CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1194, 6 November 1882, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

e do not hold oursdvas responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents].

TO THE EDITOR. SIr 3 —l am one of the ratepayers of the Borough of Gisborne who do not intend to record my vote in the Mayoralty election in favor of Mr Lewis, not that there is a radical difference so far as general fitness is concerned between him and his rival, Mr E. K. Brown, whose candidature I intend to support; but I prefer E. K. as I have known him longer, and like him better, than Henry. But, sir, what I really do like is the plain straightforward manner in which you announced your determination in Friday night’s issue to support the candidate upon whom your choice fell, not that I think myself there is a great deal to choose between the two gentlemen in the field. There has been too much milk and water journalism in the past in these matters. A knowing “ cuss ” one time connected with the local press, explained to me why in local municipal matters the press did not care to take a decided stand, because he said they were afraid of ofiending the friends of one side or the other. You Sir have the courage of your opinions, and takp my word for it that so long as the Standard maintains the fearless and independent course that has hitherto characterized its movements, it will never fail to maintain the position it is in, as the first and oldest paper in the district, rightly entitled to remain the leading journal on the East Coast.—l am &c., An E. K. Brownite. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr James Browne’s letter in Saturday’s “Herald,” animadverting on the coming election, and endeavoring to make it appear that one of the present candidates for the Mayoralty is a protegt of the publicans of Gisborne, is simply nothing more nor less than a deliberate insult to all those burgesses who may deem it worth their while to spare half an hour and record their votes at the coming poll time. According to his shewing the hotelkeepers en masse have said that they were able, not only to influence but actually secure, the return of anyone they deem best fitted. What rot ! Does nnt Mr James Browne well know—and none better—that Mr this or that, having perhaps patiently listened to the pleadings of the most earnest and gracious canvasser, and probably acquiescing in his urgent arguments, will, at the last moment, with the voting paper in his hand and shielded by the privacy of the ballot-box, follow exactly the bent of his own inclination, and leave the name he likes and loves best uncancelled. To say anything else simply means that the electors of the Borough of Gisborne are unfitted to exercise the privilege of voting at all; that they are altogether unfitted to be trusted with their own interests, and an insult to their understanding. Again, how does he make it appear that either of the candidates is epecially a protege of the publican, and even if either are, where is the wrong doing in that ? Both requisitions are numerously signed, and though in one of them appears the names of two or three hotelkeepers there are names of other tradesmen represented quite as strong, and did not this very insignificant fact altogether occur through this requisition, so signed, being the first in the field, and with the possibility of none other to contest it. I have most distinctly said that I am, up to the present, not in the least interested ; in fact, do not care a fig which goes in, both being good men. Then again, if the hotelkeepers, as a body, have banded themselves together to secure the return of either—(a statement which, by the way, I most emphatically deny)—what harm are they doing? They certainly, from their avocation, are the most constantly in communion with the voting public, and gathering, as they well may, from the generally expressed opinions of our Pedlingtonians, the probable bent of the publie inclination as favoring either of the candidates, have sensibly decided to act in accordance with those views. Now this is the reasoning, and I submit the most courteous to the voting ratepayers, and not that the publicans or any other body would or could lead them. If that letter was intended as a shot against one of the candidates, I can tell Mr J. B. it will fall wide of its mark, and for this reason—the Gisborne public are quite able to judge for themselves, and want no leading in either direction, and will promptly resent any unmanly interference that may be exhibited against either of the candidates. No, sir ! The polling-booth—the voting-paper, and the result of their own matured consideration will, I should say in courtesy to the public, be the only means adopted to decide this present election. By the way, in the very requisition containing the names of the much magligned publican’s Mr James Browne’s own signature. How is this thus ?—I am, &c., Daniel Page.