MR. ATMORE'S POSITION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 3

MR. ATMORE'S POSITION.

Sir,—Tn common w.ith many peopie about Nelson in particular, and Now Zealand in general, T have boon casting nbout for one sound and valid reason which wnnld have allowed Mr. IT. Atnioro to cast his vote as he did in the recent division of the. House. I can not find one. Recalling his election speeches, wherein he insinuated, and by many allusions intimated, tlmt if returned his efforts would be all towards ending the Continuous Ministry and towards Parliamentary reform, and also recalling the fact that, in con«er(ucncn, the Opposition snirit in the Nelson electorate placed Mr. Atmore at the head of the poll, I can come to no other conclusion than that Nelson' electors have been badly sold. My sympathies as a fair-minded man are, nf course, noiv with Mr. Moffatt. I did not, and do not, agree with his politics, but he was at least outspoken and honest. Moreover, wore there another election next woclc, and had \elson- electors only Mr. Atmore and Mr. Moffntt to' choose between, then I am positive that Mr. Atmove would bo a bad second. Although he did not say so directly and straightforwardly, yet Mr. Atmorj most certainly allowed and led hi? supporters to infer, that lie was out ngainst the Ward or any similar Administration, and against the Government of this country by a clique for a clique. He gave colour to snch an inference on almost every occasion on which he spoko. We can now sec clearly that of the two Mr. Moffatt was by far the more open candidate. He fought under true colours, openly and fairly. In my opinion ■Mr. Atmare's political career will be <i

short one, and although \ did my 'JC-.-t ! to aid and support his candidature, I now believe that it should b; brief. The country has demanded reform, it is determined to have, clean and open polities—to end the many evils winch like, cancerous growths have become incorporate in it and are sucking its life and strength away, ami the. country hns demanded a strict and keen scorch into Iho doings of the past few years. Our people huve demanded that thn surgeons knit'o be applied unflinchingly, and Xelsnn, sharing the determination of the Dominion generally, s?nt Mr. Ahnnri, to Wellington to assist, in the operation. Fortuitous circumstance fastened upon the obscure -Mr. Atmnre tho task of chief surgeon—in his hands for the moment, and at. his disposal, lay this country's recovery and eventual wellbcing—a magnificent and heroic opportunity. Mr. Atniorc, (o pursue the analogy, fiinkl'd his task and became n convert to faithhcaiing. lie \vw overcome by "the party," and was led like a lamb to his political extinction. Sir. v,-B want plain dealing. Tf evor plain and open dealing and strict honesty and honour in public life were needed in this country, it is wanted to-day. Selfseekers and rail-sitters, opportunists and time-servers of grandiose speech and subservient action, these have had a long innings in New Zealand, lint our people are awaking at last. To use .\fr. Atmore's simile in the Ilouso (adapted to meet this occasion), the car of reform and of progress will roll on, and if Mr. Atmore j gets in tho way, he's going to get hurt. The stern realities oj' increase in taxation and high and higher cost of living and of production, of our huge and growing private and public debt, of thn already enormous and increasing cost of Administration—these have forced u* to wake up, and to demand men, solid, honest, fearless men, men of deeds and not necessarily of words—men to clean up the mess of the ".Spoils to Victors" party, and to try to straighten up our public affairs—just and impartial men, perhaps incidentally to mete out punishment if such bo due. Many of us were led to believe by him that Mr. Atmore might be one such, and ho was given a trial, ho has proved wanting. I notice with some amusement that Mr. Atmoro has a humorous streak in his make-up. On betraying a trust by voting for continuance of the evils which , he had so loudly and roundly condemned to us, Mr. Atmoro wired post-haste of tho many gifts which were coming to soften Nelson's deep resentment and disgust. Maitai reserves, harbour improvements, West Coast railway, etc., etc.. and all as the result of Mr! Atrnore's liberal and independent action in voting for a continuance of tho boom, borrow, and bust policy, of secret trials and payments to judges, of spoils to the victors, of increasing enslavement of the Civil Servants, of lavish promises and non-fulfil-ment, of thn personal aggrandisement of the members of a small clique at the country's cost, of autocratic rule; iu short, of everything almost which an Independent Liberal should fight to end. Even if they took Mr. Atmore's telegram seriously, I have sufficient faith in the right and proper feeling of the Nelson electors to believe that this will merely excite a creator hostility to that man, who, holding his trust so cheaply, so lightly measures the mind and temper of his constituents. Of what value anyway ore such promises when made. Firstly, by a Ward Administration; secondly, conveyed to us by Mr. Harry Atmore; and thirdly, by a defeated and discredited Ministry, pledged to retire from, office? Even were Nelson electors disposed to accept these as the price of their liberty, they would surely need something more definitely assuring the fulfilment than has so far been given. But as T said, Mr. Atmore is a humorist, the Government possesses several such—Mr. Isitt is another, Mr. Payne another, and strangely they are all Independents. 1 am not alone in believing that Government is fighting desperately for time to cover its tracks. Their attitude and actions in the recent short session all point to that and only that conclusion. And they had loyal assistance from Mr. Atmore. Truly, he has a lot to answer for. If Mr. Atmore did his lilain duly he would face the electors again prompf-ly.-l am. etc.. • LET.THE TRUTH PREVAIL. Nelson, March !).

liocal Option. Prohibition.

