The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1884.

Western Star, Issue 861, 19 July 1884, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1884.

Tiie general eleilion of members for the ensuing Parliament will take place next Aveek. We hope devoutly—though it seems like hoping against all reason for hope—that a much better lot than the last ragged mob will be returned, for the last gathering was admitted to

be one o£ the poorest New Zealand ever had. Judging by the nominations, not much improvement in the rank and file can be expected. And it is not easy to see where the improvement is to come from, whilst the electors themselves are either quite indifferent as to who it is they choose, or else, if they take any interest, usually show it by choosing on the most absurd grounds. One candidate wdl be elected, for instance, because he is high up among the Freemasons or Oddfellows; another because on account of his religious creed, he will get the block vote of the Homan Catholics. We notice that among the candidates for the city of Wellington, in the Te Aro division, one gentleman is said to be most likely to go in because the total abstainers almost in a body will give him their vote, and he will be generally supported by the. Presbyterians and Wesleyan Methodists. Now a man_ may be a very strict total abstainer, and bis creed may be a wonderfully beautiful combination of the sternest Presbyterianism and the most enthusiastic Wesleyan Methodism, and yet he may be anything but a success as a politician. Some years ago, within our knowledge, a voter was asked in a certain electorate, to whom he gave his suffrage at a recent election, and he mentioned the name of the candidate. “What! you voted for so and so,” was the reply—" why he is an ignorant, dishonest, drunken little blackguard.” “ Well,” said the voter, “ certainly he is not a man of much account, but then you see, 1 poor devil,’ every one was voting against him, and so I thought I’d give him a lift.”,. .In another case, an elector said be intended to vote for a certain anything but eligible candidate because he was hard up and needed the honorarium! This was certainly charitable, perhaps manly, but it was not judicious, A man’s personal unpopularity is no necessary reason for voting against him, but it is decidedly no reason for voting in his favor.

. The fact is, in choosing; their members of Parliament, people do not act with the same common sense which they generally exercise in selecting men for business appointments*. If a candidate for Town Cleric, Harbor Board Secretary, or Athenaeum President, &c., were to say that the reasons of his putting up were that he was a person of the most liberal and indeed poble genferal sentiments, and that he would do his best for maintaining the rights of: the ; people, and for the good of ali classes. his clients would probably, reply that his intentions might be excellent, but if he knew nothing about the work of Town Clerk, Harbor Board Secretary, Athenseura President, or. whatever the special appointment might be, they would wish him good evening at once to save time. But in the political world the opposite course is taken year after year, until custom has deadened the electors to all sense of the absurdity of their conduct. Meantime candidates of real ability slum particular constituencies, and decline to stand for them, because for some time past they have elected Jones or Smith, and therefore clearly show that they don’t want'any one who can either think or act. • A large improvement in the choice ,of members is needed. Every candidate should belong to one of two classes, and in either case he should be eligible for some constituency, but not otherwise. Either he should be a person who has studied politics, and political economy, and has made himself fairly acquainted with the general legislation of the colony, so as to have broad and accurate general views. Or else he should be one, who, without having qualified himself beyond the average of men by abstract study, is a person who has mastered the wants of his own particular district, and is able to express them intelligently, .and in such a. manner as to command consideration. A mere knowledge of local wants is not enough, for a man who only knows that and thinks his duty is eternally to worry the Ministry. about granting special favors to bis own neighborhood only becomes after a little while, a bore and a nuisance, and sets Parliament generally against him. To demand a palpable injustice is just, as bad as to ask for nothing at all. But a member who is really a good local member ought to know what on broad grounds of justice and utility to the whole colony he may ask for his own particular electorate, and be equally ready to concede the justice, of a. similar demand when made under similar circumstances, on behalf of any other district situated elsewhere in the colony. We fear, however, that it will be found that when the list of the members returned for the next Parliament is made up, there will be few of either of the latter class we have describe'!, and fewer still of the former. The election, however, has not yet come off, and therefore wo trust that in the meantime as many voters as possible will seriously consider what is their duty, and determine to select the best man without fear or favor. If they will not do this, they have no right to blune any particular Minister or Ministers for not pro enfing the depression of the colony. T..ev ought rather to blame themselves for their own stupidity or laziness.