HONORARY TERRITORIALS AT NELSON.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 66, 14 June 1912, Page 14

HONORARY TERRITORIALS AT NELSON.

(The following letter was refused insertion in the Nelson "Colonist,'' and has been sent to us for publication.-—• Ed. "M.W.") Sir, —Possibly the press of other official duties has prevented the Town Olerk from supplying, through your columns, the information I asked for ro tlie above. It may be that be is in communication, with tho Socialist headquarters re Mr. Hartley's visit, and that in a day or two we may expect to read in your paper that the Town Clerk has received a letter from the N.Z. Socialist headquarters expressing how delighted thoy were to hear that Mr. Hartley's visit to Nelson had been such a success You see, Sir, thisis the natural outcome of municipalising the schemes of private individuals, and if it is allowed to go on, I am afraid it will lead to some very perplexing positions. Perhaps, Sir, you will allow mc to recapitulate the facts regarding the meeting in question. For several days previous to April 25 last an advertisement, 1 signed

T. A. H. Field, Mayor, appeared in both local papers inviting citizens to attend a public meeting for tlie purpose of considering and, if thought advisable, adopting Mr. Eraser's scheme! for tho creation of honorary members of tho Territorial force. Highly laudatory leading articles appeared in both local papers, and —nine citizens and two Territorial officers (theso included tho Mayor and Town Clerk) responded! Resolutions of the most presumptuous t and preposterous kind were carried, and the Town Clerk was instructed to forward same to General Godley, whose soul was moved to its very depth when he learnt that Mr. Eraser's scheme had met with such a magnificent reception in Nelson. Really, Sir, ono hardly knows whether to consider the whole affair in the nature of a burlesque or a disroputablo attempt to hoodwink the public, but, be it whichever it may, I for ono emphatically protest against the honor of the city being compromised in such a fashion.—Yours, etc., PETER THOMSON.