A VEXED QUESTION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 378, 27 April 1915, Page 6

A VEXED QUESTION.

To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir,—l have been very much amused at the efforts of several of your correspondents to arrive at a correct estimate of the attendance of Mr Holljaind's first public meeting in. r the; Alexandra Hall on April 15. E. Townsend elaima that "at no time did the audience exceed 50;" F. R. Smith counted exactly 96; "Constant Reader" says he saw more than 120, and has a friend who puts the number down at 130. Having the idea that all these correspondents are probably more interested in the result of the election than the ordinary "common or garden elector,: who. doles not take such contests too seriously, I took the trouble to see what your own reporter had to say about the meeting, and I find that the very first w.ords of his report are: "About 70 people attended the meeting in the Alexandra Hall last evening,'' etc. My curiosity was whetted, and I looked up your morning contemporaries. One of them had no space to devote tp such a .trivial detail as the attendance, "and the other simply recorded that "Mr A. I). Hassall presided over a small attendance, I was present at the meeting myself, but I was -not" aware that- such trenwmdous issues would rest on this, .question, so I did not make a count. This I do know, -however,' that the hall seemed to me to be particularly. empty, . and when it is full the Alexandra Hall holds only about 300. what does it matter?. Dear "Constant Reader" and all the rest of you, the sun will rise, a-nd dogs will bark, alid men will continue to disagree, even uf Mr Holland does happen to chase the. field home in your■■-Mayoral' Stakes.—l am, etc, < QUID REFBRTf