THE TAUMARUNUI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 4 December 1914, Page 6

THE TAUMARUNUI SEAT.

To the Editor, Sir, —Judging by the want of knowledge shown by your correspondent, 11. lLarsen, in regard to the increase in public debt during the Massey regime, it is quite evident, according to his own statement, that he knows much less than the first standard boy lie refers to. This is not Vo be wondered at, for living in t "Woodlands," and listening only to the ' pleasantries poured into the susceptible ear, lie unfortunately has not the opportunities of hearing the exact position of matters financial, so repeats, parrot-like, any old platitude that many mistake for statements. However, on the subject of public debt, I can safely leave the subject in your able hands to quote from the Massey Year Book, which, although published under the authority of the Prime Minister, tells an entirely different tale to that of Mr Massey and his' candidates on tour. But 'twas ever thus with the Tories. In regard to his other statements, that "an excited and wild gesticulating individual, hurling epithets at the speaker," this is just on a par 'with the wild statement of finance, and as far wide of the mark, for all that occurred was that the individual referred to took exception to what he believed to be a misstatement of fact and naturally said so, without the heat shown by the candidate, and entirely devoid of bombastic reference to the wager of £SO that Mr Wilson wanted to make, or without any personal reference to the candidate, which cannot toe said of the speaker. The largo number present, who were apparently in sympathy with the intcrjeetor, judging by their applause, will 110 doubt fcel very highly honored as being referred to as "boys," more especially the ladies who were not in accord with the speaker and those farmers and workers wjio intend on the 10th to cast their vote in favor of Mr Jennings. "Boys" who have families old enough to vote cannot but be tickled by Mr iLarsen's reference to their being juveniles. Reform i." ' - a very bad way at Uriti. The wi ones know it. They are not •blarii ■ :t such inaccuracies as are indulge.. ' t by Mr Larsen. So, far as cheers for Mr Ma"sey are .concerned, it is of course possible that the dozen who remained in the hall for some considerable time after the meeting might have indulged in them, but they must have been'given silently, for no one outside could hear them, and quite a number were out on the road after the meeting dispersed, among tlieni being two political Reformers discussing the political position i with their opponents in a reasonable manner. It would be interesting if Mr Larsen conveyed to your readers the instructions he receivrcd from the candidate per medium of the chairman in regard to the resolution proposed by him. If there was such a majority present in the hall for Mr Wiison, why was not the opportunity taken by the candidate to have a confionce motion moved, as he is doing where ho is safe? Apparently he gauged the meeting and knew what would happen if the attempt was made.—l am, etc., THE CORRESPONDENT.