THE PREMIER AND THE NEWTOWN POLLS.

Evening Post, Volume LXV, Issue 69, 23 March 1903, Page 6

THE PREMIER AND THE NEWTOWN POLLS.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,— With reference to what appeared in your issue of tho 20th instant under tho heading of "Tho Premier and tho Nowtown PolU," I havo the honour to transmit herewith the whole of tho correspondence in connection with Mr listt's request that I would receive a deputation. I may say that, on tho Saturday previous to Tuesday the 17th, I was told on my return homo that some- ono had been ringing mo up with tho view nf introducing a deputation on tho subject of tho Nowtown election. 1 then *a»d : "If they ring up again tell thorn to send me a note." I heard nothing further until I was asked by my Secretary, to whom I gave tho reply: "Toll them to write ana stato the nature of the , business thoy wish to bring • before-. me." I was not aware of what transpired at the telephone until after I received Mr. lsitt's letter of tho 17th. Being absent, and not having received Mr. Isitt's Inut letter, I am placed at a disadvantage. To bo asked to meet a deputation whoso business it 'was to urge tho removal of a Returning Officer in the midst of an election, and who declined to note- their grounds therefor, apimtred to me to form a dungerouif precedent. I repeat that there was no discourtesy intended, 1 and 1 do not think that I was asking for anything unreasonable. — I am, etc.; R. J. SEDDON. Prime Minister's Oflko, 21st March, 1903. [Tho correspondence referred to in that of which we gave a full and impartial summary on tho 20th inst., minus the letter from tho Rev. F. W. Isitt replying to that of the Premier of 17th March. Mr. Scddon does not appear to liawd yet received Mr. Isitt's second letter, although it bears tho date of 18th March. J Wo have made enquiries into th& matter, j and arc informed by tho messenger to I whom Mr. Isitt's letter was entrusted for delivery that ho left it at tho Premier's residence about 5 p.m. on tho 18th, givI ing it into tho hands of tho person who opened the door. Tho. Premier had loft for Taranaki tho^amo morning. In tho ordinary aourso of events the letter would have been dealt with by ono of the Premier's secretaries, and if deemed of sufficient importance its contents (a summary of which we have published) would have been transmitted to tho Premier by telegraph, or tho document itself would havo been sent on by post. Up to ttie present, however, the letter is missing, and careful senrch has failed to discover what linn becomu of it.