MR RHODES’S SPEECH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1903, 13 June 1889, Page 4

MR RHODES’S SPEECH.

TO THE EDITOE. Sib, Will you allow me to make a few remarks on your leader of the 4th inst. After showing up any shortcomings of Mr Rhodes, you stated that we working men in the district displayed no interest in being settled on the land, and allowed Mr Rhodes to come and go witting asking him a question, and cheered him with a unanimous vote of confidence. Here you are mistaken. When Mr Rhodes visited the Arowhenua Village Settlement several questions were asked by the working men—the Land and Town Board District Acts, and several others. They also went to hear Mr Rhodes’s speech, and showed by tbeir behaviour that they could listen to both sides of a question, and give their approval where is was due (like Mr Rhodes did to the Temuka Leadeu). Mr Rhodes is inexperienced in politics, but I prefer him to some of those grey-headed sinners who say (so it is reported in Hansard) that the working men were spoon-fed settlers and paupers. What a stigma to place on the backs of honest men and woman. The Hoh. J. Ballance, who deseryes our thanks, was the only gentleman who took it up in a good way for the settlers. Let us suspend our judgment till the next sitting. Then the electors can put Mr Rhodes into the balance, and see if he weighs !6oz to the lb. It may leave an opening for Mr G. Edgeler to contest the district, as he told us some time ago that we must have a Liberal in next time, and many of the electors say he is the coming man. It is a great pity that some of the working men shut Mr Edgeler up se completely on his land scheme.—l am, etc., Johnny. Temuka, June 7th, 1889. [You object to be told that you are spoon-fed. Who said so? Was it the Liberal party or the Conservatives. Then, to which party does Mr Rhodes belong ? Mr Ballance was the only gentleman who has befriended you, was he? Who turned him out of office? The party of which Mr Rhodes is a member, and they will always keep him out if they can You asked questions privately you say. Did you expect us to know by inspiration that you did so? We said nothing against Mr Rhodes. We said he voted against the £IO,OOO for settling people on the land ; that his constituents approved unanimously of his action, and that therefore we must be doing what is out of harmony with the views of the people in advocating it.— The Editoe].