Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1897. A COMEDY OF ERRORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5561, 17 February 1897, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1897. A COMEDY OF ERRORS.

Rkcent revelations have tended In show that tlio general election poll was n comedy of errors. Errors by tens, errors by hundreds, errors by thousands, errors by batallions, were undoubtedly committed all over the Colony. Never was a general election so muddled up nml obscured by illimitable error, and the only wonder is that, any true or reliable issue is the result of it.

What has been proclaimed from the housetops is only n tithe of wlmt is generally known and talked about and it is not difficult to account for all the trouble and confusion that has arisen or lias been allowed to vest, midistuvM, It is known beyond nil doubt that ji; carrying out the polls unlit ond incompetent officers were employed by Iho Government.

In making appointments it was the duly of the Government to seo that only qualified persons wero employed, If for example a deal and blind person wero engaged in a polling booth it is obvious that the authorities employed him without making proper enquiries as lo lijs qualification for the post. But, how. ever undesirable n deaf and blind man might bo in a polling booth, we are not at all sure that ail official with these infirmities was the worst or most dangerous man on the list, The fact is the Government appointed officials not beennso they were competent, but simply because they were of the right colour, and this right, colour was secured at the cost of incalculable blunders and mis? takes, It was not in one electorate 1 only, but probably in every electorate tlmtafair, honest issue was prejudiced by a bad administration. All along tbeline the elections were bungled by an administration, which, - regardless of all considerations of honour and duty, endeavoured to win by tinfuir and illegitimate means. The Wnirarapn election was a case in point and it is almost a marvel that the majority of the voters in that electorato should

have, been able lo carry out llioir wishes by returning Mr Buchanan. Everything that could be done to

defeat their desire was attempted without scrnplo or concealment. Only a very strong mnn could have preyailed against the undue influences brought f,o bear against him. However, in this electorate, ns in many others the comedy of errors known ns " tlio spoils to the victors" was played out unsuccessfully by the Government