THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2363, 20 January 1875, Page 2

THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

(Post, January 14.)

It is currently reported that Mr Fox is likely to leave the Colony without resigning Ms seat for Eangitikci. We trust that there is no' foundation for such a report. Any proceeding of the kind would undoubtedly denude Mr Fox of any shreds of political reputation which may still cling to him. The electors of Rangitikci have been long suffering and patient under a variety of political and social vagaries on the part of their representative. It would be apoorreconrpen.se for their patience te be defranehiscd at the present critical juncture. The Colony too has borne long with Mr Fox's chopping and changing, and would have reason to feel ungratefully treated were the ex-Premier to leave it with a vacant seat during the next, session of Parliament. We do not know whether. Mr Fox intends to return to !N"ew Zealand: again, but he cannot return in time to save his seat. It will become vacant by cfJluxion of time within a year, and if he goes away without resigning it now," he will simply be giviug. a fresh and very i apt illustration of the' old " story about a; dog in ;a .manger; .Mr .F.ox .is dread-1 fully frightened .at the idea of Mr Bailahee succeeding him, and to prefer leaving-his constituents unrepresented altogether-rather than allow their representation to devolve upon the •Editor of the Wanganui Herald. Surely this is amatter on- which' the electors of the district should be allowed to please themselves. If they like to entrust their interests to Mr Ballance :in preference to having them altogether neglected itj becomes not Mr Fox to say them nay. We do not know what Mr Baliance's chances of success might be. . The electors might, we think, get a much.better representative, a inah of broader and more liberal ideas,. for' Mr' Ballance essentially, and iii the "most narrow spirit, isa Wanganuiite, but this is a matter of which the electors of Rangitikei are the best and should be the sole judges. Mr Fox, if he has any regard for decency and fair play, will not by an unworthy trick prevent them having the oppor-

unity of exercising this right when a legitimate opportunity arises. It is quite possible that the Government may be anxious that Mr Fox should retain his seat i • °^i foresee an 7 chance of that seat being filled by an opponent if rendered vacant, they would certainly counsel him not to resign, and Mr Fox has become such a faithful follower of-those who sitinhigh places,that it can scarcely be doubted that^ he would- cheerfully accept and follow the-advice" —The electors of llaugitikei should at once call on their member to state his iufentions. He can go .do^to Otago and Canterbury, and make long orations on temperance, but does .not seem to "have found time to address his constituents as other members have done. His constituents should, therefore, remind him>of his duty., and elicit a distinct- avowal of his intentions. The next session of Parliament will be a long and : highly important one. - It is very desirable that every constituency should be fully- and faithfully represented in it, and Wellington certainly cannot afford to have one of its nine seats vacant.. while its owner is wandering to Jericho, or studying the working of prohibitive legislation m Maine. • ;; :-'■*- '■'■-- "-■-■ • •.;-