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Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8124, 22 March 1887, Page 4

Me Chetstadl’s letter on the use of Sir John Hall’s name at the Jubilee meeting is both a denial and a sermon. The latter, luckily, is brief—refreshingly and surprisingly brief. Mr Chrystall’s denial of political motive we, of course, accept in accordance with the common usages of civilised society. Mr Chrystall need not have hurried to excuse Mr Webb from improper motives, for Mr Webb was not accused of anything of the kind, Mr Chrystall will see, if he reads our article again, that Mr Webb was accused of nothing but a mistake —an error of judgment. The chaotic surroundings of a confused meeting are so little favourable to cool thinking that we are not in the least surprised at Messrs Webb and Chrystall for making a blunder—very possibly with the best intentions in the world. As our article was not penned amidst the excited goings on of the Jubilee meeting, we were able to think out our view of the case at leisure. We thought then as we think now. that putting up Sir John Hall was exactly calculated to stir up political feeling at the meeting—a result it certainly did at once bring about. Moreover, out of Sir John Hall’s selection, political capital would have been made by partisans in all parts of New Zealand. We then spoke out strongly for the complete exclusion from the Jubilee celebration of that political element which Mr Chrystall (innocently and unwittingly as he now explains) was the means of introducing into the meeting of last Wednesday. That complete exclusion the selection of Mr Justice Johnston would effect. For Mr Chrystall’s precepts about political partizans, we have just so much respect as they are worth. We have known Mr Chrystall —when the interests of importers were affected by Ministerial proposals —a very keen partizan indeed. We cannot help thinking that were some ruthless Treasurer to talk about fortifying the Customs tariff a month or two hence, that even the nearness of the Jubilee would hardly silence Mr Chrystall utterly. The festival which should make the Lion of Freetrade lie down with the Protectionist Lamb would be a Jubilee indeed.