AN M.P.'S PROMISE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 10

AN M.P.'S PROMISE.

'.!••. Sir,-TrSome months ■ back--via-; "'•■ well-known member." of/Parliament; .most;'generously offered several prizes'; to.' the' children ■■'of -the Lower-,HuttHigh < School. SecondaryvDepaffci mentj.and -.-the upper'■ .vthd primary classes.-,■ Each, class ■ was :to be given a first.-, and'second, prize;- 'Several'months ago; tho children wrote then- .compositions; and;se.nt them-in to a professor of a/certaui college;. to .be. judged.-. Naturally 'the-school children believed that honourable M.P. would keep his.'word. - Their'trust had in no way decreased when a few weeks had passed . and nothing was heard-of tkeir v essays,, but when the weeks ran into.; months their confidence in the M.P. had been greatly shaken. Surely tliis is not the way for/that worthy person/to-act if he wishes', to gain .the f Votes of the rising generation? v.-When,'- in future, anyone speaks of : that M.P.'. as being 'one worthy of being ■ member' of Parliament, th'e-young fellow-who has left the Hutt High School a 'year: or -'so'■ before' 'will':'vefy';likely-say.?'-j"What'; about the' time"-he'. offered' .Us 6chd6l children thbse'prizes; didii't he keep ■ hiV-'-prbmise well ? ,' His : promises"' seem "like be 'broken. -What! vote 1 for''him?;' -Why! how-'do we ; -know,that he ■ will keep what he' promises ttS'do/fbf' us when he'-'gets' into'-the.House?' '—I:a'ih, .etc., . '■/ '; '-:"'*;,-; "■'. ■ HUTT.' SCHOOLBOY. ', - July 12.. .".-;: 7 :.;-:.-;-.'. .""■;-.-.:■'.•'.'•■ "■, ' [Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.,- who. is, presumably, the; "well-known member of Parliar. ment"; referred, to "in the above letter; 'was ■ asked by one of bur representatives yester- ■•'■ day whether 'he''had any statement to make ■■ concerning the • matter. In reply,' Mr... Wil- • ford said that it was true that he had: offered -prizes f6r an essay competition on . the''subject -of "The HuttValley,". Jfco the senior 'scholars of the Hutt'District High School. Tho essays were' duly written and. i sentin to his office, where they now lay.. It was; Mr.Wilford's first intention to. ask ~ Professor Mackenzie; of Victoria College, to , judge the essays, but as tliat gentleman's time was .very fully, occupied, Vhe (Mr..;Wil- ,: for'd). had-.decided itb • ask; y Sir .William ; Steward, 1 /, who adjudicated for the PetOno , School competition, to dook through tho es- , says.'■•■'•''As the public Was awaro, Sir Wil- . liam'Steward had only recently returned to i New' Zealand, and the' adjudication .of .the [ ess'ays-was,therefore somewhat delayed.'; Tho i results would'be uiado known as soon; as Sir , William Steward, had an', opportunity : of . reading the..assays,].. '.',..' ;..' ~.-■.■