THE OAMARU ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18849, 30 April 1923, Page 4

THE OAMARU ELECTION

TO THE EDITOR. Sis, —In tho Oamaru Mail’s report of Mr Macpherson’s Windsor mooting that gentleman is reported to have referred to myself and to my shorthand report of th© nowfamous Ngapara speech in tho following words: ”It was quite easy to see that it was not the work of a trained journalist, particularly as it was written by a very estimable lady who had a gift for shorthand, but who, like the horse, had been out on grass and had gone a bit rusty. It was so appalling in character and so peculiar in construction that he would waste no more time on the mutter. Ho was only sorry .that the writer was not of the male sex, when' he would have put his chivalry in his pocket and icmoved the glove from his hand.” Well, Sir, Mr Macpherson has had ample time to show that my report of his meeting! was incorrect and merited his chivalrous reference to it and to myself that I have quoted above. The report was taken down by mo in shorthand word for word as it was uttered. Possibly there may bo some trifling error as to the figures taken down or in a name that I did not catch, otherwise the report is absolutely correct. Mr Macpherson says it was appalling in character. I quite agree with him, and so does everyone else who had read the report. But, Sir, it was not tho reporter, but the speaker, that made it appalling. Then, again, Mr Macpherson states that my shorthand has gone a bit rusty. I would like to tell Mr Macpherson that I am prepared to submit to any test to’ establish that I am quite able to report his speeches word for word as they arc uttered.. Mr Macpherson’s supporters are now asserting that I was not in the hall when Mr M’Cu.lloch (tho chairman) made his introductory remarks. I was accompanied into the hall by Mr and Mrs Mulligan (of Oamaru) and by Mr Rapson (of Ngapara). I was present when Mr. M'Culloch rose to introduce Mr Macpherson, and tho following is word for word part of what Mr M'Culloch said; "Tho matter was cut and dried before ever it went to tho Supremo Court at all, aud it is just about what wo can expect. You know, and I. know’, and a great many more, that th© Minister of Justice (Mr Lee) went and tricked the returning officer , into making a false declaration—Mr Woodward, into making a false declaration.” Mr M'Culloch mad© other remarks prior to tho statements, I, have quoted above, and ended his speech with a quotation from Isaiah.—l am, etc., Isabella M, Grave. Sir,—l have read Mr W. T. Slater’s letter of April 26, in the latter part of which ho refers to a dramatic turn, and I note ho passes some comments rather ■ reflecting on my action at both Mr Macpherson’s and Mr Massey's meetings. As Mr Slater is the head master of the Ngapara School, one would reasonably expect a man holding that position tq bo sure of his ground before rushing into print so that ho might not leave himself open to ridicule. In tho first place Mr Slater told me that he was not present at Mr Macpherson’s Ngapara meeting, consequently he is writing from hearsay. Mr Slater says I rushed in with a vote of thanks before anyone could move a vote of thanks and confidence, thinking I was working a smart political dodge. What really hap'penedj is that at the conclusion of Macpherson’s address the chairman (Mr M'Cullocn) asked the meeting if anyone had a motion to propose. There was no response, Mr M'Culloch asked a second time. There was a few seconds’ silence and out of courtesy to the candidate ! proposed a vote of thanks to him. With regard to Mr Slater’s second insinuation that the “dramatic” turn was nothing but a prearranged trick between myself and Mr Grave, I flatly contradict Mr Slater. Mr Grave met me at the hall door on the night of Mr Massey’s meeting _ and arked me if I had read tho report of Mr Macpherson’s Ngapara address as it appeared in the North Otago Times, and if so, whether it was a correct report. I replied that the report was correct. That is all the conversation that took place between Mr Grave and myself. I had not the slightest idea that Mr Grave intended to take the platform that night and appeal to me in the meeting to state whether the report was correct or not. I still say that the report was a correct one, and every one who heard the speaker that night knows that tho report was correct. Mr Macpherson made other statements in addition to those reported, but that does not alter tho correctness of the report. Neither of the speakers has so far denied the statements attributed to them. —I am, etc., C. Hopgood. Ngapara.