"A BLUFF THAT FAILED."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 14

"A BLUFF THAT FAILED."

Sir,—You are, of course, entitled to any measure of gratification which it may havo given you to publish the articl'o which appeared in this morning's Dominion undex the abovo heading. It is in keeping with the singularly parochial editorial outlook which is characteristic of your paper, and which largely detracts from the influence which its other good qualities should enable it to exert. When tho present editor of the "New Zealand Times" wroto to the Dannevirko "Evening News" denying that tho "Times" had apologised to Mr. Hunter, he did so on the strength of my recollection that no such apology had appeared. Now that the circumstances have been recalled, I find that—through your desiro to wound whero you cannot excel—l owo a public explanation to the gentleman who now occupies the editorial chair of tho "Times." It is this: Mr. Hunter represented to mo personally that an anonymous correspondent in the "Times" had misrepresented him by saying that he had been waited upon by sixteen publicans and asked to contest tho Waipawa election on behalf of tho Opposition. He seemed to think that so lamentable an allegation mould injure his candidature. Ho convinccd mo that tho statement was untrue. I thereupon cordially agreed that as tho suggestion had l>een anonymous, and as bio considered it injurious, I would do tho fair thing and express regret that tho communication had been published. Amongst persons familiar with tho canons of good taste this would naturally havo closed the incident. Why it has been resuscitated by tho Dannovirke "Evening News" (of which Mr. Hunter w.as the principal promoter, and

is a largo shareholder) at a distanco of three years nfterwards I am unable to conjecture; but, judging by tho peculiar joy the incident has afforded thoso who control The Dominion, it must have somo occult significance which I havo failed to grasp—l am, etc., PIERCE C. FREETH. Pctono, October 19. [Wo can quite understand that Mr. Frceth is somewhat sore over the predicament in which 110 has placed himself. Still, why blame anyone but Mr. Frceth?]