WIRE PULLING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2656, 25 July 1887, Page 2

WIRE PULLING.

[to the editor. I

Sir,—Under the above heading you devote to mo your leading erticle of 20th inst,, and virtually challenge me to an explanation-of my reasons for supporting Mr McCardlo's candidature at the last election, and dropping him in favor ot. Mr Hawkins at the present contest; and " imagining 1 that you have some grounds for " surmise," you let your imagination and your Burmises stand God-father to such specious doductious as you think calculated to damage me and serve Mr Beetham's cause at the coming election. For your surmises you are alone' responsible, and for an explanation of my reasons for supporting.Mr McCardl'e at the last election you have only to refer to the proceedings at Mr Beetham's meeting at the Kurupuni Town Hall, July Uth, 1881 I thon told Mr Beetham that while I recognised that the country owed a debt of gratitude to the Hall administration, of which he was a supporter for rescuing it from the toils of the Grey Government, that the result of the pending eleotion in North Wairarapa would greatly depend upon the explanations that he (Mr Beetham) would give in reference to the administration' of the Counties Act and the Sheep Act, which in the opinion, of the electors had beeu most grossly tampered with, Mr Beetham was unable to 'give satisfactory auswers to the queries I put to him on ; the County question—the schedule of County roads—and the exceptioually favorable treatment of one of those roads under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. At Mr Beetham's request my questions in reference, to his meddling with the administration of the Slieop Act were postponed to his 'Tinui' meeting, where liis efforts to explain his conduct were ns abject a failure as at Kurupuni. For Mr MoCardle's political views I had no sympathy whatever, but as Mr] Beetham's back-stair influeuoe and': interference had been levelled, with damaging effect at the best, and most prominent interests of his constituents to 'serve selfish purposes, I -had to ehoose between two evils, that of sup-

porting a candidate of whose P°ljtfjnjgMi ■views I did not approve, or of rene^SpPW to Mr [Beetham the opportunities ho had so greatly'abused. Of those two evils J endeavoured to secure the less, and voted for Mr McCardle, but. while I jhave always entertained a hearty personal regard for.thatgentleman, I took no prominent, part In forwarding his election. 1 declined to preside at his meeting in- Ma9turtOß, and T nubseqtiently declined to nominate.bim. Mr Beethain profited by ,his''last electioneering' campaign, and vlenrnt three useful lessons, however unpalatable they may have been; first, that North, Wairarapa. was no longer a pocketßorough, and second, thattheaim of the electors is to serve themselves and the country at large through thstarf representative, and not merely to confer on him an empty and irresponsible honor; third, that opportunities are for use and not for abuse. Those lessons have borne wholesome, fruit, for so far as I am aware, Mr Beethain has no sins of commission on.a&feh the olectora have any grounds to arraign oiui,. and ,if the contest for his seat at .the ensuing election lay between himself and Mr McCardle, I and many others would have changed sides, ..in support of our political opinions, recognising that Mr Bcetham haa-seen the error of his ways, and has served his constituency to the best of his .ability. Unhappily a "crisis has arrived, and the country imperatively .demands of the constituencies abler representatives, actuated by motives of the highest patriotism, if it is to be saved from anarchy and dishonor, preceded by financial ruin. The borrowing spendthrift policy, which has reigned supreme, and demagS ralised tho whole political atmosphere; holds the. colony, paralised in its unrelenting grip, which, like the victim of a huge Octopus, feels its life blood .. beiug more and mora rapidly sucked out,, of it, whilo realising its diminishing powers to -feed, or resist its devouring enctay, '* If Mr Beethara has had the disposition he Ims lacked the ability to check this mad down-hill race, to a goal of destruction, and has seemingly- been contonfawith his exertions in endeavouring IflHoure for bis constituency a few. stray, plums from tho Public Works pudding irrespective of their being wholesome, or palatable—and useless extension of the railway to Eketalnma was expoused in preference to-the crying need for amnion roads &c. : He has been weighed in the .balance .and found wanting, and . jjliould show., practical sympathy with the majority of. the electors in recognißJag in Mr Hawkins.a man wbo'jf* vigorous intellect, practised ability, end integrity of action, point bim.onfc, as t-he.most.fitting contribution the Mastertan electorate can make to the Legislature of the Country in ifca hour of need. It is because Mr Hawkins fulfils in my mind.the requirements of a statesman, that I support him in preference to, Mr Beethatn whose good common sense; courtesy and gentlemanly tearing, at all timesmsrk him in confpicuous contrast.to: BJwoauy quondam representatives bo far better spared.- I will..dispose of your imputations of my strategy, ■ and political tactics, by challenging- Messrs Hawkins and Hogg, to state if I have directly or indirectly in iuy way influenced either of them in. offering themselves for election, and I challenge you to show that 1 have ever obtruded myseif or my services -on the' public unsolicited.' I have armed ata time of life when the turmoil of election Btrife is most distasteful to me, but I endeavor to kuow my duty, and and whilo 1 have the, ability to discharge it, trast I shall never lack thf courage. V I am, etc., Edwin Meredith. Llandaff, July 23rd, 1887,.-