CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9326, 29 January 1896, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION.

TO THB KDITOB OF TIIE rKKSS. Sir, —Your leading article in Friday's issue draws attention to two points in connection with Mr T. E. Taylor'3 candidature that I beg your permission to refer to. You state that just before the opening of the present campaign Mr Taylor 3 friends were strenuously urgiog that we ought to receive the Opposition support, as there could be no stronger opponent of Mr Seddon than he >vaa. I don't think the electors will agree with the deductions you draw from the above assertion. You appear to think that because Mr T. £. Taylor has been a caustic critic of the maladministration of Mr Seddon's Ministry, he ought gleefully 10 throw himself into the arms of Captain Rusaell, and embrace that gentleman's ancient political notious. I think Mr {Taylor has rendered the Liberal party material service by his criticism of the present Cabinet, for political corruption is certain to prove a potent destructive agency, and the strength of the patty depends upon the purity of its actions. To allow a Ministry to abuse its power is the surest way to secure its downfall, and as a Liberal I contend that Mr T. E. Taylor has been a better friend to the party of progress than those cringing supporters of the Government who cry peace, peace, when destruction is near. Instead of Mr Taylor's fearless criticism of Mr Seddou and his colleagues being a reason for his exclusion from Parliament, it is, in my judgment, one of the strongest possible reasons why those who don't want progressive legislation frustrated by Ministerial folly should vote and work to secure the election of a man who contends that the interests of the people must overrule those of politicians. Mr Taylor's point blank refusal to follow the leader of the Conservative party is because, as he declared when speaking in the Opera House, the interests of the mass of the people are not safe in Captain Russell's hands. Mr Taylor is a Radical in politics, and a capable one at that, as is proved by youi bitter hostility to him. The suggestion that becauso he believed the Government should run straight aud has dared to say bo, he should joiu the Conservative party in the House 18 perfectly farcical, aud if any of his friends over supposed such an alliance possible they knew very little of the man. Mr T. E. Taylor's return means strengthening the Liberal party, and the fact ttiat his presence in the House will tend to kill tho " spoils to the victor " polioy, explains why he has my hearty support.— Yours, &0., J.H.F. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sib,—Mr T. E. Taylor's address, deli' vered in the Opera House to one of the largest, if not the largest, crowd ever ad dressed by a public man in this city, com' pletely shatters the theory you are trying tc establish, that all he cares about is " prohi bition." Harp on this •' bogey offspring ol your imagination " as much as you like, Sir, and you won't kill the effects of hie speeches upon the public mind, which proves thai his life amongst tho wage-earning classes hae put him into close touch with them ; that he has a masterly grasp of political questions and a keeu comprehension of the trend oi public opinion. Compare Mz Taylor's firm, clear, statesmanlike utterances and hia straight answers to question! with the hesitating, nervous and amateurish utterances of your protege from the country, Mr Lowis,and you must, if honest, admit thai you have not yet, nor has the Government, secured a man who can come within " coee " of the "one idea'd" man, whose entry intc the political arena has caused such a fluttei in the dovecotes ot Cashel and Gloucestei streets. Try again, sir, for you have at least failed to convince mc that all Mi •Taylor wants is ••prohibition," nothing more. His speeches plainly indicate that he desires for the people other beneficial measures, hut these you seem determined shall not become law if any effort of yourc can prevent them. Therefore you raise tb« ghost of his being a man of one idea onlj to frighten the electors from returning a man to the House who stands unflinchingly against you and your " pet interests. . Evolve your next "phantom," if you please, sir. Thanking you in anticipation. —Yours, &0.,

Colonies. to the editor of thb pbess. Sir, —In reading youc leading article this morning, I cannot but feel that you are doing Mr T. E. Taylor an injustice, inasmuch as you say if elected he would cheer* fully sacrifice our other reforms so as to carry prohibition. Now, Sir, Mr Taylor has always made it clear to the public that prohibition must be carried by the people and not by Parliament. But you seem to fancy or, rather, would have the public believe that, if Mr Taylor is elected, the natural consequence would be " colonial prohibition," which you know "very well cannot come about without the consent of the electors of the colony.

The truth is, you are afraid of Mr Taylor, and in your endeavours to belittle bjm you are doing him good and injuring yourselves. Trusting that you will insert thia.—Yours,

&c, Radical. Beeves road, Opawa, January 27th. TO TUE EDITOR OF TUB PBESS. Sm, —Iv reading your leader commenting on the rhuikaellera' litany published in the Prohibitionist, I was induced to examino the litany published in the Prohibitionist, and I find that you have nob quoted ie correctly. You quote the Prohibitionist as saying—"Our Father which arc in hell." The Prohibitionist eaye— *• Our Ruler which arc in hell." I think it altogether unfair to misquote iv this way. I havo also read your criticisms on Mr T. E. Taylor's speeches, which to my mind are contrary *o fact. I have listened attentively to Mr T. E. Taylor's speeches, and I am bound to say that a more honest and straightforward political speech I have never listened to, and I would recommend every elector to hear him for themselves and not; to be led away by reports which, in most case?, are incorrect or altogether false. We certainly wane the best man to represent- us, aud judging by their speeches, Mr T. E. Taylor certainly is the man. "Sours, &0., Straight. January 23th, 1895. THE SPRINGFIELD ROAD. TO THB EDITOR OK THE PBESS. Sir, —Would it not have been a>3 well had " Footsore" approached the Borough Council direct if he had any complaint to make about the footpaths or channelling, instead of, by inference, charging our with neglect ? They Are a hard working, conscientious set of men, devoting a lot of time to the affairs of .he borough, and doing the best they can with the limited means at their disposal.—Yours. &c, Bates SHOP HOURS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PBESS. Sat, —One would think by the miserable howl set tip by the small shopkeepers re closing on Thursday afternoons, that we were all going to the " detnnition bow wows." If your correspondent "No Shop " and the rest of the growlers would close up their shops on Thursdays, and take a trip to Sumner or Brighton fastead of banging around their back doors they would soon get rid of what I suspect most of them are suffering from I judging from their epistles and white faces) —a disordered liver. If I want a cake of blacking can't I procure it any day bat Thursday afternoon, or for the matter of that on Sunday morning, as it is well-known that it is as easy to get into some small shopkeepers' shops on Sunday as any day. For goodness sake don't let Uβ hear any more of this holiday business, bat go out and enjoy ourselves, and come back freth on Friday morning.—Youre. &c, Common Skssb.