THE ELECTORAL PANIC.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1009, 19 August 1881, Page 2

THE ELECTORAL PANIC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Will you kindly allow mo space to reply to tho extraordinary letter which appeared in your last, signed J. Simmonds ? It is not necessary to comment on tho expressions used in that letter, as they are unbecoming one occupying Mr Simmonds’ position, whilst at tho same time they attribute malicious motives to those who take a different view of matters. It is disci u toons both on the part of tho correspondent and on yours, Mr Editor, that you have used your columns to abuse and impute lying and diabolical motives to those who differ from you on a question of this nature. Such language is u n-Parliarm ntary, and is anything but creditable, and plainly shows on whose part the id-feeling exists. The fact is that you, Mr Editor, and a few more in tho district, have been thrown into hysterics and consternation by the telegram sent to Clyde by our worthy member (“ thoPyko,” as yon facetiously call him). Tho whole affair is this : Mr Pyko telegraphs from Wellington to M r Naylor that tho Dunstan district is to he wiped out; thereupon Clyde is in consternation, and a meeting is called to protest against the Government for daring to mention such a thing. At that meeting Messrs Macgoorgo and Little take part. Mr Ren Naylor, laboring under a mountain of excitement, then telegraphs with all speed to tho Mayors of Cromwell and Alexandra, urging them to take immediate action. Tho Mayor of Alexandra brings tho matter before tho Borough Council, which considived that, if had pnylhing to say, ho ought to havo'communicatcd tl t ugh tho Mayor, and not through a private individual in Clyde. ' The Council do not think there is need for any action, as tho proposed change will not affect the district, except for the hotter, and they consider Government are in the best position to judge. They, however, agree to hold a public meeting on Augusts. Meantime, an advertisement appears in your paper, headed “ Extraordinary Meeting,” and signed by

J. Simmonds as Mayor, calling a mooting for August 6lh. Now, who instigated Me Simmamls to call that mooting? ‘ Not tha Council, not tho ratepayers or the public, not tho good souse of Mr Simmonds himself for it is well known that lie stated (both publicly and privately) that he oonsidoi eil it would bo bottor to take no action in tho mat tor at all. However, tho “extraordinary mooting ” was hold when most people worn about to retire to rest, for it was nearly 11 o’clock before it started, ami ootwoou 11 ami 12 before it was over—a most extraordinary timo to transact public business of this sort. To that meeting enmo Messrs Maogeorgo, Little (who proposed ono of tho resolutions at Clyde), and Sims. Besides those the . a were 15 others, and they wore not i.i favor of tho motions carried, though they did nob oppose them. Mr Simmonds says something about 30, but this may bo attributed to the exuberance of bis imagination, which is we'l known. If Mr Maogeorgo dropped, in quite innocently b/ accident, “bring down on business,” how comes it that ho took an active pad; in tho mooting, and why was ouo of tho resolutions amended at his suggestion? It is high timo tho A'ovsndrans bestirred themselves now that matters have come to this—that Vosidenls from another p'aeo como in and transact their public business. Thus wo find that tha Council did not instigate the meeting, nor did they give tho autho.ity for inserting such an “extraordinary ” advertisement ; nor did tho people instigate the meeting, nor oven di<l Mr Simmonds himself. Who did it then? Who but our worthy member, “tho Pyfco”? Who instigated Mr Ben Naylor* Tho “Dunslan Times,’’and Mr Macgcorgo, and Clyde gonera'ly ; and these are tho real instigators of this extraordinary meeting—not tho people of this town and district, to whom the affair is a matter of indifference; and yet our worthy Mayor has committed the whole town to the same views as those held by Messrs Macgco go, Pybo, and himsolf Tho prorcvlings°aro informal and unconstitutional, for even a Mayor cannot do as ho likes without consulting tho people who elected him to his honorable position, and especially his Connoil. In his private capacity Mr Simmonds may lake his lino from Mr Nay'or, or Mr Macgcorge, or Mr Pyko ; but the people of this township are not bound by them, and they can manage their own affn s without Clyde iutcr'orenco. Perhaps Mr Simmonds thought ho was acting for tho best. Let us give him that credit, for I will not attribute to him such diabolical motives as ho docs to others; but it is to bo hoped that ho wi'l remember that his fellow-toivcsme.i have honored him as chief magistrate to defend their rights, and to advance the township, not to surrender it to the influence of those who iu years past have done all they conid against us, and would do so now if they'had the power.—l am, etc , JOHN MACKERSY. i Alexandra, August 17.