An Electioneering Dodge.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8142, 16 November 1905, Page 5

An Electioneering Dodge.

(To the Editor)

Sir,—ln regard to your, statement in last night's issue of the Standard re my question as to Mr Wood having deposited ■ the deeds of his private property in the Bank of New Zealand to save the credit of the town, I wish to emphatically deny that either Mr Wood or his committee had any knowledge of the afftiir, or they would have sought to stop me. " There are thousands of electors in this district who are not aware of this, and as modesty is not Mr Pirani's chief failing in his election tactics, I thought it only fair to bring before the public an action of Mr Wood's which may justly make that public proud of their present member. STou stigmatise this as au electioneering .dodge. Considering the fact that Mr J. Eickard is a connection of Mr Pirani's secretary, what price his letter as an electioneering dodge ?i—l am, etc., i W. Walter. [The fact that Mr Wood appeared very anxious to answer the question and smartly administered a rebuke to those of liis supporters for raising opposition to what seemed to them a hostile question before it was properly put suggests that there was knowledge such a question would be forthcoming. The fact that it was necessary for a past Mayor to place his deeds in the Bank on behalf of the "Borough was not creditable to the town. When it becomes necessary to do this the Council's expenditure must be largely exceeding its income, or a considerable sum must be outstanding inrates. Does Mr Walter know the amount outstanding in rates ! when the deeds went into the Bank ? j The whole matter hinges on the question of Mr Wood's administration of ]3orough affairs as Mayor at that period. If Mr Eickard isa connection |of Mr Pirani's secretary he (Mr Eiekard) has as much right to express Ins opinion as Mr Walter, and his views will carry just as much weight.— Eb. M.E.S.] ■