8 ' feS *■= ■ *•= c °c S *S d Jβ US »< S i P :* - li :~ p uB '= 3 8 £5 :■§ 3 8 „. . §? £o £o Is £2 £=? k2 District. 19C8. 1911. 1908. 1911. 1908.. 1911. 1908. 1911 Ashbiirton 5,721 5.SE4 3.085 3.175 53.9 53.0 82.9 33.1 2.9S6 51.7 81.6 Auckland 18.650 ZI.RM 8,255 11.409 14.2 53.1 72.4 76.7 10 297 47 7 75 6 Awarua 4.652 5,221 n 2,224 2.5B8 ,47.8 49.6 80.0 84.0 2*167 42'3 82i Avon .. 6,504 7.577 2,964 3.841 45.6 50.7 78.8 85.3 3,268 45.4 85.4 Bay of Islands... 4.0E8 5,K6 2,113 2.433 52.4 48.2 74.3 77.5 2 074 44.1 77 3 Bay ol Plenty ... 5.190 5,690 2,921 3.0S8 £5.3 53.9. 76.4 72.7 2 353 41.9 71.7 B™, : = 4.850 5,K0 1.872 2,331 38.5 42.8 81.0 83.8 2.'-'21 44.1 82.8 Bnllor 5,442 6.026 2.423 2.854 44.6 47.0 62.3 81.3 3Z55 38 9 79.7 Calipers 6,1M 6.2C0 2.155 2,743 42.2 ■ 44.2 79.0 £4.1 2.'345 38.4 82.9 Ciiristcnurch ... 19.945 23 145 9,804 12.073 49.1 52.2 77.4 83.4 10,068 46.5 82.6 Cltttlia J.fA 4,790 981 2.057 34.8 «.2 55.5 76.8 2.019 42 4 7S.0 Dunci in 20.458 24.116 B.772 11,750 45.0 48.7 76.2 83.4 10.170 42.7 813 nunedm South-... 7,333 7,642 3,250 3,869 44.4 <9.8 82.9 £6.3 3 314 4.18 85.1 £den 6,306 6.523 2,249 2.(112 35.6 40.6 77.1 60.0 z!071 321 79.2 gt'nont "5.652 5.469 1,958 2,510 43.3 45.9 81.1 62.1 1,937 35.5 81.7 Hlcsmoro 4.599 5.191 2 383 2,730 51.8 52.6 71.2 79.2 2.4E0 46.8 77.4 franklin 4,Ja8 5,506 1,868 2.459 43.1 44.7 76.6 78.5 3.316 43.0 77.5 f.isborn.T 7.0C7 6.C83 3.2J3 3,422 41.5 51.2 83.1 73 8 2 8J0 43.2 721 Orey 5,5:3 6.033 3.117 3,546 56.3 58.2 77.6 79.9 2 £01 46.4 79.2 Grey Lynn 7.126 6.799 2.3.10 2.031 T8.8 29.9 75.3 79.2 1.97a 29.4 79.7 Hawke s Bay 5.a« 6,612 3.055 3.738 55.1 56.5 7G.6 75.0 2.908 44.1 74 3 Jlyrumu 4.139 4.8al 2.375 2,950 57.4 60.6 72.1 76.9 2 506 53.2 74.8 Butt 6.009 6.762 2.390 3.616 39.8 53.5 77.2 62.0 3.014 45 8 80.9 Inverrargill 5,401 7,252 2.394 3.344 44.0 45.9 77.1 62 6 3 220 «.6 82.8 ™l-W 5-jf? " 4 7 M0" 2.821 44.6 ISA 83.6 E4.5 2,512 43.6 83.2 Miipara 4,611 J.922 2.224 2,304 48.2 '6.8 79 5 781 1.995 41.1 77.0 liVttcKon 6,339 6.177 3,f65 3.216 J8.3 52.1 81.2 82.0 2.661 47.4 80.8 Maiialtau 5,653 6,937 2,2 r .9 3,038 D9.9 43.7 81.7 77.7 2.845 41.9 76.7 llarsrtcn 4/30 0.6I6 1.891 2.4CO < : 2.7 43 8 74 2 79 5 2 158 38.9 79.2 JJasierton 5.358 5.919 21.11 3.C44 39.1 51.4 76.6 81.2 2,764 47.4 79.9 Malaura 4.557 5.230 2.CI3 2,403 '.'..2 45.9 78.6 73.9 2.320 44.5, E6.4 Jo ,, . , ™ vuli 4.1A 1,778 2.457 50.2 57.8 67.3 71.8 2.104 50.8 70.0 •J 1, ," 11 ' 1 - 6.M3 3,4t2 3,735 52.8 55.8 75.9 79.5 3.013 45.5 78.9 poison 5.C93 5.841. 