A CONTEMPTIBLE CHARGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 103, 17 September 1912, Page 4

A CONTEMPTIBLE CHARGE.

ANOTHER MARE'S NEST. Mr. T. Y. S'eddon has, as we anticipated, completely disposed of the charge brought against him by the Dominion of improperly using the Telegraph Department for electioneering purposes in the" following telegram which he hag distributed to the press:—"The insinuation, as published in Saturday's Dominion, that I sent a free service telegram to Ferguson's, Westland, last October, re railways, is utterly untrue and unfounded. 1 sent three pre-paid telegrams to constituents, including one to Mr. Ferguson. I paid the usual rates for.them. 1 have not at any time sent a service telegram, nor could I do so if I desired, as the Department would rightly refuse to receive them. It lias been quite customary for members on both sides to advise their constituencies of votes on the Public Works Estimates. The whole matter is a mean and contemptible effort to attempt to unfairly influence the Egmont election. I will not let the matter rest where it is.—Thos. Seddon." Commenting upon this, the Eltham Argus says: "The Dominion has surely touched the lowest depths of degradation now; or are there still lower depths to which it can descend: It seems very strange that the Wellington journal should wait until the eve of the Egmont election before making its so-called exposure. Mr. Seddon's prompt reply is good reading, and is an excellent counterfoil to the Dominion's contemptible action. If the idea of the Dominion was to influence the Egmont election, then it will probably find that the influence ia in an opposite direction to that anticipated. Decent-minded people will look with sheer disgust upon the action of the great Wellington daily, and lovers of fair play will turn from sueli tactic* with absolute loathing.