MR MOSS AT PAEROA.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 652, 2 December 1899, Page 2

MR MOSS AT PAEROA.

Mr Moss addressed a crowded meeting at the Criterion Theatre on Wednesday evening, Mr F. Cock occupying the chair. Mr Moss spoke for an hour and a-half, and was well received, being frequently applauded. At the conclusion of his address the candidate was unanimously awarded a vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Mi' J. McAndrew, seconded by Mr A. Thorp. During his speech Mr Moss read the following letter, which he had sent to the Liberal Federation:— ■ " W. H. Ross, Esq., Secretary Liberal and Labour Federation, Waihi. . Dear Sir, —I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th inst., covering a pledge for my signature. The pledge is to bind myself to accept the decision of an ' impromptu poll,' to be taken.of the members of the various branches of the Ohincmuri Electoral District, for the selection of a candidate at the approaching elections, and to act in accordance 'with that decision by retiring in favour of the successful candidate. After giving to the request of the Federation the careful consideration which it claims, I regret that I must decline to give the pledge desired. It will be remembered that I announced myself as soon as the decision of Mr Cadman not to stand was made known, and in June last addressed the electors at Waihi, was received by them with great kindness, and pledged myself to go to the poll. In all other parts of the district I have addressed meetings with the same result, but the frankness with which I felt it due to the electors to state my views has given offence to powerful interests whose opposition^ is naturally to be expected. It will be clear that the united ' splid' vote of such interests, even though a minority of the electors, must outweigh the great majority scattered withput pre-concert among the other candidates submitted'to consideration at an ■ impromptu poll' such as you refer to. It also casts but oi consideration the numerous electors who, though recognised an.d valued Liberals,

are not members of the Federation. .The votes of others not attached to any party, and especially those who are doing valued pioneer work in the isolated parts of this electorate, are also not to be thrown out of consideration. These ar« the reasons why 1 prefer leaving the will of the electors to be declared in the old way— freely by ballot at the free public poll. Kindly make this letter public before the ' impromptu poll' is taken. — Yours faithfully,. E. O. B. Moss.—Paeroa, 18th November, 1899."