CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 97, 24 April 1912, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR. HINDMARSH AND THE LIBERALS. TO TH2 KDIIOE. ' Sir, — Mr. Hindmarsh, in his letter ot tho 19lh ins,t. bays'; — "I may at once state that my withdrawal from the 'social' was not intended as an act of discourtesy to tho Liberals present, but; as v. protest against the conduct of those in charge of the 'social,' and particularly of tho^e deciding matters demanding prominence." Tho latter part of Mr. Hindmarsh's letter I shall not at the present juncture deal with, as it does not in any way refer to my letter of the 15th. I shall, however, have to refer Mr. Hindmarsh to tho report of the social gathering held under the auspices of the New Zealand Labour Party (as it is termed) and the Trades Council, appearing in the columns of the press (11th April), in which tho report ' states: — "Mr. Hindmarsh, M.P. : 'I refused to attend a Liberal caucus the other day, so 1 hope you will allow me to withdraw from the meeting.' Mr. Hindmarsh, who had been present throughout the proceedings, then vithdrew." Sir, with your' kind permission, I shall deduct from Mr. Hindmiirsh's -letter the part that I shall deal with into three sentences — (1) "I may at once state that my withdrawal from the 'social' was not intended as an act of discourtesy to th 9 Liberals present, (2)« but; as a protest against tho conduct of those in charge of the 'bocial,' ; (3) and particularly of those deciding matters demanding prominence." (1) Mr. _ Hindmarsh, in his statement at that "social" definitely and emphatically stated that his withdrawal was to the effect that he did not attend a Liberalcaucus come time back. No mention whatever is made of those in charge. (2) Will Mr. Hindmarsh now state that his withdrawal was a protest against thosn in charge? My assertion is that it was a direct act of discourtesy to. the liberals present. (3) I have to remind Mr. Hindmarsh that the reference "those deciding matters demanding prominence" was a direct insult on the Liberals. — I am, etc., A. DEVENPORT. ;