MR. HISLOP, THE PREMIER, AND MR. HAGGER. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 101, 30 April 1897, Page 2

MR. HISLOP, THE PREMIER, AND MR. HAGGER. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib— Mr. Hagger, a gentleman of political renown, has championed the Premier, and, 12 days after the publication of the HislopSeddon correspondence, which the Premier dropped when he found he was worsted, has attempted to disprove one of the minor statements made by me. Mr. Seddon himself shrank from the effort ; and it has been reserved for Mr. Hagger, by exhibiting boldness (if nothing else) of assertion, to show his fitness to shine in the ranks of the public plunder and assert-as-you-like Party. Mr. Hagger should, however, mix a little reason and just a slight modicum of discretion with the other elements of his statements. The work he sets us is too much for the most gullible. He admits Mr. Seddon's presence at the meeting called to form a committee and set things going for his nominee — the chameleon-like writer and politician, Mr. Wilson. In passing, may I ask, why was there such lecrecy about Mr. Seddon's presence ? He arrived in a close carriage, and no intimation of his attendance was given by yourself or your all-wise contemporary. • However, he was present, and the ingenious ,<Mr. Hagger asks us. to believe that Mr. Seddon can ohange his nature as easily as Mr. Wilson can alter his politics. He asks us to believe that Mr. Seddon wasted hours of his valuable time, which is "more than taken up in public business" (otherwise misrepresenting others), by driving to the meeting at Petone and sitting like a mute for two hours, and then driving back. No, Mr. Hagger ; give us something easier. We who know Mr. Seddon know that he could not sit for half an hour, much less two hours, silent, and that he is not likely in any meeting to subordinate himself even to Mr. Hagger. As for my statements, they were quite correct, and had the Premier dared to have denied them, I should have furnished proof which I shall reserve until he does deny them. I am, &c, T. W. Hislop. "Wellington, 21st April.