MR COX IN REPLY TO COUNTRY COUSIN.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 565, 4 January 1876, Page 3

MR COX IN REPLY TO COUNTRY COUSIN.

Sir, — What does " Country Cousin " moan by asking whether I am, or would becomo, " a thick and thin " «upporter of the Ministry — if elected. The most of the men compo»ing the present Ministry I am acquainted with, one or two of them I have supported in my time, with the larger number I have never yet tat on the time Bide of the ilouao. Had I been in the House in 1870—71, 1 should hive supported their public works policy, thankfully accepted their assurances that all was well in native matters, opposed tliem to the death (if necessery) in their Piovincial borrowing Bcheme, and gone hearl and soul with them in their Abolition scheme. This is about the line I should Lave taken in the past — had I b»en a representative for the North or for the South. What I may do in the future if I become a representative depends altogether on the policy put before the Assembly at its meeting. And what again does that "Innocent Abroad " mean when lie adopts thenotion that I am nominee of (my friend Major Jackson, and prepared at a w«rd from him to give up the honorable position that being a candidate far Parliament implies Whoever "he may be, whether friend or foe, he knows very little of me, and, I should think as little of our late representative. If I tell the world that for the last twelve months I have Veen asked to come .forward and contest the seat for the Waikato, by men from Ngaruawahia, Waipa, Hamilton, Cambridge, Alexandra, and Te Awamutu, I shall forfeit all claim to being considered » modert man— and if I now repeat, what I said over «nd over again during thosotwelve months, namely, that when the proper time came I should be prepared to say yes or no to the request, I should be telling the tm*h, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: That proper time cane some teven or eight weeks ago, and let me add — the excitoment of the contest is so invigoratieg that I hope my good friend Major Jackson will forgive me for saying that it would take six Majors to persuade me to give up the fight — and a Geneial Jackson to boot to lick me If you don't think I have said enough for a modest man, I do. — 1 am, Ac Alfred Cor..