POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 122, 14 November 1911, Page 2

POLITICAL.

THE STRATFORD SEAT. MB. McCLUGOAOE AT PEMBROKE ROAD. Mr. J. McCluggagc addressed the electors of Pembroke road on Saturday night. Mr. Rogers' was voted to the chair. Although it was av/ild night there was a fair*"a>tt'piidar.?e, including several ladies. Mr. McCluggagc received a good arid-; sympathetic hearing. He touched upon the,Hine enquiry, and asked how could the Taranaki Reform candidates explain- the false statements made on the'eve df the last general chction with reference to the dairy regulations'; They stated at different, places that the farmers'-cows were taxed and they had to keep two milk-carts, one to take the milk to the factory and one in which to bring 1 the skim-milk borne. How were these men going to reconcile these false statements with the policy of purity they were preaching now? The candidate mentioned that his experience was that wl'Kre men were continually preaching their honesty and purity to the public their actions required watching. Mr. MeCluggage eulogised the present Ministry, and, in referring to the Hon. Thoa. Mackenzie, said he was a real live Minister for Agriculture, and lud proved .it .by exposing the great Meat Trust frauds in England some years ago against tremendous opposition. Tie thup still, deserved the thanks r.nd confidencVof all the farmers of the Dominion, for whom he had saved an immense amount of money. He also mentioned that Mr. Mackenzie had spent the whole of his political life in the interests of the fanners of this country, and he (the speaker) was nnre that Mr. Mackenzie would sec the advisability of creating p. Malt- Experimental Farm in Central Tarauaki, which farms are of an exceptional • value to the farmers from an educational point of view. The candidate was asked several questions, which were answered satisfactorily, and. on the motion of Mr. Cuthbert, seconded by Mr. Thompson, a hearty vote of thanks and confidence -v. Mr. McCluggagc and confidence in the Ward fiovcrnment was carried unanimously. -Correspondent.

THE EGMONT ELECTION. To the Editor. I Sir,—As two letters purporting to lie j in answer to mine of the 4th inst. have I appeared, in the "Daily News" during the last few days, over the signatures of T. J. Smith and W. R. Wright, respectively, I would ask you to kindly allow me space to briefly reply to these two letters. First, as to Mr. Smith's letter, the writer is quite at sea when j he makes the suggestion that I am j "aggrieved" at Mr. Smith's change of political opinion. Neither Mr. Wright's nor Mr. Smith's political opinions concert me in the least, and both these gentlemen must admit that I made no reference in,my letter to any man's "opinions" (unless perhaps my own); T dealt otherwise only with "statement;!," and with enly three of these, namely, Mr. Wright's statement to ths effect that up-to-date fr.rnters would rote nolidly for Mr. Mackenzie, and the two statement.!, in the July anil October niinih-irs of the- Dairyman. Nov,-, Sir, Mr. Smith has not attempted to refute my statemint in reference to the first matter,' and in reference to the second, s.nd third he mokes the amazing asseitinn thai tiie article f quoted from the Jjly number of the Dairyman was "utterly irrevdant" lo the one from the rtii;her number which Mr. Wright quoted in his first letter. Comment would ba superfluous. Secondly, ro Mr. Smith's letter, which appeared in yonr yesterday's issue: A caref.il persual of : uy letter of the above-mentioned date will make it plain that the only point T raised that could bv any r.treteh of bnaginnlion '»> con-itmcd i"io c.xpre.i.'drif; my ''ideas about the Minister for A.nri culture's connection with dairying" ■'■' as that contained, in ::'.'■• .-tatemont '." the effect thet Mr. Mackenzie had not dona enough good to the 'vrying industry "to convert en idle, talker into a very valuable acquisition," and T would therefore -':.sk Mr. Wright to explain how the leader from the Wellington Post that you published above my letter refutes my statement in that matter. The rest of my letter was, as indicated above, confined to - itii'ising -.l.'cment.', and as Mr. Wright has not -i--lc any reference to my criticism of eny Btatenen+s whatever, T have nothing further to ?.r»'.ver. Kindly note thai I ft'.'.vo no intention of discussing cny natters with fithfr Mr. Smith or Mr. Wright exespfc in regard to the point •. T raised in my letter d".ted November 4, | and have further dealt with in tlih i lettc~-lem. etc.. C. \V. FILM) i iUhetu, November 11, 1911.