THE MEMBER FOR NORTH FRANKIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6567, 4 December 1882, Page 3

THE MEMBER FOR NORTH FRANKIN.

TO THI EDITOR. Sir.,—Major Harris, at Otahuhu, in reply to a question upon the subject of his voting against the million loan for the North Island Trunk Railway, is reported to have said " The newspapers accused him of evasion, and owed an apology to Mr. H. S. Andrews, whom it misled." I hasten to say the newspaper has not misled me, neither does it owe me an apology. What are the facts ? He says he told the House "he had received telegrams expressing satisfaction with bis vote"—that is, he led the House to believe that the electors of North Franklin were satisfied with his conduct when they were extremely dissatisfied. Subsequently he stated the; " commitee" of his supporters sent that telegram—not telegrams, mark !— and then said that the telegram was only signed "W. W; Wills." It is well known that Mr. Wills sent that telegram for himself and another. The electors knew nothing about it, for the electors as a body were exasperated at the suicidal vote given by its members. I telegraphed to Major Harris, asking when and where s.uch a meeting took place authorising such a telegram to be sent. He replied, "In August. North Franklin." He says now this reply was net an evasion. Well, I and the body of electors think it one of a very deep dye, trying to perpetuate the belief that a meeting of electors had been held, which he knew was false, as the telegram he received was only a semiindividual one from Mr. W. Wills as a piece of electioneering tactics, and Major Harris knew exactly what it was worth. His explanation is cunning, but not clear, and on a par is his "fair support promise to the Whitaker Government " justification. Politically weak and puerile he certainly shows himself to be, to my poor mind and intellect. He certainly is the member for North Franklin, but according to his own report of his Parliamentary doings and tactics he is not the representative of the opinions, wants, and wishes of the electorate by a long way. —I am, &c, H. S. Andrews.