MR. FITZHERBERT’S CRITICISMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 226, 8 January 1876, Page 11

MR. FITZHERBERT’S CRITICISMS.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, — I would have thought that the whipping and spurring of Mr. Fitzherbert’s town and country friends on his behalf, and the consequent victory he obtained at the Hutt election, would have put him into as much of good humor as he is capable of exhibiting, I was therefore surprised to see by the Times of this morning that, at the declaration of the poll, lie had not only indulged in one of those sneers against me, which probably he cannot help, but that he “tried on ” certain insinuations of a character more easily dealt with. The sneer, of course, answers itself : the insinuations seem to demand a word of explanation. I never said that public services should not be paid. I hold that they ought to be well paid. But I did express the opinion that Mr. Fitzherbert is greatly over-rated and over-paid for the work he has done and does for the country, and I most likely added that it was indecent to quarter his sons and son-in-law—-his ox and his ass, and all that is his—upon the public funds. And because Mr. Buckley happened to be present at the meetings I addressed, I referred specially to his appointment as Provincial Solicitor, at a salary double that of his predecessor, as a scandal. Of course, it is very trying to the sensitive feelings of a gentleman like Mr. Fitzherbert, who is continually indulging in the bitterest personalities against everyone who crosses his path, to say these things, but I adhere to them, notwithstanding the notable fact that I printed the Hutt electoral roll, and got paid the magnificent sum of £8 for ding so. The individual who can see any analogy between the payment given for a definite piece of work, and the salary and pension fund for work that is entirely indefinite, has a keener perception of analogies than ordinary mortals. The fact is that I printed the llutt electoral roll on the same terms as the Times Com; pany printed the roll for the City of Wellington, and Messrs. Blundel printed the one for the Wellington Country Districts—terms, I am sorry to say, that did not exceed “carpenters’ wages.” I mean the wages of

useful, not ornamental carpenters. Mr. Fitzherbert indicates that he will move for a return of the printing executed by me. There is nothing I should like better. I have a very great respect for the members of the present General Government, but in the matter of payment for printing and advertising they are (so far as-my experience goes) the most inveterate chcoscparers I ever came across. If they would only take an example from the way the Provincial Government of Wellington pay its newspapers, something might be said for them. But then Mr. Fitzherbert is so great as not to be amenable to ordinary rules, and other people arc so small that they must conform to the proprieties. I am, &c., William Hutchison. January 0, IS7C.