THE WAIKATO ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue XIII, 11 September 1879, Page 2

THE WAIKATO ELECTION.

•Sir, — Having heard that Mr J. P. Campbell considers my letter, m reply to one of R. W. Bimingham, a mean production, and one containing falsehoods, I wish to inform him, through your paper, that the statement re. the Thames- Wai knto railway was told " Simple Simon " ancl many other simpletons who believed it at the ! time, by a person who would not feel ' flattorod afc being accused of telling untruths. But as matters now stand, and tho combat over, I can assuro Mr,Campbell that I do not now believe the statement fco bo true. With regard fco scoring a point m haviug my last letter published iv your issue of Saturday, the last prior to the day of polling, I refer Mr Campbell to your paper of Thursday, the 4th iust., and there he will see from the Editor's pen a notice to " Simple Simon," stating that it was " quite impossible to have fche letter published on that day." The election is now oyer, and t feel so please.; at the conduct of my " fellow toilers " m returning the right man for w'ai-ato, that despite the many unkind and uncharitable names Mr Campbell was pleased to call me, I freely forgive him, aud trust ha will accept the truths I have stated re my information about the Taupiri angle, and the day on which my letter was written; and forgive me for so hastily believing what I ever consider must have been false. — I am, &0., -imple Simon.

Sir, — At tbe Waipa nomination of candidates, I observe that Mr Johns has stated, that your paper had grossly misrepresented 'a statement mado by Mr Cunningham, at Raglan, regarding taxing improvements on property. Now, being the person who asked the Question, I certainly ought to remember the ans .ver. Mr ounningham stated, m his speech, that he was m favour of a property and land tax, and would tax all improvements, because they were the capital aud stock-in-trade of the farmer, &c. The following questions were v then asked: — "Do you really mean to^say that the industrious man who cultivates a patch of ground, is to be rated twice the amount of his lazy neighbour, who allows his laud to lio idle ?'' Mr Cunningham's answer was : " Yes, I do, because it forms his capital. I look upon all improvements as capital." Other persons iv tho room, also, asked the samo questiou, m different forms, and the answers to each, were distinctly given, " That he would tax all improvonients.' ' — I am, &c, William Powell. Raglan.