MR. STEWARD AND THE COUNTRY ELECTORS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1044, 25 August 1879, Page 2

MR. STEWARD AND THE COUNTRY ELECTORS.

TO THE EDITOR. OF THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir,—l had no desire to pen these few lines, or to in any way take part in a newspaper controversy in connection with the election about to take place ; but the letter signed by Mr. W. J. Steward which appears in Saturday evening's issue of your journal, is one that I cannot allow to go uncontradicted. I observe that Mr. Steward attempts to explain away the charge preferred against him by by your correspondent " A Country Elector" of having prevented the country districts at the last re-distribution of seats obtaining a separate representation from the town. Now, sir, the version given of the affair by Mr. Steward in his letter is altogether at variance with a statement he made in my hearing. Unless my memory fails me he then said that he had, when it was proposed to divide the district, declared that he would not accept the second member rather than see the district divided as was proposed. This, let me say, did not take place in the House, for, if I remember rightly what Mr. Steward said in my hearing, the proposal was made before the question came up in the House. I would not have written this had it not been for an honest desire to have the whole truth and nothing but the truth stated clearly about this matter. Had not your correspondent " Country Elector" brought the question before the public I should probably not have thought of it. If Mr. Steward declares my version of the matter an incorrect one, I shall gladly bow to his decision, and freely acknowledge that my memory is at fault. I am, &c., Town Elector.