THE ELECTION. BOYCOTT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1318, 22 December 1911, Page 4

THE ELECTION. BOYCOTT.

IN MASTERTON. Inferring lo a matter which was thfl subject of comment, in yesterday's Dominion', the "Wairarapa Daily Times" says:— "Home fuss is being made because, ill Otnhi, ireitrtin disappointed supp.irlen of .Mr, I'itdil, the beaten Oovornniont candidate for (hat district, arc deliberately boycotting tradesmen who are known lo have voted for the Opposition or Labour candidates. Such despicable tactics as these are by no means peculiar l-i Ulaki. Feeling ran .somewhat high in connection with (he Mastcrton election, and wo have particulars of three or four'casos where local tradesmen who supported Hie candidature.of Mr, Syli« have lost (ho cu-(om of persons who were volini; I' ol ' Hogg. One man. who is a, thoroughly honest and reliable tradesman, has found (his form of persecution employed again.st: him with extraordinary bitterness We have seen similar exhibitions uf narrow, intolerant, and bigoted opinions in connection with the liquor campaign—-Hio enthusiastic advocates of one side of (he question deliberately and systematically boycotting business men who support Iho other side. Wc do net know of any instaucc of these boycotts seriously harming any business mim; but llicy certainly provide one justification for a sbleiuent not inlnqutntly inado - .namely, I hat persons incapable of exercising some dierce of reasonableness in connection with big public 'questions should bo excluded from the privileges of the franchise."