THE WAKATIP ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 2834, 19 March 1872, Page 2

THE WAKATIP ELECTION.

To the Editor. Sir, —Mnce my return to town my attention has been directed to a Queenstown telegram which appeared in your issue of the 14th instant, containing the statement: “He (Mr Macassey) attributed his defeat t taking his friends’ advice and to local influences. it will, no doubt, surprise you to hear that neither in public or private have I ascribed my recent defeat to either of the causes which your telegraphic correspondent has inventively assigned. On the occasion of the declaration of the poll at Queenstown, on Wednesday last, I purposely abstained from making any allusion to what I believed to be the cause of my defeat. In my owu judgment my defeat is to be accounted for by neither of the reasons alleged. My attention has also been directed to a paragraph in your issue of this evening, wherein, upon the authority of the Wakatip Mail, it is stated “that the successful candidate gave in a general adhesion to the present policy” of the Cabinet. You will perhaps be equally surprised to hear that in the issue of the same journal of the 6th instant, “ the successful candidate is thus reported to have expressed himself : —“ While claiming essentially to be a man of progress, and anxious to see our resources developed, and the Colony prosperous, he looked upon the scheme with some anxiety, which feeling was increased by the knowledge that it was shared by all who intended to make New Zealand their home. They should have hesitated before initiating so daring a scheme on so bold a scale—a policy which might involve the Colony in great difficulties unless circumstances were favorable. Of course, they were all aware that the country was committed to the scheme ; but they must look the fact straight in the face that its objects must be carried out without any profuse—or what was worse — a corrupt expenditure of public moneyotherwise our taxation would become unbearable. Whether the Colonial scheme had originated with Mr Vogel or Mr Stafford it was evidently the work of a man of talent ; but greater talent, honesty, and integrity, were required to carry it out successfully. Now, more than ever, the country needed men of honesty and ability, and under good management all might come rh'ht. If a stand were made against adventurers and place-hunte s, and government was economically administered, they might look the future in the face,” 'ibis extract, when compared with the paragraph taken from your contemporary’s columns, will enable your readers to judge of the real value of the information upon which your recent “ leader ” was based. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, Jas. Mavassev. March 18, 1872.