The Star. THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1906. THE WESTLAND SEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8666, 5 July 1906, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1906. THE WESTLAND SEAT.

Nominations for the Westland byeteotion close to-day, and the polling will take place on July 13. The contest .has resolved itself into a duel between Mr Michel and Mr % Y. Seddon. Th« former is a very old resident of HokU tika\ of which borough he has been elected Mayor on quite » remarkable* number of occasions. Though formerly opposed to the present Government, Mr Michel now poses as * sfcraigfcbout Liberal and a supporter ©I Sir Joseph Ward. We do not. find fault with him for having ohanged his opinions. He is not the only publio man who has done co during the past ten years, and it is much in his favour that he has seen the error of his ways. But we should not blamr the electors of Westland if they judged it safer to trust the eon of an old and tried representative than to place their . interests in the hands of a man whoa* political views have undergone such a complete and radical change. Moreover, Mr T. Seddon's political opin* ions- are all that can be desired by * constituency which has been. liberal ever since party politics were intro* duced into Westland. They are pro* gressive and enlightened; in fact/ precisely the opinions to be expected front a eon of the lat© Premier. Mr T, Seddon is younger than his father wat when the latter entered politics, but ■ it may be doubted if he is more immav ture. The son has had educational ad* vantages denied to the father, and h# has had, the benefit of his parent's pepcept and example. If he is not fitted to enter Parliament, he must either have neglected his opportunities in a remarkable degree or he must be stegularly devoid of the capabilities which marked his father at a corresponding age. But no young man who hat lived under the late Premier's roof and breathed the same atmosphere until h» was twenty-two could fail to imbibe some of the principles, even if he had inherited none of the qualities, which elevated Richard Seddon from a position of humble obscurity to worldwide eminence. Mr T." Seddon has shown during his election campaign that he is not destitute of pluck and ambition, and he also gives evidence of political training in his father's school. Whe» ther or not he is destined to further emulate his parent time alone can telL Distinguished fathers seldom have aa distinguished children, and it is, perhaps, too much to tope that the late Mr Seddon' s unique abilities will reappear in a second generation. But there is. no reason why the second generation should not furnish the country with very useful servants, and this much, at least, we .may expect from Mr K. k s-ddon. ' \\.' '■'■ '-" '■', o- \'