A REPLY TO "A POLITICALLYAPPOINTED J.P."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 9

A REPLY TO "A POLITICALLYAPPOINTED J.P."

Sir, —I noticed in this morning's issue of your paper a letter which cast reflections on two of Petone's most higbJyrespeeted citizens. Now, i have no doubt but that Mr. Piper lias already replied to that attack, but still X feel it is my duty to enter a word of pr<icst to such an insinuating article. Evidently your correspondent hastily jumped to conclusion without first finding out whether his remarks we.ro truo or 1 not, with tho result that ho has created a false impression, and I wish to mako a few points clear. Your correspondent states that Mr. Piper is a councillor. If ho really took such an interest in Potono affairs lie would know that Mr. Piper is not a councillor. Mr. .Piper decided not to' stand for re-election, although pressed to do 6o by various pooplo. Again it is hinted that Mr. Piper takes ail active part on behalf of tho strikers. This, too, is false. At a, recant meeting Mr. Piper made his position clear with regard to the contribution he receives. These contributions are not sent to Wellington, but aro for the. benefit of thesse in Potono who, directly or indirectly, are in need of assistance because of tho strike. Thirdly, when Mr. Piper moved that resolution referred to lie did so because ho has seen some of the distress and misery caused by this unfortunate striko and ho honestly believed that tho Government could satisfactorily end it. Now, sir, I think that Mr. Piper has and is acting from humane principles, and is not, as your correspondent states, an interested party. Now that these points have been made clear I think that if "A politically-ap-pointed J.P." is a lover of justice and a gentleman ho will immediately apologise to Mr. Piper and Mr. Short for those reflections. If ho does not I consider that lie is not entitled to tho position ho hold 3, namely, Justice of the Peace. In any case, 1 would advise him to find out the truo facts of any case that comes under liis notice before he delivers judgment,—l am, etc., HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE. Potono.