NORTH V. SOUTH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 286, 1 December 1914, Page 8

NORTH V. SOUTH.

[To The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir, —Mr Maxwell’s attempted reply to a Southern Monopoly is most commendable and instructive, and by carefully reading between the lines it is possible to detect a whole budget of pro-Southern .bias and dry humor. However, as 1 have no intention to credit him with all that is good, I will, therefore, proceed ivith my criticisms of his pro-southern utterances. After recapitulating a goodly portion of my letter, he proceeds and makes reference to a supposed statement made by the Premier. Whether Mr Massey made use of this remark, referred to by Mr Maxwell, or not, is of no consequence, and I am not responsible for his sayings, but I am clearly responsible for the opinions as expressed by my writings in the correspondence columns of the “Stratford Post.” In short, [ desire that the North Island shall henceforth receive a fair deal, and that consideration which is due to superior numbers, and that any further plundering of the North by the Southern minority must now cease. My exposure of the late Opposition and their methods, and my advocacy of the just claims of the North, is evidently unpalatable to Mr Maxwell. If the Premier is able to make the crafty West-coasters believe that the barren coast is a veritable fairy land, teeming with milk and honey, and that this costly railway ( which will not, for a generation, pay working expenses, and in consequence must become a financial burden on the resources of the North) can successfully compete against water carriage, then Mr Maxwell must admit that the Premier is something better than a joker. It is now an open secret that Mr Maxwell is a disciple of Sir Joseph Ward, and, in consequence, ho possesses a ftdl share of Southern bias, for judging by his remarks, he is in thorough accord with Sir Joseph and all his works, even to the construction of the Otira Tunnel, and for party reasons -he is prepared to blame the other fellow for the undertaking. Probably Mr Maxwell and his pro-Southern friends would not object to the stoppage of work on the Opuuake, and Stratford-Oka-hukara railways, and that hei and a number of his party would prefer to see the money that has been voted for this work spent in building costly railway stations, similar to thej palacial Dunedin station (which cost £140,000) at the Bluff, Hokitikaj and i [other Southern villages. There is! absolutely no limit to the greed of j n Southern elector, and no Liberal | Ministry will ever give equal justice to the North Island. ! T am surprised at Mr reference to those empty pigeon-holes,

I for he should hoar in mind that 'be J Wardist Government received their ['death .sentence in December, 1911. i and that the .Reform Government did j not assume office until ihe lollowing | July. This long interval ol seven months, consequently gave the defeated and retreating foe ample time to burn their bridges and cover up their tracks.—J am, etc., K. .). JACKSON. Stratford, Nov. JO, 191-1.