CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 169, 23 December 1914, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR WILLCOX REPLIES. To the Editor, Sir, —I do not think that if Mr Looney had read my letter correctly and without bias, that in his wildest flight of hide-bound conservatism he would or could have accused me of saying that ■Mr Astbury was a superior representative to Mr Wilkinson. I stated that he had never been tried, so that he was an unknown quantity and would probably make a better member. lat oneo admit that Mr Wilkinson is a very good member, one of the best of the party lie identifies himself with, and I am hoping to see him a supporter of the Liberals soon. As far as honesty of purpoi# is coneerned, I think the Liberali ar« very much ahead of the Reformers. Consider the odium of the Black pamphlet, the pigeonholes, the fictitious surplus. I am sure that if anyone is obiture, it ii Mr Looney, when he can state «■ faeta what were stated as probabilities. A» far as the West Coast leases are eonccrned, I say that the meeting was out and dried beforehand at to who should be on the committee. I am referring j now to your correspondent, Mr T. P. j Hughson. If it were not so, how did the committee that was chosen originally act right through when a meeting was called for only 1881 leaseholders? The 1892 leaseholders were not invited. Practically the wire-pjillers only wanted our funds to fight their cause; we could then go to Hades for all the 1881 committee cared. I stated that the 1892 leaseholders found seven-eighths of the money, not as appeared by a misprint, 7» Sdj there is no comment required about taking a horse to water, as the water was not clean, as your note at the end of each letter states, and for Mr Looney's benefit, I have forgotten more about this matter than he ever knew.—" I am, etc., HAUL WILLCOX, Rahotu, December 21.