "Trust Sir Josoph." The electors, being, enlightened (though Sir 1 Joseph Ward did not give, them credit for-being so), by their voteS t last, Tuesday. entered protest number one. Another reason was the soant treatment meted out to Otago Central. Tho Government, has bean aware for many, years that irrigation was absolutely necessary for the wellboihg of the arid inland 1 districts. We have had many promises in the past from the various Ministers in regard to this vital question. Sums of money have been promised, aiid . actually voted, for this work, biit .never spent. On the eve of' a general election wo arc promised £100,000 and told . that, this sum is earmarked for this special purpose, and cannot he used except, for what, it- was originally intended. We find out to our sorrow now that if this sum is not spent when the financial year, closes tho voto; lapses, and thus goes to swell our apparent surplus. We have had Iwo experts, (save the mark!) in this district. One took : away some soil (for what purpose, think, you?) for analysis. .The oilier viewed pur mountain streams and rivulets. We' have had no report from these gentlemen. Surely .'our farfamed orchards, are evidence enough to show the fertility'of our soil when treated to the somewhat limited irrigation .scheme such as our local orchai'distg have. This is our second protest. In this election 'religion entered the arena of politics more ,so than in previous ones. Mr Maophereon, by bis evasiveness in regard to the question of State aid to private solioole, has only to thank himsejf for at the bottom of tfm poll.' It suggested itself, when no direct answer was givrtii by , thp, above candidate, that private arrangements had been made in which the Tioma.n Catholics, would bo the gainers. ' As' Mr Macpherson had the' "block voto"' on the 17th and again on Ihe 24th inst., this was takenas an indication that there might he something ia Hie suggestion; Hence tho block voto was rendered useless bv those, who wished ,to see tho system, kept purely secular, even they. voted against their prinnLploi and supported Mi Opoosi--1 ion camiidjtto. Of twi etils they chose tlio' lesser one. This, V.«s protest "number tlivee. Mr Macpherson, when rofwe&entmg Mount. Ida. was called t-lie siijnt inoiaber. Dr .Chappie. for Tuapeka, was a' a different eelibre. 110 spoke oat strongly when occasion demanded it. These two members could not gel: much for ihoir oon» stituoncios. I do not blame cither iu ires respect. Tt is t.he Govermbsafc that f&iwM shoulder the blame in

part of "the Dominion, the attention to ita dlftcreiit wants that, is its duo. The Otagc Central Railway has rcachwl Clyde, and there it remains. We .liad a 'promise from the Minister of Railways that when the' Main Tnmk railway was completed Otago Central's claim would be looked into— perhaps next year or tlio year after (vide Otago Daily Times, October i 3, ult.l Specious promises all. - Now that we have returned an • Opposition- member, it. Rom? l I I n J to be seen if our wants and needs will bo hastened by that fact. . Tlic 'i'tf is not the least doubt that Tiiapeka is still Liberal in its politics, but it was necessary. in ihe interests of Central Otago, Hin a most omphatio protest should bo made and the only met,hod. was to return iUI Opposition candidate. As this letter is already too long, J must psi force leave a few other interesting' points out.—l am, etc., • Otago Cp.stp.ai,