MR. HINE’S POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 93, 2 December 1911, Page 5

MR. HINE’S POLITICS.

Sir, i—lt is simply stunning yet arauseingly laughable to hear Mr Hine unblushingly making his assertions against the Ward Administration. He was at Pembroke Hoad yesterday and his meeting was somewhat of a lively nature. There were twenty-seven electors present, and out of this number ten were from outside the district and will not record their votes at the local polling booth, yet they were allowed, under a strong protest from me, to vote on the “confidence” motion. The confidence in Mr Mine was carried by a small majority through these ten supporters of his being permitted to vote, and the fact that by mistake two of Mr McCluggage’s supporters voted for the “confidence.” Packing a meeting may be considered a smart political trick, yet there is little to be admired in it. Mr Hine got a bac. handling at. the meeting, and in every case he was totally defeated. He looked very uncomfortable in some of the corners into which he was driven, lie, as usual, brought out his imaginary Dairy Regulations, but in the sharp encounter that followed he had cause to regret. He was challenged at every point and there will be no disputing but that he could not substantiate his assertions in a single instance. Every effort was made to induce him to make a statement of his party’s intentions on the No-license question and the bare majority. He admitted they had not included this matter in their platform and he did not know. The truth is the Opposition, almost to a man, is solidly opEosed to'the demands of the No-license eague. Mr Hine has delivered himself' of these horrible nightmares so often that they have become realities and have found permanent habitation in his mind. Out of nothing he has created something, and his devout followers hang spellbound on all his utterances. However, next Thursday will bring unwelcome tidings and let us hope that these hideous mental dis-

figurements will be dispelled from the minds of the Opposition. 1 forwarded a letter to appear last night in reply to F. .1. Jackson’s entanglomen; “Cause and Effect,” but it could not have • • ached'll c »nice a< it .v is mol published. As this is the last occasion on which matter dealing with the election will be accepted, I am precluded from replying to “Consistent” and the public will not have an opportunity of reading and learning a little about “Consistent,” whose name I was fortunate enough to obtain a few days ago.—l am, etc., THOMAS BOYLE. IN DEFENCE OF MR. HINE. (To the Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir,—l notice an extraordinary letter signed “Prohibition.” If “Prohibition” would sign his name it would be found that ho is one of those “Liberals” who is trying to belittle Mr Hine at the expense of the IVoiamtion Party. For nearly twenty years Mr Hine lias consistently supported Prohibition principles. Has the nominee of the Govt, party taken the same stand? “Prohibition tries to belittle Mr Hine (1) by quoting a sentence uttered by a man who 3.is passed away and whose actions friend or opponent does not now wish to discuss. Shielding themselves behind a dead man is a very common method of defence and attack by some politicians nowadays. (2) By stating that Mr Hine charged the Government with corrupt practices, which is not correct. Mr Hine’s charges, most of which were proved to the satisfaction of a partisan tribunal, concerned Government members who were obtaining pickings through their influence as members of ‘Parliament. Mr Hine did not attempt nor was the inquiry open to proving “Tammanyism” against the Government. The cowardly inuendo that Mr Hine has referred disparagingly to a person who lias passed away is .absolutely incorrect. [ have attended more than one meeting and no such reference has been made.—l am, etc., i “NO-LICENSE.”