The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1891.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9255, 3 December 1891, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1891.

A vacancy has been caused in the Wellington Electoral District by the resignation of Mr T. Kennedy Macdonald, and wo learn the seat is to bo filled by a member chosen on strictly party grounds. The election will, therefore, be an interesting one to watch, as the result will be a sort of test as to the feeling in Wellington on the policy of the Government. It can hardly be a fair test, however, for the Ministry are sure to command a large number of votes owing to the legions of Civil Servants in Wellington, who, with their connections, will feel in honor bound to help those who are in powei. According to the latest information the party candidates will bo Mr H. D. Bell and Mr McLean. Mr Jellicce is also said to bo a candidate, he hoping, we suppose, by splitting tbe votes to secure the seat. Mr H. D. Bell ia the Mayor-elect of Wellington, and is well known, but Mr McLean is a stranger to us. Mr Buick, the Organising Secretary of the "liberal Federation,"' is; now in Wellington, to help in the contest, and canvassing and speechifying will be ! the order of the day for some time. Mr McLean will address the electors thig (Thursday) evening, and we shall then j learn his views on the various political topics on which there is such a diversity of ! opinion. The subjects are easily enumerated — i" Payment ot Members," " Bursting up capital," "Shutting up Bhops," "Closing factorietj by coercive and unnecessary Acts," "Abolition of the Legislative Council," "an Elective Governor," " State Bank with unlimited issue of paper," "Nationalisation of land," and the retention in power of a Socialistic and Democratic Ministry. That, we imagine, will be the lines of policy advocated by the Government candidate. Mr Bell's views will be more liberal. He will not support, we are sure, any proposal for a radical change in our Constitution. He will advocate the bcnaf.de settlement of land, not the bogus system of special settlements, a system which has been often tried, and has as often proved a failure. We are sure he will.be sound on the land question — leaving it open to the intending settler to say on what tenure he wish to take up his holding. Mr Jellicoe, we presume, will appeal to the electors on the " independent ticket," will be, in fact, a "free lance," and consequently be feared by both parties. The election will be a hot and bitter one. Influence and pressure will be brought to bear on the electors — and whilst steering clear of actual bribery, money will be freely spent by both parties in order to get their man returned. All who have property qualifications in Wellington, will be invited to visit that city on polling day to (record their votes, and altogether the election will be an exciting one, interest being taken in the lesult all over the colony.