THE HEATHCOTE ELECTION.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7725, 3 December 1890, Page 3

THE HEATHCOTE ELECTION.

TO THS EDITOR OF THB PRESS. Sib, —I think that the meeting at Linwood ot the electors of the Heathcote district last evening, called together by Mr Khodes to hear his views on the political questions of the day, was not a creditable one so far as some of those present were concerned. They certainly heard what Mr Rhodes had to say, but he was constantly met by irrelevant interruptions, and by whom » Why, by a number of larrikins who should never have been permitted admittance to the room. These young gentlemen, in\ the exuberance of their juvenile horse-play, vociferated " Tanner" to their hearts 1 content. But cvi . bono I they did their favorite candidate much more harm than good, and if they were prompted to do so by the gentlemen behind the scenes in the interests of the labor candidate, they have made a sad and a very serious mistake. The elective public of Heathcote district who are desirous of-hearing the views of the different candidates for Parliamentary honors ate always willing to give those candidates a fair and impartial opportunity of doing so; bub the genus larrikin, backed up by the "souls of learning and of leather, is quite a prohibitive tariff in this respec c, and when a gentleman who appears on che political platform in the schoolroom at Phillipstown to propose a vote of thanks to the candidate is " roughed" down by a number of the rising (?) politicians of this ancient and honorable electorate, it is higu time a change took place ia our electoral laws. Well might ths Chairman, Me. Berg; remark that he was.ashamed of the conduct displayed at the close of the meeting, and he: was also correct in attributing it .to outside pressure and not to thosa who resided iv the locality. However, as often happens, out of evil great good may come, and I for one venture td predict that Mr Tanner will have reason to say, before the close of the poll on Friday evening -next, " Save mc from my friends." I feel certain that the horse-play on Monday evening will have the effect— and, in fact, I know it has had the effect—©f causing the candidature of Mr Rhodes* td be more popular than ever. l'U p[Q my tftltlj Oα the election, day on the »on of "the faardtaeaded one irom "STorfcstiira." —Yours/ &C, KNOTTINOtBT. December 2nd, 1890. .