THE RICCARTON ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11413, 25 October 1902, Page 9

THE RICCARTON ELECTION.

Sir,—May I trouble you for a few lines oftyouar valuable space in reply to the column inflicts on you. (1) I ad&tere to. my former statement, despite Mr Armstrong's letter of 13th met. to Mr Witty, that the first imitation or suggestion that 1 should attend the Broadfields Farmers' Union social on January 9th wae made to mc by Mr Armstrong. I declined to go Unless officially invited, but on subsequently finding it was advertised as open to the public, I went without on invitation. I challenge Mr Armstrong to deny this. (2) At the social I asked no one to allow mc to speak. Just before the evening meeting Mr £orly (president) courteously invited mc to speak, but said aJI speakers would be limited to five minutes (except Mr Le&diey), and asked mc not to touch on politics.. 1 thanked him, and accepted hie invitation, adding I would not think of touohing ofl politics at such 4 gathering. I appeal to Mr B&rly as to iibe accuracy of this. (3) Three months a%r the date of tihe Broadfields social Mr Witty himself invited mc to a Fanners' Union social at Templeton, desiring "the pleasure of my company," and Signing himself > "Yours sincerely." Comment ie needless. (4) Mr Witty admite he wrote mc a letter of thanks in September, 1901, over my action re the Wahnakariri Bill. The services he thanked mc for included the deputation to the Premier, which I introduced, consisting of himaelf and Mr Rennie. The deputation got all they wanted, and came away satisfied, and I have no doubt Mr Witty really felt grateful for my assistance. He now says Mb letter wee "purely an act of courtesy," and broadly bints that it was not deserved. Then why da* he /write it? If I am to accept hu letter of this morning as correct, I regard his sending mc such a letter of thanks as grossly insincere. A man who sends mc, unsolicited, a letter of thanks in 1901, and a year later writes that it was "purely an act of courtesy," and that, in effect, Jμ had nothing to thank,me for—is two-faced. I leave this matter there. (5) As to the, deputation to the Premier any Parliamentarian knows tho difßouJty of obtaining intervaewa with. leading Ministers during the session, where one has to deal.and arrange with different private secretaries on duty. (6) Finally, I challenge Mr Witty to show any instance in which the interests of the Riccarton constituency have.not been carefully -watched daring my representation. Here I leave the matter, and whilst again sympathising with Mr Witty over his unfortunate memory, must congratulate him on having a brilliant imagination.—Yours, etc., G. W. RUSSELL. October 24&.