The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1884. ELECTION SQUIBS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1750, 1 August 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1884. ELECTION SQUIBS.

We regret to notice that our local contemporary is still letting off election squibs. Yesterday he repeated his mysterious " tale of a tub,"' and introduced a new scandal in the following terms;- "It is freely stated that a certain gentleman in Masterton who earned the title of' turncoat' at one of the largest political meetings ever held in the Wairarapa is to be rewarded for his lack of public principle and gross inconsistency by being converted into a Justice of the Peace." We happen to know that this yarn is a piece of pure invention on the part of some of Mr McCardle's supporters, and we are further awaro that they themselves know that it is fictitious. But Messrs Beethaji and Buchanan's backs are quite broad enough to stand the opprobrious assaults of our local contemporary and of Mr Bunny, and their integrity is too well established to be affected by them, The main charge which has been brought against the representatives of this district is the manner in which Mr Beethaji gave a slice of his honorarium to a hospital and in which MiBuchanan, following suit, assisted a library. Now, this honorarium episode is no new thing in the Wairarapa. Prior to the general election in 1879 there was a short session, and Mr Beethaji was asked if he intended to put the two hundred guineas, or whatever the sum was, into his pocket for a month's work. He replied that he would draw from, his honorarium the exact amount of his personal expenses in attending Parliament, and give the balance away. This course appeared to meet with the approval of his constituents, and under precisely similar circumstance in the present year he has acted in a similar manner. Those who object to Mr Beethaji distributing his honorarium would do well to say what he should do with it. Would they like bim to give it to Wellington clraritablo" institutions" or to make a present .of. it. t0... the. consolidated revenue? In 1879 Mr Bunny was Mr Beetham's colleague, and was- very frank on the'honorarium question,. He thought the country could afford to pay it, and pointed out that it would bo circulated among his constituents'! " We will spend the honorarium !" said Mr Bunny, and he kept his word. At that election no one had to ask Mr Bunny twice for a subscription, We do not much care for raking up scandals after an election is over, but if unjust aspersions are to be .continually thrown in the teeth of Messrs Beetham and Buchanan we shall feel justified in bringing.-forward afew mora little illustrations of the virtue of their detractors,'