CORRESPONDENCE. PRECEDENCE AND POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 43, 16 March 1909, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

PRECEDENCE AND POLITICS.

To the Editor. ■Sir,—l have just read Mr. Mine's reply to mine in your issue of the Uth inst,, and, in reply, may say Mr. Mine lias made statements that are absolutely contrary to facts. In the first pla-eo as soon as Air. Hogg was tailed to 'the . Ministry the settlers of W'iiangamoinona gave him an invitation to visit the district before any of the local bodies named by Jlr. Iline mentioned the matter, and air. Jlogg subsequently accepted our invitation to a banquet in his honour, and also accepted an invitation to attend ill'. Syiue's complimentary banquet at Stratford, and 1 challenge Air. Iline to prove this is not so. Secondly, there Was no studied insult offered or intended to Mr. Iline, his supporters or electors, j We never thought for one moment Air. I Hine would have attended the banquet, considering it was a party one. Thirdly, neither myself nor friends of the Liberal Party in Whaiigamomona will accept insults from anybody (not even tiic member for the district), either privately or publicly; neither will we accept the position laid down by Mr. Him: for the Liberal Party re Ministerial visits to our district. I may tell Air. Hine now that when we can induce any Minister of the Crown to visit us in the interests of developing our back country we will do so without in any way consulting him. While endeavouring to treat Air. Hine with every courtesy due to his position, 1 would strongly advise him to ■at all times stick to facts. Sir Joseph Ward promised his friends some moat'iis ago to visit Stratford. It may be twelve months or more before he can come. However, when he docs arrive, no doubt ■Mr. Hine will take the credit of bringing him to Stratford. Time will tell. 1 inerely mention this to put it on record, so that when Sir Joseph does visit us he will be carrying out his promise given to the Liberal Party and friends some time prcviouslv.—l am, etc., JOSEPH McCLUOG AGK. Wellington, March 13, 1001).