LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 66, 11 December 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MR, HORNSBY IN REPLY

'SirOf course I could not expect you to act with <neu a semblance of fairness towards me, and equally, of course, I have not been di6nppointed. You have imulo free with my name over the nonparty action ot' Hie Prime Minister, who, quite unkuo.vn to me, asked Sir Walter Buchanan to deliver a mcs?ago to tho Wairarapa Reform Party to the teffcct that, as I was standing as an Independent, the Reformers should not oppose me; but you have concealed tho facts fiorn your readers, and you have also Lidden the truth concerning the action of a number of tho rank and file of the Reformers iti the Wairarapa in connection with the incident. Now, what aw the facts? Certain perrons' whoso names ore known to me—prominent supporters of Mr. A. D. Jl'Leod, the Reform candidate—went all round the district tolling everyone who would listen that "Ilornsby's "homo was submitted by Sir Walter Buchanan to the.Reformers conference at Carterton as a Reform candidate, and. that' the proposal was turned down with a bang!" This yam was amplified'mid added to, and many people were persuaded into believing it. Mr. M'Lsod himself now gives the lie to the statement of his followers 'but yon took precious good caro not to publish what lie said) by stating that at tne conference in question Sir Waller Buchanan delivered tho message with which ho was charged by Mr. Jfnssey arfcin? tho Reformers not to oppose me. It was out of this incident (quite unknown and unauthorised by me) that grew the lying rumour which was circulated with a view, of course, to my political undoing. I am sure you ought to be very proud of people who can be guiltv of such dishonour; but do you call it "playing the game"?—l am, etc., J. T. M. TTORNSBY. Carterton, December 4, 1019. [Some people spend their liyes boring their acquaintances with particulars of their real or imaginary ailments. Mr. Honisby appears to get a similar satisfaction out of life in airing his real or imaginary grievances. It mav help him in his electioneering, but "the man with a grievance" in course of time grows tiresome, even to his friends. Let us assure liim that we kiiow nothing of any Reform meeting in Carterton beyond llis own and other candidates' statements published in the Wainrapa papers; we have suppressed nothing supplied to us relating to any such meeting. Mr. flornsby having now, at tho first time of asking, secured publicity in our columns for hi 6 version of "the facts" will perhaps cheer up—or find another grievance.]