CORRESPONDENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 500, 24 November 1881, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for Ibe opinions expressed by our correspondents.

MISREPRESENTATION REFUTED. To TUB Editok. Sjr,—l have no objection to Mr D. McKee advocating Mr Ivess’ views in the columns of the Mail, but I do object to his misrepresenting Mr Wason. Mr Wason did not at the Rakaia express himself as a blind supporter of the Hall Government, any more than Mr Ivess expressed himself as a blind supporter of Sir George Grey. Nor has Mr Wason in the past few weeks notified his views as regards the present but what he did say at Wakanui was to admit that there were two meanings attached to the word independence, as there are to almost every other word. People at Rakaia who know Mr Wason, know perfectly well that he is not, nor is ever likely to be, a blind supporter of any one ; but, if elected) .will vote for the best and atraightaat Ministry he can find. How yMT •>! .ril ,

far Mr McKee is justified in deliberately misrepresenting Mr Wason, for the purpose of furthering Mr Joseph Ivess’ candidature, I will leave to the electors of Wakanui on the day of the poll. Mr McKee is singularly unfortunate in his random choice of names as illustrating independent members. Than Mr John Stewart Mill and Professor Fawcett it would be hard to point out in history two more thoroughly Liberal politicians. Mr Wason is a supporter of the present Ministry, because he firmly believes they are an honest and capable body of men, who have rescued the colony out of the serious financial and legislative difficulties into which it was brought by Sir George Grey and his Ministry, and because he considers the legislation they have promised is of an advanced Liberal type (not communistic) which will promote the prosperity of the country ; and, according to Mr McKee, Mr Joseph Ivess is a strenuous opponent of the most pettyfogging, time-serving, and flagrantly dishonest Government that ever disgraced the annals of the country. On the one side we have a Ministerialist, and on the other side an anti-Ministerialist. Again I say let the electors judge for themselves on the day of the poll what party deserves best the confidence of the country.— I am, &c., Wakanui Elector.

THE WAKANUI CANDIDATES. To the Editor. Sir, —In your Tuesday’s issue “Farmer” urges the claims of Mr Wason upon the suffrages of the Wakanui electors. His argument is more temperate than cogent, and it is not likely to convince any reflecting person. It may suit Mr Waaon’s friends at election times to convert him into a farmer and farmer’s friend; but Mr Wason is a great deal more of a runholder than a farmer, and I should like to know what Mr Wason has done for the Wakanui farmers, or when has he interested himself in their affairs. I suspect that if Mr Wason were returned to the Assembly the large landowners would become the object of his peculiar care, and the cockatoo he left to shift’for himself.— I am, &c., ■ A Liberal.