WAIRARAPA NORTH COUNTY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1524, 1 November 1883, Page 2

WAIRARAPA NORTH COUNTY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Iu your article of the 26th, you say that the whole of the delegates are chosen from members engaged in pastoral and farming pursuits, and you speak of the county settlers' excluding the town from the council. A delegacy which comprises Mr Lowes, one of the chief men of business in the town, and probable Mayor elect, Mr William Beetham,a town resident taking an active part in all matters affecting the good of the town, Mr McGregor, a large trader and former Mayor of Masterton, and Mr Chamberlain, also a large and enterprising trader, can hardly bo said to exclude town mem. bers. The voting papers will be at the disposal of the delegates if they desire to verify the election, and will, I think, be found completely to refute your suggestion that county settlers did not vote for town members; that is, members engaged solely in trade and professional pursuits in Masterton. I trust that the people of Masterton will not cat of tins little apple of discord which you offer them, and will believe that the delegates no less than the vice-presidents and myself hold themselves to represent all without distinction, and know that none is sent separately to represent a trading in-,

terest, nor a manufacturing interest, iiov a labor interest, nor a largo farm interest, nor a small farm interest, nor • an Opaki interest, nor a Taueru interest, but the interests of all these put together—the interest of the community at large, and not of the individual, It is because your article afleets this vital principal of the association that I have felt it necessary to protest against it, ■ ■ ■ • I am, etc., Robert S. Hawkins, Bowlands, October 31st, 1883. [Messrs Lowes, W. Beetham, McGregor, and Chamberlain are. considerable land holders, and -wo believe #\re their return to their country and not to their town interests, We are not in the habit of promoting discord, but at the same time wo do not see any advantage in ignoring plain palpable facts.—Ed. W.D.I