THE EGMONT SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 10 December 1914, Page 3

THE EGMONT SEAT.

JTo the Editor. Sir, —111 your MiVleiuVr of yesterday s issue bit friends and T were surprised to see and'read the conclusions you arrived at as regards this electorate. For some time past you have been pointing out lli« serious'uiistakes made by the reactionary Government, of wbit-li Mr. 'Masscy is the head and forefront, and the natural conclusion to lie drawn from your attitude, is that the Massey Administration is detrimental to the democracy. You say in this sub-leader '•that I am a staunch champion of and always ready to light for that dcmoeracv." Yet you stab me. as it were, and practically advise your readers to support mv opponent, who, as a supporter of that reactionary Government, must of necessity, according to your own showing be an enemy of the democracy, no matter how able be is as a commercial man. We little expected this from a paper that would have its readers believe it a staunch supporter of Liberalism, and let me tell oy u this—T would 1 a thousand times rather face a known enemv than face an individual or paper that gives bis or its friends stabs and back-handed blows like you have dealt to me and the democratic forces that are working in the interests of what we believe to be the good of the

electors of Egmont, and New Zealand as a whole.—l am, etc.,

DAVID L. A. ASTBURY. Mangatoki, December 8, 1014. I (We have no apology to oiler, no reI gret to express for what we have written. We have never sacrificed, and never will sacrifice, our independence of criticism for any political party, consideration for the interests of which does, not blind us to the worth of any candidate or member. We have always regarded Mr, Wilkinson as an able and desirable member, though differing from him on many points of policy, and the type of man entitled to support, whether he sits on the side of the Government or the Opposition. Party is the curse of politics. It seems to be a necessary evil, however, as tilings are, but we arc of opinion if we had more men of Mr. Wilkinson's calibre in Parliament the business of the country would receive greater justice than it does at present, owing to the exigencies—and absurdities—of party. 'We do not doubt, and never have doubted, Mr. Astbury's ability, wliicli obviously ia considerable, and, candidly, we would like to see him in Parliament, but not at the expense of the loss of <i man who, in our humble opinion, is one of the ablest public men Taranaki hits produced for many a long year.—Ed.)