The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1905. THE OPPOSITION "SPLIT."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12667, 1 December 1905, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1905. THE OPPOSITION "SPLIT."

" I'll tell you what you will have, you'll have 'Mr Bassett!" This is the warning which Mr Seddon gave to the divided Government supporters of this electorate, and it was to prevent the realisation of his prophecy that he worked so hai'd to bring about a settlement of the split whidh has divided the local ranks of the Government party into four conflicting sections. There can be no doubt that Mr Seddon had been well advised as to the position, and that he was aware that unless he could bring about the retirement of some of the Government candidates the seat would be* won for the Opposition, and that Mr Bassett would be the man to win it The " Herald " expivssed the same opinion, and declared emphatically that unless a settlement was arrived at Mr Bassett would capture the seat. We have every reason to believe that both the "Premier and the " Herald " spoke advisedly, and as the result of a careful estimate of the possibilities. Mr Bassett will win the seat. Of that w-o feel assured; but his return will be doubly assured if the supporters of the Opposition will but be true to themselves and to their party, and, sinking all personal considerations, oast a solid and undivided vote* for the one candidate. It :s regrettable that there should be two candidates, but as there are, and as there is only one seat, it follows that one of them must be defeated. But, further than that, (there is the risk that a divided camp may possibly bring about the defeat of 'both the Opposition'men, and that possibility can only bo obviated by the wisdom a>nd unity of the Opposition electors themselves. It is very unpleasant, we known, to have to choose between two good men; but it .is a duty which must bs performed if the electors are sincere in their desire to wrest the ©eat from the Government. We recognise 'Mr Haselden's many good qualities; but we recognise also that his opponent, Mr Bassett, has a greater claim than he to the support of tho people of Wanganui. ,At the time he entered the fieJd tM<r., Haselden was a com-

pariatiye stranger to the great majority of the ■.■electors of this constituency. We" admit, indeed •we have never denied, that 'ho is an old colonist, and that he 'has en one capacity and another taken an active part in the public lifo of the people among vohom he has resided. But at the sauxieijime^ it is an undeniable fact that he ivias-pracitio'ally an uhkhon^*fr man to the people of this electorate,, at the time he an*nonhoedtsiL§'oaiididatiy:e. 'Mr Bassett, on,the other .(band,: is ah old and iwell "ishown^resHfenl? fbf I Wanganui, >»nd a man whose name ha*j loom-

Ed large in tih© public life of the place for many yeans. (His 'interests are wholly afnd.p«csmi»n«htlyy?boriiid' up wiiih the interests of -Wanganui, and his p&rsonal ability and fitness for the position he seeks to fill .are uniTersally bonceded. 'Further than that, there Js\the fact that tfhxee years ago, ,at the time of the lasti election, Ihe was asked whether in the event of the then oandidatfe being unable to stand he would contest the seat, and it is in conformity with a prom'ea then given, and in response to the more recent iiequest of the Leader of the Opposition, that Mr Bassett is seeking the confidence of the electors of ' Wanganui to-day. Under the circumstances, and iii view of the facts, we should be neglecting our. duty' were we to hesitate to express the hope that Mr Bassett will reo&ive the almost unanimous support of the Opposition party in this electorate. Let there be no mistake about it. He is <a straight out opponent of the.'Government, and his candidature as such 'has been approved by 'Mr iMassey. Fortunately, allegiance to party, on the Opposition side of the House, does not mean the subordination of one's principles and the extinction of one's convictions, nor does 'it mean, a blind unreasoning antagonism to everything that emanates from the Government benches. Mr Massey desires to command a pa-rty whose first aim, individually and colleotiTely, shall be the good of tlhe people, and not merely the discomfiture of political" opponents. We have seen men on the Government side of the House'who could talk loudly and strike strenuously against their political opponents, ibut -who, within the stringent limitations of their own .party, knew not the meaning. of principles, ignored convictions, and held no opinions other thian those doled "out to them by the party " boss.*" We do not want an -Opposition ibuilt. of such material. 'We <want an Opposition composed of men who will give their yotes every time for what they honestly believe to be for tne good of the people. In short, we want a strong Opposition in every sense of >the word, and we can best get that by . electing "men whom we know will stick to their convections through thick and thin, and who at the -same time would not be so blinded by party preju-

dice as to "believe that no good at all dan emanate from an opponent. Mr Bassett is one of those men, and his qualities need no ocanmendatdon at our hands. They are known to the great majority of his fellow townsmen, and they are recognised and1 esteemed even by those bitterly opposed to him politically. Proof of tlhe widespread esteem and confidence in rwhich foe is held, and of the value whiJoh his -fellow citizens place upon his services, is to be found ,in the fact that he has been elected to almost every public body connected with our civic and municipal life. Bearing thesefaota in mind, and remembering that the man most interested —t!he Premier— has publicly expressed his recognition of (Mr Baesett's superior chances,- and that the same opinion has been expressed without qualification -&y the looal Ministerial paper, it woulor be unwise'indeed were the Opposition electors, to allow their votes to 'be diverted. As we have said, we cannot have- both, anil therefore we should wisely conserve our efforts to secure the return.of iMr fiasseti.