A COWARDLY SLANDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 14

A COWARDLY SLANDER.

Sie.-I am a Britisirer, and hailed from England many years ago. If Mr Harnett is a fair representation of tho Englishman of to-day. then they Iraye amazingly altered; (or cowardice is not characteristic of the Britisher. If Mr Harnett had been one of those who received a thorough ducking nt Auckland I would liave said: " It served hiui right." He has slandered the people of this city in the most cowardly fashion without giving them an opportunity to denwnd Lis proofs in his assertion tfiat. Dunedin wae "absolutely the mast immoral city he had ovor struck." Not contont with this, Mr Harnett aleo maligned tire people of Invercargill by stating "that they were literally tumbling over one another in a disgusting medley of cosmopolitan drunkenness, both in their houses and in the .streets." These statemontK will probably be repeated wherever this man goes, and circulated, perhaps, in hundreds of papers in different, countries. But I am amazed that there should be a •ingle individual in this city who would endorse Mr Harnett's statements. ' Tho Rev. W. Thomson, speaking of this tirade apiinst the people of Invereargill. says: "Mr Harnett's (statements are emphatic, wining from one who is absolutely unbiassed," and "Mr Harnett is known to ba a keen observer, and therefore his pronouncement .is- an authentic one." New,

Sir, I challenge the Rev. \V, Thomson to toll the citizens i[ he considers Mr Harnett's statement are equally emphatic and those of un unbiassed, keen, observer, and that therefore Jiis pronouncement is an authentic one, when he said thai. "Donodin was absolutely the most immoral city ho had over struok." I am absolutely disgusted, as I think hundreds more must be, thai our city's and our people's good name should be drugged through the mire to bolster up any trade.—l am, etc.. Britisher. i