LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 384, 8 April 1902, Page 3

LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

(To the Editor of the Times.) Sir, — I was much amused to read your report of the proceedings of the Liberal Association of Poverty Bay, appearing in your issue of Saturday last. From the report, I gathered that there were about six or seven persons present, and yet they had the audacity to discuss public questions as though there were a couple of hundred present. I am surprised that you should consider it worth while to report the proceedings of such a gathering. A few of my friends are thinking of starting a club on our side of the river, and I hope that, if you have nothing better to do during the winter, you will look over some evening and give us a report, for it is hardly fair that the Liberal Association should have it all their own way. I have nothing to say against the establishment of a State bakery, for I have a large family and am anxious to get my bread at the lowest possible price. A State bakery is, to my mind, much more advantageous than a State bank, a State fire insurance company, State freezing works, or even a State coal mine. I recognise that in the near future the State must run the whole show, and we will all be much better off when that happy state of affairs is realised. Imagine yourself editor of a State paper, at a salary of .£SOO a year, aud your employees engaged at somewhere about the same salary. As Hamlet says, “It is a consummation devoutly to be wished.” Some of the “ Liberals ” present at the meeting seemed desirous of passing a vote of censure on Mr Carroll for the manner in which he had treated them, aud I think they were quite right. The Government appear to look upon the Waiapu seat as belonging to them for all time, but they must be taught to respect us, and we must not let them hold us too cheap. The Liberal Association seem to think that they run the whole show, but that is not so, for what about the free and independent electors who belong to no party, and whose votes are Bought by both sides. We voted for Mr Carroll last election because there was not a better in tbo field, but that does not say that we will support him at the next election. What we want to see is a man from the ranks of the working men come forward, and to such a one we will stand by through thick and thin. I understand that Messrs Lysnar and Matthews were mentioned as likely to contest the seat, but neither of those gentlemen will get any support from our side of the river. Mr Tom Mann is more our style, but we ha\% agreed to withhold our support until we have heard his views.—l am, etc., Young New Zealander.