"TWO HORSES FROM THE SAME STABLE"

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 8

"TWO HORSES FROM THE SAME STABLE"

10 THE EDITOR. Sir*;— Your issue this evening contains a lengthy, letter on this, vexed question from Dr. Fyffe, and Were it not for the seriousness of the position with which it deals, the letter itself would be amusing. That Dr. Fyffe is a veritable tyro at the political business is very evident, as he has given no careful consideration whatever to the question, but has simply given expression to his views as dictated by the feelings of a disgruntled, easygoing sporting club man. I_ do not say this in any offensive spirit, but simply to point out to the genial medico and his friends that if they persist in their present attitude it is going to land them and their candidate in a very unenviable predicament. Let us take the last election figures as Dr. Fyffe himself haß given them : Mr. Herdman 4500, Mr. Holland 1800, Mr. Turnbull 1500. That was the position' in 1914; but let us follow him up, and we find that he credits the Labour vote with an extra 500, and leaves 5500 to be divided between Messrs. Luke and Bran-1 dori. Mr. Turnbull is eliminated, but where does Mr. Poison come in? Is it possible that Dr. Fyffe has never heard of him in connection with Wellington North? Bather hard on Dr. Thacker's maiden-plater, surely, as. he is reported (by the N.Z. Times) to have done a very satisfactory gallop on the Wellington North tracks yesterday. But* perhaps Dr. Fyffe does not read the Times sporting notes.

To be serious, Sir, Dr. Fyffe must allow Mr. Poison to carry the same voting as Mr. Turnbulldid in 1914, so that we must subtract this from the 5500 which the genial doctor divides between Messrs. Luke and Brandon; this leaves 4000 votes .to be divided between Messrs. > liulce and Brandon; and Dr. Fyffe on his own showing would arrive at the following result:—Mr. Holland (Labour Socialist) 2300, Mr. Poison (Independent Liberal) 1500, Mr. Luke and Mr. Brandon (the bracketed pair) 2000 each. But, Sir, lam not prepared to accept Dr. Fyffe's figures, as I have made a closer examination than he has of the position, and I sum it up thus : That of Mr. Herdman's more than 500 have gone to the war, which reduces his total to 4000. The increases to be apportioned to Mr. Holland must be more than 500, as working men's families increase in greater ratio to those of the well-to-do, so I am going to allow Mr. Holland an extra 750, and make his total 2550. Mr Turnbull'e vote was to a great extent sectarian, and I would transfer it to Mr. Poison and leave it at 1500, so that if Messrs. Luke and Brandon go to the post in the same colours with but a different cap on them, what is the position going to be? Either that I must equally divide that 4000 votes with Dr. Fyffe, or take_ 3000 and leave him 1000 for his candidate. Sir, I am not a wowser any more than is Dr. Fyffe, but I am backing the National candidate, and am prepared to bet " all the tea in China " that he is not going to be bottom of the poll. The obvious conclusion, therefore, is that it is foolish to start two horses from the same stable, and as mine is a certain and sure starter Dr. Fyffe as a shrewd sportsman ; has one course open to him.—l am, etc., ! HOBSON-STREET. • j 14thi February.