Page 1 Advertisements Column 1

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 989, 22 October 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE EAST COAST DISTRICT. Z2LENILEMEN, — Reports having been industriously circulated throughout the Electorate to the effect that I shall retire from the contest, and not go to the Poll, I wish publicly and emphatically to deny such statements,, which are purely political canards floated by my opponents to prejudge my election. In evidence of my consistency, I beg to republish; for your information, an advertisement which appeared in both local papers, in August 1879, setting forth the grounds of my retirement, as follows : — ENTLEMEN, — When I came forward as a candidate to represent your interests in the New ParliaHfent, I did so upon the understanding * that one candidate should be chosen from among those who might come into the field. lat once expressed my willingness to abide by public opinion, and to retire in favor of any eandidate to whom you might give the preference, or if your choice fell upon me, to sink all private interests, and do my utmost for the public weal. I now find that all the candidates will go to the Poll. Under these circumstances, in order to strengthen your chances of returning a local candidate, I think it my duty to make a sacrifice, and retire from the contest. I feel from the many assurances of support I have received from all parts of the Electorate, that my return to Parliament amounted to something more than a probability. In retiring from my candidature, I desire that you will accept my sincere thanks for the support ‘promised me, and I trust that when Cook County becomes a separate electorate, I shall find you favorably responding to my earnest desire to represent your interests in the General Assembly. I also beg to quote the following, frcm a Trading article in the Poverty Pay of Aug. 25th, 1879 :— “It will be seen elsewhere that Captain Porter has sacrificed his chance of being returned as a member • for the East Coast, by announcing his retirement from the contest. The motive which has actuated Captain Porter is a very honorable one. He saw that it was the intention of all the candidates to go to the poll, and that if he stood the voting would be so split up that all chance of putting a local man in would be lost. It is tolerably certain that Captain Porter would have headed the local candidates ; but still, as each of the others had their own friends and supporters, the votes would have been so divided that the Tauranga candidate would have had a much larger probability of being returned. Even now, if Mr. Woodbine Johnson and Mr. Allan McDonald fight against each other they will, by the splitting of votes, be doing their utmost in the interests of Captain Morris ; at any rate that appears to be the general opinion out of doors. However, Captain Porter has made the first sacrifice, and this should not be forgotten, if, at another time, a*id with a distinct electorate for Poverty Bay, the retiring candidate should again come forward to seek the suffrages of the electors.” From the foregoing I feel assured you will award me the credit of having then retired in the interests, and welfare of the district ; and in fulfilment of my past promise—the district having now become a separate electorate —I again stand forth seeking your suffrages, and nothing shall deter me from going to the Poll. I am Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, T. W. PORTER. Gisborne, 13th, Oct., 1881. 559 Electors of the East Coast Electoral District. ENTLEMEN, —I have to announce to you that it is my intention to offer myself for your suffrages at the ensuing General Elections. I shall take an early opportunity of aeyou with my political views. I am Gentlemen, Yours faithfully, SAMUEL LOCKE, Napier, 20th August, 1881. 402