MR. PRICE'S MEETING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 111, 8 November 1881, Page 3

MR. PRICE'S MEETING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST.

Sir— l must claim the right of entering my protest against the report, as furnished by your reporter, of my father's meeting at the Arcade, and againßt tho looal you inserted, as being not only one-sided, but as being an on tire misrepresentation of the true facts of tho case. Your reportor says he spoke for two hours and a half. He commenced at twenty minutes past eight o'clock, and was off the platform at half-past ton, fully half-an-hour of that time having been taken, up by answering questions. Secondly, he did not dwell at any length on land teuuro ; in some half dozen torso sentences he recapitulated his views, and then answered objections urged against the theory he advocates. What he did do was to show clearly that the land tenure of a country determined the incidence of taxation, and regnlated its labour, and largely influenced its remuneration. When ho shewed conclusively that our present system placed all the burden of taxation on industry and labour, principally on the wage-earning class, while it left tho land, the legitimate source of a country's revenue, untaxed, of course, I can understand how papers devoted to uphold the landocrioy and monetary interost of the country, would not care to report at length a forcible argument, conclusively establishing such a position. Then you say my father made a personal attack upon the candidates and their families, never saying that at the outset he indignantly protested against any such intention. I appeal to any unbiassed man who was present if he said ono word that was personally offensive, or in any remark he made went beyond fair and legitimate oritioiem of the opinions and fitness of the rival candidates. You say, further, the audience was impatient all through his address. With the exception of Mr. Morton Quinn, there was no impatience evinced, nor interruption offered ; but, on the contrary, a most attentive and appreciative hearing was given to him, interrupted only by cheers and applause again and again. It was only when he oame to deal with the vexed question of protection that any dissent •was expressed and a few ardent protectionists lifted up thrir voices. It is the first time, through the many years he has been accustomed to address public audiences, that I have heard him charged with being Bubjeot to the pulpit tone and drone. He was on Friday night suffering from a severe cold, which necessitated his speaking in an artificial voice to enable him to Bpeak at all ; but that is a small thing. All Te Aro knows he ia the only man who can address himself with intelligence and force to a public audience, among the candidates seeking the Buffrages of the district. Your feeling has been fully shown in eliminating from a looal he sent you announcing the postponement of his meeting, the fact of his suffering from a severe oold ; and again withholding the usual courtesy of a looal on Friday re his meeting. It ia not for me to say what estimate the Evmning Post .places upon its own honour or duty to fairly report public meeting- ; but I fearlessly say, yonr report of this meeting was a feeble attempt at caricature, by a tissue of misrepresentations, which I doubt not will be fully appreciated by a people who claim fair play for every man. lam confident the electors of Te Aro will now, more than before, rally round him as the fearless candidate of popular rights against monopoly and a Press. I am, &c, A. G. Price. Ingestre-Btreet, sth Nov., 1881. [Mr. Price writes as a dutiful son, and we reßpect his filial admiration. It is only natural he should think his father "the only man who can address himself with intelligence and force to a large audience," but he should remember that the paternal voice may not Bound so impressive to othera as it does to him. We are very sorry to hear that Mr. Prioe has a cold, and hope it is better, but we do not think that " locals," descriptive of candidates' personal ailments, would interest our readers. Nor do we require candidates to send any "locals" at all ; our own staff can write them much better. — Ep. E.P.]