MR STOUT REPLIES.

Evening Star, Issue 3785, 12 April 1875, Page 2

MR STOUT REPLIES.

To the Editor.

u Sl^T r tt ? l ■® me what surprised that ybu fi hpuld have in yotir, article- in to-night’s Star attributed to me the utterance of a sentence I never spoke. In looking over the ‘ Guardian's ’ report, ! find that the reporter is not to blame. This will appear if I place the ‘ Guardian’s ’ report and your quotation from it side by side: Leader. ‘GoahdianV Report. Who but Mr Stout 11 He said the ory of ever supposes, for in- centralisation might stance, that, as reported be necessary if those m the Guardian,’ if who raised it were, to thefunctionsatpresent advocate that the discharged by tne Pro- functions at present vincial Government discharged by the Pro - should cease, gaols, vincial Government schools, and benevolent should cease, and that institutions ’ would be gaols, schools, and kept up nb longer?” ‘ benevolent institu-

tions should not be kept up any longer. If these functions were to be continued, they should consider the question in its economical aspect. The functions discharged by the Council and Provincial Government would require to be performed by some other authority.” I cannot believe that, to support the abolitionists, you misrepresented what I said, i I therefore imagine that, before attempting to criticise my remarks you wisely resolved not to road them. As the foundation of your comments is gone, your leader needs no reply from me. I might ask you if you seriously believe in the last sentence of your article ; howl administration has the advantage of knowing what is wanted, bat independent! administration alone can do justice irrespective of individual interests.” What of the btninty system ? And 'why not have “ administration.” independent of the Colony—say by a Council appointed by the Home Government ? Where will your statement lead to ? I am, Ac., Robkbt Stout, Dunedin, April 10.

[Mr Stout ie surely at his f pleasant game of trying toplay upon us, and finding out our 3^< 2? 8 *. quotation from the * Guardian * is sufficiently Indicated in our leader by commas; the remainder of what he finds faulttwith is the necessary inference, or his Utterances convey no meaning to our minds. With regard to Mr Stouts question, what we have written, we have written.— Ed. E. S.]