WELLINGTON NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 21 November 1899, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(From H.B. TelegnTph Correspondent .) WELLINGTON, Novembei- 19. -iiE PREMIER'S ANIMOSITY. The reputee of the Premier st Pa'merston, and tbe method of it, is-regarded he,', as a fitting punishment for the manner of his attack on the stronghold of the member for Palmerston North. It was not enough that personal animus should have actuated the I'l-emiei- to send Mrs Seddon end Mr Schoch (paid Government inspector of the Porirua lunatic asylum, and canvasser for Mr Seddon and his party) to Palmerston to insult the intelligence of the electors there, in the style of their solicitation, of votes for the Government candidate, but Mr Seddon musfc so belittle hi<; position as Premier, in pursuance of this animu?, as to fores his views upon the people of such hamlets as Ashujsfc and Bunnythorpe. There he took the" opportunity of making the most offensive personal attacks Hpon the member for Palmerston, attacks which were only discontinued when, as happened in each case, Mr Pirani entered the meeting places, and got such a reception as must have been disconcerting indeed to the 'political bully, who was endeavouring by such unfair tactics to discount his chances. ; That Sir Seddon's plan of campaign in tha Palmerston electorate will be attended with signal failure seems evident on the face of it. The people of the Manawatu have had an example of the manner in which the | Premier applies his punishment, when he |is not giving his reward. The fact stands out prominently, that as a punishment to the people of Manawatu for sending to Parliament a man personally nnd politically repugnant to the Premier, that district, has been completely struck off the list as far as public works are concerned, notwithstanding its many and pressing needs, on account of the growth of settlement in the district, and the development enterprise of the people themselves. So desperate has the Premier become in his attempt to unseat Mr Pirani that he has, it is said, made broadcast promises to completely reverse this policy if the people keep that member out, even though they should prefer Mr Buick, the Oppositionist, to Mr Wood, the Government candidate. If Mr Seddon was not so desperate he would remember that such promises engender quite ns much suspicion of his methods as the aforesaid system of rewards and punishments. He must realise now that he cannot bulldose the constituencies. He tried ifc on in Wellington and failed signally. If the people of the country districts were as pliable and stupid bucolities as he takes them to be, he would succeed in Manawatu, in Hawke's Bay, in Gisborne, in tho Bay of Plenty, and upon other places upon which he will inflict his politics before election day comes round. But the fact is that the Premier has lost his mana, as well as all semblance of dignity. He is a beaten man, and the realisation of the fact has robbed him of even the veneer of political decency. THE WELLINGTON SEAT. Mr C. Luke, who has come ou f - for thn Wellington seat, is sure to be aceppted as a Government candidate. He i-» a prominent Prohibitionist and Church worker, and is sure to get considerable support. MR. WILFORD'S SELECTION. A large'section of the Petone Liberals very much resent the Governnicu .'? selection of Mr Wilford for the seat, nn at a meeting on Friday night carried th* followmg resolution: — "That thia meetieg of Liberals of Petone does not approve bf the selection by tho Ministry of ;t candidate for the suburbs, and endorses tho acrio.i of Mr Kirk in deciding to contest the seat, being fully satisfied of the support he i-i receiving." r WHO FAYS THE PIPER. A great rumpus has been caused in a sec tion of the Liberal camp in Wellington by tho discoveiy that Mr Edwards, ihe Premier's paid Liberal and labour organiser, is identical with Mr Edwards, and organiser of the Conservative Association at Home Some very pertinent inquiries are beftiij made as to who is paying Mr Edwards The Liberal organisations in Wellington are not finding the wherewitual. Number* of them, in fact, resent his .ntefference in their political affairs. Others, a^in, re gard him as a kind of fly in the amber, and wonder how he got there. They know that Mr Seddon had a great deal to do with his appointment, but in this, as in othe' matters which are being done by tue people's patriot for the public preservation, v. is deemed advisable that they should hot" get to kuow too much. GOVERNMENT NOMINEE,.;. It is stated here that Mr J. K. Macdonald, who has at length resigned hn> position as Superintendent Valuer of the Artvanco* to Settlers Department under circumstances which have, it is alleged, b=en not unattended with correspondence of an interesting character, will not be placed on the Government ticket for the Wellington seat at tho forthcoming election. Neither will Mr G. Fisher, who is, I understand, not enjoying vcrj' good health at present