OUR READERS' OPINIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3997, 30 July 1913, Page 6

OUR READERS' OPINIONS

' THE GREY ELECTION. -\ $ , [TO THE EDITOR] Si r —The elector who is not a hopeless party man and lias any sense of humor is greatly amused at your two leading articles on the above election. In the first you were perfectly confident that Mr Michel, would .win on the second ballot, and on this assiimption you proclaimed the triumph of “Reform” politics and the triumph ot the party in the Dominion. Your wail in your second article over the success of ‘Mr Webb and the wickedness of those Grey Liberals preferring lnm to Mr Michel is a beautiful example ot “press” consistency when one recalls Otalci, the “Reformers” and Mr Robertson, and Grey Lynn and its candidates. Why should not the Grey Liberals pay “Reformers” back m their own coin P . Of course, there are local circumstances accounting in part for what you consider an extraordinary vote. Messrs Hannan and Michel I have known for years. "When it is remembered that the former is a keen “sport”—i.e., a rating man, etc.— and is a supporter of license as it is, etc., etc., a large number of people, notwithstanding the proclaimed popularity of that gentleman, were not eager to see him in Parliament. Neither did they . greatly desire Mr Michel, an outsider, a man who lias fought and lost three previous elections in the adjoining electorate, and in becoming the Grey candidate changed his coat. Liberals have argued that it will be easier to oust Mr Webb than it would be to oust Mr Michel if he once got in. Then this fact- cannot be blinked that this Dominion is not likely to ho hoodwinked for long by. “Reform” pretences. This party, being supported by almost all the big land holders and ‘financial people throughout the Dominion, is not going to he kept there in the interests of the mass ot the people. Liberals know that Mr Webb and those associated with him wont help any Government' to rob the country by a succession of New Lynn concessions and the granting ot the freehold at the original value. A few more New Lynn benefactions at the expense of the country and the Reform party will stand revealed in its true light,, and Grey will be repeated again when the occasion occurs.- —1 am, etc., EX-WEST COASTER. THE SMALLPOX SCArII [TO THE “EDITOR] Sir,—lt is to be hoped that very few have any sympathy with ‘student” in his attempt to minimise the danger in which we all stand with regard to the present outbreak ot smallpox. It is little hardship to anyone to get a small scratch or two on the arm by wav of insurance against a frightful ailment. People who decry ordinary precautions do so against the weight of evidence. If your correspondent “Student” is a student or history, lie must know that theie nas a time in England when every third person was deeply pitted with smallpox scars, and when the graveyards were filled to overflowing as a result of the various epidemics. . I am prepared to undergo a little discomfort to bear my share in preventing things reaching such a. pass in New Zealand, and I consider such remarks as those of “Student” positively mischievous at such a crisis.—l am, etc., “MOSES.”