EAst Coast News Letter.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1481, 19 November 1881, Page 2

EAst Coast News Letter.

GISBORNE; r SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1881* FoDE "candidates desirous of election for the East Coast have delivered their utterances. The fifth, Mr. Wilson, has not yet spoken. Whether he will avail hiniself of an opportunity of addressing the electors we do not know. But we think we may say without hesitation that he will be altogether out of the running. Mr. WILSON is comparatively a stranger in our midst. He is understood to possess Utopian ideas with respect to

nationalising the lands of the Colony. Should this great innovation ever come to pass, it will only b« the work of practical and experienced statesmen—men of a much heavier calibre than Mr. Wilson is likely to prove himself. We come then to the four candiilatcs entitled to woo the voices of the I electors. Mr. Allan McDonald, as first in order, represented the district in the last Parliament, and he certainly worked hard fot his constituents. But he set himself up in bitter opposition to the Ministry, and all he tried to accomplish resulted in a series of failures. He had attached himself with great pertinacity to the Grey party, from winch he still refuses to release himself, and, as a consequent, ho weakens any influency he niiijht otherwise possess should ho by any chance hap. en to be returned. It would be looked upon by many as a blow to the best interests of the district. We have no doubt but what Mr. McDonald will hnd supporters, for he has many friends who hold him in the light of " a jolly good fellow," and who will give him their support more from pure love and affection than for any service he will be capable of rendering. At such a critical juncture of affairs, vrhen the best man obtainable is wanted for our needs, it behoves the electors to set all personal feeling on one °ide and send in the candidate most able to battle for the district. We should like, if it were in our power to say that Mr. McDonald is the man. J But insisting upon hanging on t« the skirts of a broken and powerless (action he would simply be a hindrance in any attempt made to further the progress of this portion of the East Coast Electorate. Mr. McDonald may be entitled to a full meed of praise for sticking to his party, but if his party can do us no service, through being in a minority, the (lectors would be ignoring their right of franchise by returning a candidate A' ho would be worse than useless, however sincere and even anxious he might feel to serve them. We come next to Mr. M. J. Gannon. All those to whom this gentleman is known are quite sensible of his great ability. He proved himself to possess this when he addressed the electors at Macfarlane's Hall, on Tuesday evening. We do not urge anything against Mr. GANNON on the score of youth and inexperience. Time will make good these two drawbacks. But we must not conceal the fact that those who have known Mr. Gannon longest have lamented his want of ballast and fixed principles. It has been with him as with other youthful aspirants, «vho. while cultivating the natural talents they are endowed with have overlooked the necessity of stability of purpose before entering upon the onerous duties pertaining to public life. By due watchfulness over himself; by study, and by carefully steering a straight course, Mr. Gannon has a brilliant career before him. There is nothing in politics and statesmanship he may not, in the course of succeeding years, aspire to. Independent of the various objections we have raised to Mr. Gannon's candidature, there is another serious one. Mr. Gannon has only within a very few weeks allowed himself to be returned as a member for the County Council. It is impossible, he could, if sent to our superior Legislature, perform the dual functions of a County Councillor, and a representative of the General Assembly. In giving attendance to one, he must necessarily neglect the other. This will be looked upon as the commission of a grave offence at the outset of his political life. He should rest content with serving an apprenticeship before attempting anything greater in the way of his ambition. As a County Councillor, he may render very good service to the ratepayers. He will at least be able to show the quality of the stuff he is composed of. Captain Porter, next on the list of candidates lor notice, has been favorably known to the district dur- ' ing a long term of years. He has tilled an important position as Land Purchase Commissioner for the Government. He has been twice Mayor for the Borough, and has invariably taken a prominent part in all public matters, where his industry and intelligence could make him useful. But Captain Porter's extreme goodnature and flexibility of disposition are the qualities which least fit him as a legislator. When addressing the electors on Monday night, the candidate objected to the management of the Waste Lands of Cook County being placed under the control of a local Board. " Even if I were Chairman of such a Boird," said Captun Porter " I believe I should act under pressure of influence." That is just it; and this weakness Captain Porter will find will be an objection raised to him becoming a representative of the district. He is altogether too compliant. He is a man likely to be swayed this way or that in proportion to the pressure brought to bear on him from high quarters. It is not well that a legislator should be all things to all men. As a Government official Captain Porter has few superiors. He is pains-taking, laborious, enquiring, and accurate in the matter of detail. In the department of official routine this gentleman, if we may be permitted a Colonialism, is " ill there ;" but souiethig more than these qualities, useful as they are, .las to be looked for in a representative.

The last candidate to notice is Mr. Samuel Locke. This gentlemen as, in the case of Captain Porter, and Mr. Gannon, seeks for the fa'rst time legislative honors. He was in years long past, intimatuly connected with tln> district in which he is still a large property-holder, and where, as he informed his hearecs on Thursday evening, he intend* taking up his permanent residence for himself and family. Mr. Locke was for many years in the Government service, having been made & Resident Magistrate at the early ago of twenty-three Afterwards he became a large purchaser of native lands for the Crown ; and from that time to this has been confidential adviser to several Ministries in rertpect of native matters, than whom for the purpose there is no more experienced man. It is generally well understood that the Hall Ministry are anxious to secure the support of Mr. Locke, not only as j one of their staunch adherents, but because of the able assistance it is known he is so capable of rendering in questions involving nativo complications. It is the influence Mr. Locke possesses that will make him a most serviceable number in advocating our local requirements. We believe the honor and integrity of this candidata has never been called in question, and honesty of purpose •and intention are reckoned as among his most marked characteristics. Of these four three will have to bear the disappointment of a defeat. It is fot the electors to decide who these shall be. We have no desire they shall be influenced by anything we have written. Having made their choice, then let them give the successful candidate oil the support and encouragement in their power that he may go about his work with a strong heart and a willing mind to do them faithful service and fulfil his functions in all good faith an a requital for the high trust thoy have placed in him.