THE LAND BOARD AND THE DUMMYISM INQUIRY. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6780, 7 November 1883, Page 4

THE LAND BOARD AND THE DUMMYISM INQUIRY. TO THE EDITOR.

SiE,—No one who read the account of the proceedings before the Waste Lands Board re ths dummyism business can fail to be struck with the position which Mr Stout assumed during the course of the inquiry. Mr Haggitt, the Crown solicitor, was supposed to conduct the inquiry on behalf of the Government; whilo Mr Stout, to all appearances, held a brief on the same Bide, and followed his learned friend, Mr Haggitt. Now,' Kir, as 1 understand it, the members of the Waste Lands Board are in the position of judges, and as such tbey should be free from bias and entirely unprejudiced. I noticed some time ago that wben certain proceedings which were initiated by the Waste Lands Board came before the Supreme Court, Mr Stout coolly appeared as junior counsel to Mr Haggitt. Surely, Sir, this is, to say the least of it, rather peculiar.—l am, &c, Nbmo Debet Esse Judex in Phopbia Causa. Dunedin, November 5.

MR WATT TO "CIVIS."

Per favour of the Editor. Mr Deab Civis,—l feel very much flattered by your notice of me with respect to my candidature for the office of Mayor. If you have any doubt whether I have assumed any additional suavity of demeanour let mo hasten to allay it by assuring you that I have not, and also that Ido not intend to do so. I have not asked, and do not intend to ask, anyone individually for his vote. Collectively I ask all the electors who consider me the most eligible candidate to vote for me, and I ask no others, for I look upon a vote as a trust which every elector should use to tho best of his knowledge and ability; and so viewing it, I think it derogatory to the candidate to ask a vote as a favour, and to the voter who is asked for it. If voters are to be canvassed, and to pledge themselves, I should like to ask of what use is the ballot unless it be to make men false who vote according to their convictions.

I assure yon I intend not only to stand, but to sit also, and, as I have now nothing else to do, to devote my whole time to the duties of the office if elected.

The brevity of my announcement is due to the fact that it contains all I had to say at tho time, as I cannot claim any support from having been a councillor, not hitherto having been free to become one, nor have I beon requested by a " large number " to become a candidate,—l am, &c, I. N. Watt. Dunedin, Novomber 3.