HERETAUNGA RIDING VOTING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 276, 10 November 1911, Page 4

HERETAUNGA RIDING VOTING

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I cannot allow Mr. Simson's remarks in his letter of thanks to pass unchallenged. In doing so, I wish to have it clearly understood that I am not making the following remarks with any intention of doing Mr. Simson an injury, he has frankly admitted that I was the better man on the day. The election on XX’ednesday was not a duel between the big votes and the small ones. I was returned by the electors in the merged districts, and in the country was opposed by several three vote men including H. Carlson, H. I. Simson, T. H. Groome, G. P. Donnelly and others. In Okawa, Mr. Donnelly openly took sides against Mr. Shrimpton, and, of course, had a perfect right to do so ; the same remarks apply to Puketapu and Pi tane. I regret having to mention names, but to prove my argument that the contest was not a class on• I have no alternative. Right through the contest Mr. Donnelly made no secret of the fact that he thought n would be in the interests of the ratepax ers to have some new blood in the council —he told at least one of the electors in Heretaunga his opinion on XX'ednesday morning. In conclusion, 1 would like to remark that the basis of calculation, viz., 16! electors healing 16-1. is a wrong one. The “Telegraph” says that 75'.i votes were available, this is also wrong. There were only 635 voters on the roll, 441 electors. Of these electors on the roll 40 were either absent or dead and the absentees rcprsr tiled 92 totes. Tlie majority of those away were three vote men, they were attending the Christchurch races, Canterbury show. XX aikalo show and so on. and it cannot bo reasonable of Mr. Simson to asst'uie that they would all have voted for me. 1 enclose lists that you may check my figures..- I am. etc..

THOMAS CROSSE