THE CITY ELECTION

Observer, Volume X, Issue 623, 6 December 1890, Page 3

THE CITY ELECTION

For the three seats there are seven candidates, viz. • Mr Thos. Thompson, Dr. Wallis, Mr W. L. Bees, Mr H. W. Farnall, Mr W. J. Napier, Mr J. M. Shera, and Mr Adam Porter. That is the order in which they have come before the electors, and in that order I shall consider their merits. Thompson is an old and tried politician, of mediocre ability. He Jast sat for Auckland North, and gave satisfaction. His popularity with the working classes is proof that he is in accord with their aims, although he has given a general support to the Atkinson Government. That Government is as dead as Queen Anne, arid Thompson has shown himself very teachable in Liberal policy. He has never broken a pledge, that I know of, and his enemies cannot offer any damnatory criticism of his career in the House. He supports the Land Tax. By virtue of his experience, political straightness, independence and practical ability, I certainly should give T.T. a ' show ' to represent the enlarged city constituency. * # *

Walms is a good, honest, eccentric, salt-of-theearth old Presbyterian. I have said before that I would like

to see him in the House, but that was when the choice of candidates was more limited than it is now. His disqualifications are (I) he is a rabid opponent of the Land Tax, (2) he is a class candidate of the most pronounced type, and (3) he is out of sympathy with current ideas, being Conservative, if not reactionary. The electors can send three good men without dragging the doctor away from the study of stars, philosophy and manure on the barren slopos of lonia, where he may still, like his illustrious countryman, Walk in glory and in joy, Behind his plough, upon the mountain side. I do not advise the throwing away of a single vote upon the Anti-Labour candidate. # * *

Kees is a lawyer — in ordinary cases quite sufficient disqualification. Bat Bees is more — he is an author who advocates with fervour and eloquence the cause of the toiling masses of humanity. Whatever may be said of his business capacity or his previous fling at politics, his Liberalism has never been suspect and his rental powers are undoubtedly high. In the Land and Labour legislation, which is certain to be introduced soon, his talent and influence would be powerfully exerted on the right side. He is a friend of Co-operation, State Bank and Land Tax ; if there were less choice, I would support him ; but, in the circumstances, his profession is sufficient bar. Had Imy will, a lawyer should hardly enter the House, and even for such an able man as Rees I would not depart from that principle.

Farnall is politically speaking, a first-rate candidate. The fact that he took a Government situation the last time he was sent to Parliament, and that he is by repute much poorer now than he was then, makes him personally unacceptable. He may have a satisfactory explanation and pledge to lay before the electors ; but up to the time of writing, ill health has prevented him appearing in public and may indeed keep him from going to the poll. In any case, I think he is not required at the present juncture, and votes given to him would be wasted.

Napier, lawyer, has no redeeming qualities, save the doubtful one of a ' gift of the gab,' coupled with glibness in promising reform and great facility in swallowing programmes. If hi 3 profession did not sufficiently disqualify him, his unblushing candidature on the Labour ticket damns him as effectually as Dr. Wallis ia condemned by running on the Capitalist ticket. Were there six votes to record, instead of only three, he ought not to get one.

Shera is chosen by the Liberal Committee, and had that committee shown equal wisdom in choosing its other candidates I should have voted their ticket straight. He has been rich and poor by turns, and now is, I believe, fairly well off ; but through all he has been a consistent and earnest Liberal. Has hud no Parliamentary experience ; but made a gallant fight against David Goldie at last General Election. Shera will take to the House commercial experience and ability, coupled with advanced political views. His sympathies will be with the commercial and working classes. He may not be the very best type of representative; but he is one of the three best now before the City electors and ought to be returned to Parliament. He offers to retire in favour of Grey, if the veteran statesman should be able and willing to re-enter political life. # # *

Pobteb (Adam of that ilk) is running in double harness with his brither Scot, Dr. Wallis. Porter has a firm grasp of the politics of the day, and is in favour of such drastic retrenchment as will enable us to abolish the Property Tax without imposing any new tax in its stead. A busy worker for many long years, and now a large employer of labour, Porter commands the confidence of all sections of the community. That ' a man is known by the company he keeps ' is only true of him politically in a limited degree. He has no right to be bracketed with Wallis, for his views and those of the ancient Doctor are a3 unlike aa chalk and cheese. Though not yet educated up to the Land Tax and State Bank, Porter tias that judicial mind whioh will make him accept these as soon as he sees their justice and practicability. This is shown by his utterances on the question of taxing the foreign bond-holders—utter-

ances which I would call statesmanlike if I didn't want to offend him by seeming to indulge in flattery. Straight, practical, shrewd, self-taught (resembling Willie Swanson in many ways, physically and mentally), Porter would make an excellent representative. As a lobbyist, he would be simply invaluable to an Auckland party. He does not keep his bank account (which is substantial) at the 8.N.Z.; he follows John Bryce as a leader ; he would give practical support; to schemes for encouraging local industries, and I believe would oppose logrolling and extravagance. He ought to receive the hearty support of all classes.

Thompson, Shera, Porter ; such would be the O.M.s ticket for the City, and these are the three men, out of the seven in the field, who would be3t and most honestly Berva the electors.