THE HAWERA SCHOOL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 540, 22 June 1909, Page 6

THE HAWERA SCHOOL ELECTION.

Sir, —I am in. thorough sympathy with your footnote to Mr. Dixon's letter. I havo no love, for newspaper controversy, and have never written to the press except in "reply, to an attack. /When, however, an attack, is made, even though it be-based on the most evident bigotry, I always fool it a duty to reply, knowing that many readers conclude that silence is an indication of .weakness, and that (ho attack is just, when no defence is nrado. It is very hard to deal patiently with Mr. Dixon. During the past bix Vccks ho has written to various papers a scries of incoherent and self-contradictory statements which drew down upon him a castiga,tion he is not likely,soon to forget. I shall on this occasion content myself with making three brief remarks upon that portion :of his letter .which appeared in your issue of the 19th instant. i 1. H© mentions,that I omitted to publish a. your v columns a certain circular. •No doubt, he thought it would be a capital thing to accuse me or a fault which I hadsuccessfuHysheeted -borne to his ally. But "he might justas' well'have accused me of not having enumerated in your columns the signs of the zodiac. The press agent and I were arguing on disputed.matter, and not on matter (hat had been admitted by all. ATI parties to the dispute admitted the existence of the circular: the press agent, Mr. Dixon, the writer, and' I. Did Mr. Dixon this baseless and unjust; charge in the liope that the Editor' would close down the correspondence without, admitting, a refutation? \ 2. He writes of a combination between the Catholics and the liquor, trade. Now, what. can one who does not wish to indulge in mud-slinging say to such an argument, except that, it'is just the kind of argument that those who know Mr. Dixon would expect from him ? I have' made inquiries, and havo .discovered that only four out of seven hotelkeepers voted at the. school electic.i, and that it is not quite certain that some of these did, not vote for Mr. Dixon's party. However, assuming that he is correct, I am glad to know \that the ■ hotelkeepers of Hawera showed themselves truly temperate, just, and prudent not to. say men of certain fortitude also in casting their ' lot against the forces of bigotry. •■ ' >'._■

3. While , pointing out the error of hie way to Mr;. Dixon in tho various papers in which his 'former letters appeared, I, was always, careful to 1 allow him sufficient latitude, knowing exactly what the result would bo: .that he would,sooner or later oomo out unmistakably in. his true colours. He has done so in.his letter to The DoinwoN; and

I am -.thankful' tliat lie; has ; done so bo quickly.; 111 ani'attempt. to justify his anonymous "friend," who first stirred up the bigotry by referring in the public press to Catholics would-be wreckers of the State system of education, Mr. Dispn thinks it' quite sufficient to remind, your readers that Catholics establish convent schools. One Buffeiß.a loss of dignity in'noticing the tetters of a man.who oould write such a eentenoe in a free country and in the twentieth 'century. .But, dignity must yield to duty.— lam, etcL, . . ' . . ___ ' ~.-■ •?••-■•••. - iP.- J. POWER. - Hawera, June 19.