THE WAIHEMO CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11794, 25 July 1900, Page 3

THE WAIHEMO CONTEST.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sut, —My only .reason for taking any notice of Mr Ramsay's letter was : on account, of its unfairness. I admit that a candidate for

political honours is a fair target for anyone who wishes to have a shot at him; but surely this can be done without casting unfair imputations upon a large body of electors. Cannot Mr Ramsay give electors credit for supporting a- candidate for some reason other than having an axe to grind?.

I also consider it was unfair for Mr Ramsay to publish the letter he did on the eve of the election, when it was hardly possible for it to he. replied to in time for the reply to be read by a large! majority of the elector.?. Mr Ramsay says that when writing the letter he had no desire to assist any candidate. It is hard to believe that Mr Ramsay would write such a letter just on the eve of an election merely on account of personal bad feeling, and I prefer to think that Mr Ramsay was actuated by political party motives. If he is a Government supporter in writing belittling a Government, candidate on the eve of an election, and abusing him for turning over to the Government side, Mr Ramsay has an odd way of giving his support. If ho is not a Government supporter, as he was one not very long ago. it is morely effrontery on Mr Ramsay's part to write abusing anyone* else for changing--his views. It does not, however, concern me what object Mr Ramsay had in writing to the'paper, but I do think that anyone scattering imputations broadcast us Mr Ramsay has. (lone should give names and facts.

Mr Ramsay status that supporters of Mr John M'Kenzie in the employ of supporter? of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, wero afraid to express their opinions. I can only say this, thai in Indor and Gtfffie's employ there were, in 1893. four supporters of Mr John M'Kenzio, and thren of them are still in my employ, the fourth having left of his own free will. I do not intend to enter into a newspaper controversy with Mr Ramsay on such an open question as polities, and I cwaipjt answer any other of Mr Ramsay's imy»yavit\is without

he puts them in a more concrete form. As tc this Mr Ramsay may please himself, but I do think that not even the exigencies of party politics justify Mr Ramsay's grossly unfair letter, and for that reason I write to protest against it. I may say, for Mr Ramsay's information, that no matter how warm political difcussions waxed over the election, I did not hear one, even of Mr Gaiffie's bitterest opponents, who had a word to say in favour of Mr Ramsay's letter.—l am, etc., Naseby, July 21. F. W. Indek.