A CRUEL SLANDER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144146, 16 July 1913, Page 2

A CRUEL SLANDER.

In the course of his speech on the Addross-in-Reply, the member for Nelson, Mr. Atm-oro, made a bitter attack upon the Minister of Marino in connection with the appointment of a Mr. Sfmpson to the Westport Harbonr Board. