MR MOSS DEFENDS HIMSELF.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 653, 6 December 1899, Page 2

MR MOSS DEFENDS HIMSELF.

The Auckland Star having stated that Mr Moss is standing in the Opposition interest, he (Mr Moss) has issued the following reply :— To the Electors: — I have asked for fair play only daring the contest, but apparently I am not to get it. Six months ago I attacked monopolies when I first spoke at Waihi, a,ud have gone on since fearlessly doing the same, and of course all interested in monopolies are arrayed and combined against me. The Auckland Star, a monopoly fostering paper owned by Mr Henry Brett, the Kauri Timber " King," and interested in other monopolies, such as the Press Association monopoly (which enables the Star to remain the only evening paper in Auckland), has.takeaa mean advantage of its position. It first insinuated that I had gone back on my traditions, and was trying to reverse my twenty years' previous connection with the Liberal Party-, and was coming out in the Opposition interest. I wrote and denied it. Then in Thursday's issue it boldly announces that I have come out as an Opposition candidate, which statement, I do net hesitate to say, was false to the knowledge of the proprietors. I wrote i and denied that .also. This was done in ! the interest of the Auckland monopolies, who are determined that I shall not be your member, and done in the interest of a candidate nominated by Queen Street. I am informed by telegraph that the Star •will for the first time publish a denial by me to-night, but this willbe too late to reach the outlying portions of the electorate. The object of these statements is plainly to injure me in the parts of the j electorate where I will not have time to j contradict them, because a lie like that with several days start can never be overtaken. Will the electors accept this pledge from me:—When I go to Wellington I sit on the Government benches, and rather than vote against the Government on a no-confidence motion, I will resign and offer my services again to the electorate. To ignore my candidature as the Star has done for the last two months was its own business, but to take advantage of its position and spread a wilful falsehood, Avith the intention of injuring me, is a mean abuse of the power of the press that I never dreamt even a mono-poly-fostering paper would dare to do. The contemptible insinuation of my hav-' ing an axe to grind I deem in the face of my stand an insult to the intelligence of the electors. I hope no elector will forget on Wednesday what an unequal fight mine has been, and how helpless single-: handed I must be with all the powerful monopolies fighting in a cowardly and unscrupulous way against me. If I am not supported, I must fall, arid my fall will be a warning to others not to fight monopolies in New Zealand, but to cringe and crawl to them. —Yours obediently, E. G. B. MOSS. Pueroa, 4th December, 1899.