The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 20, 1905. THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1435, 20 April 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 20, 1905. THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

In our yesterday’s issue wo published a letter from Mr Lissant Clayton takiDg exception to our reference to Mr Herries’ action in seeking to instruct the electors of this distriot in their duties at the next elec, tion. Whilst Mr Clayton is entitled to his own opinions on public questions, and no doubt in anticipation of the forthcoming election is keenly anxious to place his viewß before the public, there can be no justification for his. reasoning from false premises or drawing wrong conclusions. Our correspondent assumes that we felt chagrin at not having interviewed Mr Herries, but we had not the least desire to draw out that gentleman, first becauso we considered he had nothing of public interest to say, and secondly, if he had any thing of a political nature to impart, the occasion in question afforded neither the timo nor place for doing so. It is, however, not to bo expected that Mr Clayton will appreciate our delioacy in this matter. To us it is somewhat extraordinary that he sbould enter the lists as champion or apologist for Mr Herries, who should at all times bo able to speak for himself. We j

have no desire to attribute to our oorres- . pondent unworthy motives, but the bias in his remarks is so evident as to force us to the conclusion that they are not entirely disinterested j ■ that he is rather seeking personal aggrandisement than the common good, The presence in the district of three Ministers of the Crown seems to have caused him soma trepidation. \ But let us allay his fears on this score. We are in a position to say that it was only after earnest solicitation on the part of the Bailway Beague and others, and after the opening ceremony of the Gisborne-Karaka railway had been twice postponed, that it was possible for the gentlemen referred to, at no little inconvenience to themselves, to be present. Therefore, it comes with very bad grace that Mr Clayton, 'who evidently has not troubled to ascertain the facta for himself, should sirike this discordant note when all fair-minded Bettlere of Poverty Bay appreciate and are sensible of the honor done the district by the visit at one time of so many Ministers of the Crown. Fault is found by our correspondent with the figures quoted by Mr Roll-Jones, but we are not shown where they are wrong. We presume the Minister was quoting from Government statistics, and if he has blundered will no doubt be extremely glad for Mr Clayton to put him straight. The conI eluding portion of our correspondent’s letter was somewhat amusing, but it hardly calls for comment from us. That tb.e prosperity of New Zealand is in a large measure due to the capable administration of affairs by tbp present Government no one will deny, end we do not think the people of the colony are parfcicur la? Iy anxious for the change so ardently looked for by Mr Clayton and the party he represents.