MR MONTGOMERY ON PLURAL VOTING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1945, 19 May 1880, Page 3

MR MONTGOMERY ON PLURAL VOTING.

TO THE EDITOB OP THE THESE. Sib, —I was at the Oddfellows meeting this evening, and was much amused at the goodnatured way in which the audience received Sir George Grey and his worn-out platitudes. But, Sir, one thing did more than astonish me. When Mr Montgomery was called “ before the curtain,” how did he answer the agonising voices of the select few who belched forth his name ? Oh, William ! The people’s “ sweet William ! ” You did prevaricate indeed—or very close to it—when you indulged in such Homeric strains against the villainy of the present electoral law, which enables “ city voters to muster up together and force ths electoral voice in country districts.” What about a certain At area election, when you, William Montgomery, used your private influence with the Government of the day to have Lyttelton gazetted as a polling place, although outside of the Akaroa electoral district, so as to catch the Christchurch contingent of electors ? I, who voted for Mr Montgomery on that eventful election against his opponent, Mr Pilliet, remember the occasion well. Some forty-five of us left Christchurch by train, and recorded our votes at Lyttelton ; and, I fancy, carried the election for Mr Montgomery in consequence. Mr Montgomery must have evidently forgotten this trifling electoral peccadillo of his when ho spoke to-night on the disgraceful practice now obtaining under existing electoral laws, when “ plural voting is so much abused by the rich.” Politics, however, give a fair field to political elasticity. And no one ever accused my friend, Mr Montgomery, of being too straight-laced in politics. He knows “ when the wind blows fair.” Yours, &c., One who hithbeto Voted toe W. M.