THE NEWTON ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 3

THE NEWTON ELECTION.

TO THB BDITOR. Sib,— yon grant space to a bona fid* working man, elector of the above district, to express bis opinion upon some of the features ot the present contest in this electorate. Everyone admits that additional interest is taken in this contest, as it represents the Government versus the people. It appears patent tome that the Government adopted the present cry for protection as one most seri* ously affecting their own interests, for the only semblance of protection in their tariff proposals was the effort made to tax the people in order to proteot the salaries of the Ministry. The country is in earnest in the universal " cry for retrenchment, but the Government has made every effort to burke the subject, while they substitute and foster the protection craze, at the same timo sending to England for wire-wove mattresses, which oan be made in Auckland as oheaply and efficiently as elsewhere. Sir, when Mr. Tole was questioned upon the subject of the wirewove 'mattresses, the account of whioh appeared in your paper, he told the people that they were not to believe the Hbrald, bat he would make inquiries Although repeatedly challenged for the result of his inquiries, he has not yet given any satisfactory reason. Surely it is rightly said that the freetrader is a better protectionist than the member of the present Government now soliciting the votes of the working classes of Newton. ■ A seotion of the Press which olaims to be most in sympathy with the working classes says there is no fault to find with Mr. Tole. (It never gave its readers an aocount of the mattresses, for fear it might damage his chances in the present contest.) I say Mr. Tole haa sacrificed his principles for place and power. We all know his action re education—how, to seoure his election for Eden, he forsook his principles, and how he would not have Sir Julius at any price, but the " hou." and £1250 a year, travelling expenses, and a palatial residence was too great a temptation. And though he has been drawing this excellent salary, he tells us he is a poorer man than he wan he entered the House. At the same time ha wishes to be re-elected (to lose more., I suppose) I Sir, retrenchment is the people's ! cry for this election, but we cannot expect muoh in this respect from a Minister who cannot live on saoh an extravagant salary. j Again, Mr. Tele said he had saved £10,000 in his department. From what I learn from the public accounts, Mr. Tole last year exceeded the vote by £1200, so perhaps he means that he intended to save £10,000 on { this year's business. But as the contingencies ' amount to £95,000, no doubt there will be ample margin. Possibly, when the elections , are over, his successor will supply us with I further particulars. ' Watching the contest between Messrs. Tole and Withy, I have to complain of the former's abusive tone and untruthful statements. At the nomination on Monday Mr. Tole said that he had been condemned for entering the contest after Mr. Withy had announced himself. Mr. Tole knows perfectly well that the complaint is , that while he is opposing Mr. Withy in Newton, he has allowed two nominees of the terrible (in his eyes) Atkinson "crowd" to have Eden between them. Then Mr. Tole insinuates that Mr. Garratt has been brought out by Mr. Withy, but so far as I can judge I should certainly say the boot is on the other foot, as Mr. Withy's committee well know. Mr. Garratt has always been very closely con nected with the hon. gentleman, and has fought many contests for him before, therefore I think if he has been influenced by any one, it is certainly not by Mr. Withy. But I must close with a word re " new man." A new district, a new man, and a thorough practical business one in the bargain. Fellow working men do not be deceived by the false cry of voting for " working men's candidate." With due respect to Mr. Garratt, I must repeat (slightly altered) what the Toleites may remember, that every vote given to Garratt is one for Tole—so beware 1 Mr. Withy has been one of those working men who is entitled to our respect. By olose attention to his own business he has made himself qualified and placed himself in a position to attend to oars.—lam, &o. A Working Man.