ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 November 1928, Page 6

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

"STATE OF PARTIES" (Nelson): The other questions you ask are dealt with in our editorial columns to-day. "CONTEMPTIBLE" (Nelson): .The "contemptuous reference to Sir Francis Bell as a 'spare part' in the Ministry—a puerile sneer at one of the cleverest and brainiest men the New Zealand Parliament has ever known," appeared in an advertisement published on behalf of the United Party. "FACTNG-BOTH-WAYS" (Nelson): Yes, Mr Moffatt did in a letter published in 1925, give a reminder that in 1911 Sir Joseph Ward put up an official Liberal candidate for Nelson with the object of keeping Mr Atmore out of Parliament. We cannot see that this has anything to do with Mr Moffatt's attitude to-day. He supports the Ward proposal for the completion of the unfinished Main Trunk lines. That does not make him a follower of Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Moffatt presided quite impartially at the meetings of lioih local candidates as well as at the Hon. Mr Wright's meeting. Your letter is not only most unreasonable, but far too long with the present pressure on our space. "CLAPTRAP" (Richmond): As you stipulate that your exceptionally controversial letter "must not be published before Tuesday," we must decline it.

"OBSERVER" (Murchison): The pom! has been fully stressed in cables and by the Alliance. "MORE PLUMS FOR THE DOOLANS" (Nelson): Your letter is almost too offensive to be deserving of notice. But we should like to answer one of your questions with the reply that il was never "fully proved that he stuffed the Civil Service with Roman Catholics and gave them all the plums." We are not aware of even one case of the kind.