THE COLONIST. Published Daily—Mornings. Nelson, Wednesday, February 16, 1898. THE WELLINGTON BY-ELECTION.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9098, 16 February 1898, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily— Mornings. Nelson, Wednesday, February 16, 1898. THE WELLINGTON BY-ELECTION.

The vacancy in the representation of Wellington City by the resignation of Sir Robert Stout is very certain to lead Jo a hotly contested fight. Evidently the Opposition intend to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to secure the seat, and they have put forward the strongest champion in all their ranks, a veritable Goliath, in whose favor all other Conservative aspirants for political honors have stood aside. Already Mr Duthie has addressed a select three hundred electors favorable to his candidature, and in addressing them he declared his challenge to the Liberals in a mocking and bombaßtic voice. He declared that "the Government at present was to be sympathiaed with in the way in which it was being harassed over the selection of a candidate for the byelection. Since the Premier came back from Home he had got aristocratic ideas, and had lost touch with the working men, and now nothing would suit him but a candidate from the Wellington Club. He had tried two, but they had refused, and now he had fallen back on Mr Kirk, who, if he did not now, at one time belonged to the club." Mr Duthie presented all his old skeletons to view, and made their dead bones rattle again, but a sound that has been explained is hardly likely to trouble even the timid. The portion of his speech which [we have quoted indicates the uncommon ability of Mr Duthie. With his target of brass he concaives it safe to assail hie political foes, and he strives to raise up class feelings. Had any prominent member of the Liberal Party endeavored to make capital of an opponents position, the Conservative Press would have been howling at such an impertinent and shocking device, but men like Mr. Duthie and his friends arrogate to themselves a degree of license that they withhold from others. No, doubt the speaker imagined that he might create suspicions in the breasts of the more Radical supporters of the Party he so strenuously opposes by the references he made to Mr Kirk, but these, and his meaningless phrase about the Premier's aristocratic ideas, will only serve to indicate to men who think for themselves the sort of champion that now stands in front of the Opposition forces. The sort of speech delivered by Mr Duthie may be accounted good as mere opposition, liut abuse and politics are two very different things, and it should be remembered that the man whose forte is fault-finding, and who is unable to see any good in those who differ from him, is not the man to accomplish much, should he ever be placed in a position of responsibility. There is no doubt the Opposition are most anxious to secure a viotory, and to obtain power, for apparently they dread lest the toilers may be further protected from the avaricious and the power of wealth selfishly employed. "Well protected themselves, they are averse to Old Age Pensions, save upon the impossible basis of requiring those who have nothing to spare, after providing for requirements, to put by for old age what they do not possess. The struggling country settler might remain roadless, and the operative go without employment, bo that the big runholder could ship his wool, and facilities were given for receiving foreign-made goods. Older eolonißts will remember the times that are past, and they must recognise that in spite of changes that have brought with them new difficulties, very much has been done in the best interests of the majority of the people by the Liberal Administration. Mr Kirk, whom Mr Duthie affects to despise, is a comparatively yeung man, and *a member of the legal

profession. He has been Mayor of Petone for eight years, and at the present time is also a director of the Wellington Woollen Company, whilst he is credited with having brought about a compromise when the operatives at the Petone Mill struck. In athletic circles he is well known, and be takes much interest in the administration of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. He bas been a consistent Liberal, and believes in progression, but with all his qualifications he has to fight a veteran, and clearly the fight will be a hard one. The Wellington people themselves have not, in the past, shown themselves progressive to any marked extent, but in the fight that has already begun, they will have the ohance of showing whether they are willing to support the vigorous champion of Progression or the veteran Reactionary.