MR GLOVER'S REPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1941, 11 September 1888, Page 2

MR GLOVER'S REPLY.

TO THE JSDITOB. Sib,— l am glad to see that Mr Glover admits " that he m»y have been wrong " In his assertion on tbe platform that the Bill of last session for making tbe licensing eleotions triennial was brooght forward at the instance of the brewing interest It would have been more handsome to have said right out and unreservedly that he was wrong, bat Xam so far content. I am, however, not content to allow Mr Glover to persist in suggesting that I was responsible foe the lons of the Bill. He writes :— " No doubt the Bill was dropped boeause the gallant Major was not gallant enough to accept the added resolution that all men and women should exerolie the franchise." That suggestion is absolutely contrary to faot. Tbe Bill was not dropped, It was counted out, not through my ioflaenoe, but through that of the extremists on Mr Glover's side. The clauses for the extension of the franchise, moved en bloc, wore read (as one clause) a aeoond time on division an hoar or bo before the 1030 adjournment for sapper, sgalnst my advice, which was that this qaestion should be dealt with in a separate Bill, and thereupon the opponents of female franohise had commenced talking against time. On resuming at It o'clock I got all the members I could to come in, but those who had moved and supported the franchise clause, or at least the most of them deliberately stayed out while the bella were rung and the reault was a " count-out," there being found in their places some three orlessthan a quorum of tue House. It is vain for Mr Glover to attempt to maintain that his party were willing to accept triennial elections if the extended franohise were gained, Inasmuch aa they deliberately killed the Bill themselves, and one of their number (Me Hobbs) boasted at a public meeting in Wellington that they had done bo. The faot Ib, Mr Glover in his speeoh at Ashbnrton busied himself in putting the saddle on the wrong horse. I am, eto , W. J, Steward.