The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1873.

Southland Times, Issue 1720, 28 March 1873, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1873.

The appearance of Mr William Wood in the field as a candidate for the representation of the town of InTercargill in the House of Representatives, seems to have had a peculiarly exasperating effect on our local contemporary. So long as it remained uncertain by whom the election might be contested, the prospects of Mr Ctjthbeetson's return depended in a great measure on the stamp of man who might be selected to oppose him. The unfortunate choice of Mr Wood appears to have been too much for our Dee-street friend's nerves, considering the unpleasant necessity which lies upon him of advocating that gentleman's claims to the confidence of the electors. The vexation he betrays is not a little amusing, and the way in which it finds vent gives a very fair idea that he understands the real state of matters only too well for his own peace of mind. "No case ; abuse the plaintiff," seems to be his motto. In a column of so-called leading matter devoted to the subject, we find on a careful examination nothing but unsparing abuse of Mr Ctjthbebtson. For reasons with which we are unacquainted, Mr Cuthbektsoit has always been a special aversion of the News. His political reputation, along with that of many others who enjoy the confidence of the public, has nevertheless survived many scurillous attacks made by that journal, in days gone by, and we notice the present tirade merely to add it to the list of previous failures of the same kind. The News cannot see, indeed, that mere personal abuse, though it may amuse the reader, seldom affects the result of an election. The gist of the present attack is that Mr Cfthbebtson is a mere " professional politician," and that his object in seeking a seat in the Auooiubij is merely to provide himself with a comfortable salary. It is exceedingly easy to make an assertion of this sort. To do it with any decency, howerer, some kind of proof of its truth ought to be appended. Still decency was never a forte of the News's, so that may pass. Mr Cuthbertson has been before the public for many years as a politician, and the materials for such a charge, if there were any modicum of truth in the idea at all, would surely not be wanting in the history of his past career. But our friend, while he probably would not be deterred by any conscientious scruples on the score of accuracy or good taste (as previous experience has oftentimes shown), from making such an assertion, would have paused had he remembered that it cuts both ways. Mr Wood, bo far as we can see, is quite as obnoxious to such a stricture as Mr Cuthbeetsow can be. Who can tell what may be Mr Wood's motive in seeking election ? Perhaps our contemporary can supply the information ? It is at all events obvious that the insinuations made by the News may be applied with equal propriety to Mr Wood. Mr Wood is not unacquainted with the sweets of office. It is true that the public were not greatly impressed either with his administrative or his political ability during the time he enjoyed the position of Superintendent of Southland. On this fact indeed some of hia friends base a strong argument in favor of the perfect disinterestedness of his motives. Mr Wood, they say, cannot be a professional politician (though he does devote nearly all his time to politics), for the very simple and effective reason that no administration would think of entrusting any important business to his care. Mr Wood may be an [exemplary citizen in private life, but his utter feebleness and incapacity for the position to which he now aspires is too well known to need comment. He is an amiable and wellmeaning man, ho doubt, but no Government with the slightest regard for its own stability would ever for a moment think of availing itself of hia services in any capacity which could be remunerated. We admit that there is some truth in this, but we are not at all sure that Mr Wood himself is aware of it, and unless hm is, there is evidently a weak place in the argument. The public of Invercargill, however, found out Mr Wood's incapacity and generally ineffective character during his previous possession of a seat (we cannot with truth say representation of the town) in the House of Representatives. So satisfied were they that they had better look elsewhere for a member, that Mr Wood was not even asked to come forward again as a candidate after the dissolution. No one held this opinion more strongly than Mr Culdeb, who, in order to furnish the constituency, with a creditable representative, lost no time in offering himself as

a successor to Mr Wood. Now, Btrange to say, Mr Caldeb is understood to be one of Mr Wood's moat ardent supporters. Can it be that h© has found out that he was not so much better than Mr Wood after all ? It may be so ; or it may be supposed, and we fear with more truth, the spectacle of men endeavoring to fasten Mr Wood on the constituency, as able to represent its intereata, who all the time know very well that they would not trust that gentleman with ohe management of even an unimportant part of their own private business, is to be attributed to the rancor of local party feeling. Between the candidates, regarded on merely personal grounds, there is absolutely no room for hesitation. Our well-meaning but feeble friend, Mr Wood, has already sufficient respon- , sibility placed upon his shoulders. His efforts to maintain it with dignity are laborious and evident, and it is positively i cruel on the part of hiß friends to insist on adding to the burden. It is noticeable that our contemporary observes a pro--1 found, and, we think, a discreet silence ■ on the subject of Mr Wood's suitablei ness, ihe fact is highly significant.