PLAYING THE GAME.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1920, Page 2

PLAYING THE GAME.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Permit mo to offer some observations upon your statements regarding the treatment .meted out to Air. J. B. Hine at Stratford and Inglewood. If you knew the facts' you would not havo taken the line you have. I was an eye-witness of the happenings in Inglewood, and I say, without fear of contradiction. that the candidate deserved all ho got, and more. The candidate was himself, the transgressor, and it was not surprising. that the mob afterwards gave him a rough. 1 time. They naturadly felt Indignant with him over tlio petition, than which a more frivolous and Ineffectual' 0110 has never been before the courts. Did he play the game over it? Not he. He brought several severe charges against Mr. Masters, but all were thrown out. The one thing upheld never influenced the result of the election one bit, as tlio late election proved up to the hilt. Did Mr. Hine play the gaune over the celebrated charges he brought against the Liberal Ministry when he first entered Parliament? He was bowled out badly then, too; but he never played the game by apologising for his proved mistakes and rashness. He has reaped what ho has sown, • His constituents have at last taken his measure, and, thank goodness, he has by his behaviour during the recent by-election lost whatever chance he ever had of getting back to Parliament by the vote of the Stratford constituency.—l am etc., AN INGLEWOOD' ELECTOR.

[There can be no justification for the disgraceful way In which a section of the electors behaved to Mr. Hine, who had a right to be given a fair hearing, all the more so because he was beaten at the polls. Even if our correspondent's contention is correct—anil we are in no position to test wrongs do not make a right. Wo have no feeling In the matter. It is the principle that, concerns us. We stand for fair play, and because In our opinion it was outraged on the occasion in question wo protested, and will continue to protest. Lot us add that -we In no way associate Mr. Masters with the display of intolerance and passion; on the contrary he seems to have done his best in both towns to curb It and secure a. fair bearing for his adversary.—Ed..]