2,772 3.039 48.6 53.1 71.8 78 6 2.776 49.3 76.0 Oamant 6.185 1,946 2.850 40.6 46.7 73.9 E6.0 2.760 451 86.0 Oliincmuri m60 6.0il 2.C35 3.073 46.4 50.9 77 4 813 2 63? ■Hβ flO.i OrDna 4.7S2 5.215 2,361 2.541 49.7 43.7 7.55 7.41 2.W3 3.95 7..T5 Ola','1 Central — 5,583 — 2 358 - 51' ~ ail "453 44 7 79 0 O^ , ;', • 3.™ 5.r.99 1.811 ?,652 49.9 £2.0 '70.0 2.197 43.9 77.1 I'aiiatna 4.0?.) 5.114 1,79a 2,542 44.0 49.7 74.4 80.9 2.C76 41.2 79.8 1 nlnii-rston 5,351 6.592 2.622 3,479 52.4 52.8 74.1 02.9 2.843 ''5.4 82.6 laniell 5.3i-8 V.998 2,662 3.941 <2.2 47.5 75.1 79.9 3.701 47.1 78.5 I'niPil 1,9W ;i,917 2,328 2.754 47.0 46 5 ,79 3 791 ' 2 2C-9 37.5 78.4 l!n»'lan., : - 5.257 - 2.192 - 41.5 - 80.0 1.918 37.0 73.9 Kansitikci (W 5,235 2.442 2.819 57.6 53 8 (6 4 75 0 ? 324 44.9 74.2 Kiccartnn 5,787 6,649 2.884 3.509 49.8 62.0 78.1 82.1 3.r61 '-'..B 80.9 Sclwyn 4 515 5.H5 2.474 2.859 SJ.8 H.8 E0 8 Bt.G 2.540 50.4 80.3 Stratford J.5o7 5,40j 2.K9 2.578 47.4 47.7 76.5 810 2.1H 39.2 82.3 Taraiiaki 5.?,% 6.010 2,354 2.819 «5.2 .174 793 83 9 ?'.47 39 2 8S.6 Taiimartlliui ...... «.'63 5.219 2.542 2.972 57.0 56.9 U.B 7S.3 ?.,596 '9.7 76.7 Tnlirnilga 5,200 o.573 2.M0 2.769 45.0 49.8 £,ll 77.1 2.302 41.8 75.1 'I'cmiilt.i 4.775 5.2.51 2,093 2,615 '3.8 51.3 79.3 80.7 ?.?.5I 4,i.9 78.6 Th'imcs 4,454 5.4E4 2.G77 2.767 if.i 60 5 EC 8 814 "353 «.4 60.3 'I'iKiarii 6/17 7.157 2.952 5.102 47.6 47.5 80.6 B5.3 2.8S7 '.3.9 m.fl Wniltatn 6,0.38 6.510 2.877 2.7 ! 9 rt7.fi 45.1 62 0 8,5.? 38.5 62.7 Waimarino 4.C61 5.575 2.:f 1 8 3.510 47.-1 63 1 74 8 6B 8 ? 777 S) 1 67 4 Waipawa 4.911 6.110 2.157 3.0'3 C4.5 .'9 8 788 (i)'t ?'?! «.O 78.3 Wairiirapa -''.061 6.852 2."E2 3.3"'i '5.1 K.O 77 5 8i 4 ?.90T 50.9 83 4 U":iir:in 5.«01 6,105 2.682 3.4S0 49.6 57.0 62.1) 86.3 3.127 £0.6 79.4 Woilnld 4,905 5,275 2.176 3.6',9 «.4 60 4 £0 2 8 r -! 2?'l 44.5 E4.1 W-iitcnnta 5.8W 7.122 2.471 3.2C6 42.3 45.9 75 6 F.OS 9 9:0 «.". 79 7 ■tt'r.katipu 4,095 5.085 2.313 5.0-fl 56.5 60.2 73 7 U.7. 2 569 51.2 83.1 Wallace 4.725 4.933 2.375 2,650 50.3 53.7 El 5 817 2)63 41.7 8C.Z V/anipmii 6.479 7.199 2.927 3.574 45.2 '9.6 76 2 812 2.9M 46.2 (-0 6 ■Wellington 18.051 22.676 7.979 12.545 44.2 55 3 66 5 716 11066 49.7 70.9 Willing ton South 6,495 7.014 2,24! 3,055 34.5 43.3 782 77.4 7.774 31.". 76.8 Vellinstnn Suburbs 6.782 5.853 ?,'<8 r,518 36.1 43.5 78 7 78 8 2.'60 »2.2 78.5 IVestland 5.163 6.357 3,206 6,065 62.1 63.8 831 £8.! 5,156 5!.2 86.5 Taieri A Tunpeka 8,786 - 0,814 — 43.4 - 76.9 Total: 40?,6ll 171,681 185,110 237,025 vT~lsifi(l «.2 76^9