CORRESPONDENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2052, 12 April 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

MR AV. L. REFS’ SCHEME

to tho Editor of the Gisbomo Times. Sir,— I There is a lottor in your paper of this morning signed “Ratepayer” which requests from me nniwors to certain questions put. It is a pity that ratepayers ,wlio put inch queries as those contained in Lho lottor referred to do not sign their names as a proof at any rate of their sincerity. The questions amount to this; Are not the gentlo--11011 named, those are myself, Gapt. Anchor, Mr Siovwriglit, and Mr Frederick Hall, largely interested in the timber lands referred to in my proposals to the public bodies, and are they not promoting and supporting tlieso proposals for their own benefit?

First, I would answer that neither directly nor indirectly arc the gentlemen mentioned acting with me in my proposals and this- whether collectively or individually. They are not interested in any way ill the success or failure of the propositions which I make. They have no more to do with them than His Excellency the Governor of Now Zealand. I answer secondy that neither Captain Tucker nor Mr Siovwriglit nor I have the slightest interest so far as I know in a single stick of timber in tho Taliora or Motu districts. Mr Hall docs I believe own property there, but Mr Hall is not interested with me in this matter nor have I ever consulted him about it.

Thirdly, the Company which is referred to by “Ratepayer”—the East Coast Timber and Trading Company, Ltd. —lias timber interests at the Naraka, but those bushes and the working of them have nothing whatever to do with tho proposals made by me for a tramway through Patutalii to Taliora, which is in an entirely different direction. Nor is Hie Company in any sense a party to ;r interested in my actions in the matter.

Besides myself no person in Poverty Bay is interested, either financially or politically, in these proposals. Tho sixth question is an improper and disgraceful insinuation against two members of this community occupying honorable public positions. I mean Captain Tucker and Mr Siovwriglit. The insinuation is that those gentlemen, being personally and financially interested in my proposals for the expenditure of public money, which proposed expenditure is declared to be improper, yet used •Mid are yet using their- power and influence (as members of tho bodies which were to expend this money) for their own benefit. Such an insinuation is of a vile nature, and to it no citizen would put his name. Is it of any use for me to ask “Ratepayer” to disclose his name, and come out into the open to ask such questions as be may desire to have answered? —I am, etc., AV. L. REES. April, 11th, 1907.