TO MR ALFRED SAUNDERS, M.H.R.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5610, 17 February 1879, Page 6

TO MR ALFRED SAUNDERS, M.H.R.

(PKE FATOtTB OF BDITOB OF ITTTEITOX TIMES.) Dbab Sib, —I observe that you were so good as to make marked reference to myselt m your address to a few of your constituents at Waikari. Will you allow me to correct the very evident but erroneous impression you were speaking under, without losing in future the honour of being chosen as one ot those worthy of your public notice. I made no reference at Naseby to yourself. I followed a very safe rule, and declined to speak put' a in- turns of disparagement, outside the > of our House of Assembly, of any member whose political consistency I cither failed to understand, or which did not approve itself to my ideaa of right as opposed te wrong. Incredible as I fear it may seem to yon, and unpardonable as it now seems to me, in thinking what I should say I had not a single thought about the new member for Cheviot. The truth is, myNaseby speech, spoken to a highly critical but very friendly audience, was merely an extremely egotistical expression of personal opinion—a mode ot speech which you at least will readily under* •tend to bo the ordinary type of post-sessional address. If I conceived anything I said would interest you, I would take care you should be furnished with such report as may have been published under many difficulties in the district. As, however, I called no one a scorpion, -and did not boast of any legitimate jwowess j as, moreover, I forbore to read my past speeches, or to glory in manipulating other members to obtain a district railway, ! fear that any -report of what I said worn still be too insipid for your more perfectly educated taste. You speak of me as a y 01 ??® uian. I presume therefore that you claim tn frotection due from the young to the ow. readily recosniso vour claim, and forbear to write to you m I otherwise would; yet, don me If I suggest the wisdom of suppre ing the desire to attack your fellow mem be in your country speeches, and of allowi s some little credit to others as well as

urself for being actuated by a true desire 7. 9e rve New Zealand, as well as for possessing power to bring to that service some very moderate amount of experience and ability, possibly if New Zealand politicians were better acquainted with each other’s histories and characters, there would be fewer exhibitions upon the public platform of ungenerous personal attack, which rarely injure the individuals who,.from time to time, are unintentionally slandered, but which inevitably, impair the future influence, for good, which otherwise might be possible to the attacking side. —I am, &0., O. A. DE LATJTOUR. Napier, Feb. 13,1879. . i i