THE AIRPORT LOAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 313, 5 December 1936, Page 2

THE AIRPORT LOAN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The vote on this issue has been settled. On the publicity given to this project, the soundness or otherwise of same, and the apathy of the ratepayers there remains nothing to say. However, l feel impelled to answer finally the personalities of your correspondent ‘‘Vote For the Loan” in as straightforward a manner as possible so that lie can transfer his attentions elsewhere. In his first attack your correspondent accused me ol making a certain statement, and also deplored my reasons for ajjpealing to the signatories of the tion. Those were the only two points made by him. In your issue of Wednesday, I replied to him, pointing out that the statement imputed to me was never made—reiterating in support of this my original words, and further giving very good grounds for appealing to those who had signed the petition. With the obvious intention of “chewing the rag.” “Vote For the Loan” returns to the dispute, raising the side issue of whether or not a loan was undertaken to pay for the Diesel engines, and again falsely imputing to me a statement—this time, that 1 said that a loan was undertaken. Again I would correct liis lapse from truth and point out that 1 spoke not of a loan but of investment in the -electrical plant. It would mak'o little difference anyhow—it was jiublic money. If 1 lose a shilling of my own or one I have borrowed 1 am still out of jiocket by that amount. I am quito aware that a poll does not have to bo taken except in the case of monies borrowed, but J. argue that the doubtfulness of the Diesel engine enterprise called for a poll. “Vote For the Loan” also says that I held that he read something that I did not write. Again ho is misinformed. I held that he had not read what he accused mo of writing—a considerable difference. The cheap sneer about a ■‘State subsidy” is doubtless the fruit of desperate espionage and probably refers to the fact that I am a superannuated servant of the public. That remark serves no purpose but to betray the triviality and vindictiveness of the mind which conceived it. Your correspondent gives as a reason for his anonymity the danger of being “blown out in these days of political high pressure.” For the courage of “Vote For the Loan” which cannot be screwed to the point of giving an opinion upon a civic enterprise in these days of political freedom I don’t pretend to speak. “Vote for the Loan” knows best himself the limitations of his valour and whether or not a frank opinion on a matter of local interest supported by his name would compromise him in the light of past actions or opinions. To employ the electrical vernacular introduced by himself, 1 can say only that it is always the weakest fuse which is “blown out” first. He says also that lie is content to read the reports of the council meetings and support the advancement of the city, but if the bulk of the public misreads the Press reports as he has misread my letter it is their concern. To close a pointless discussion may I say that in any issue with an opponent I would not. stoop to use the weapons of inaccuracy and malice.—l am etc:., F. J. LEWIN.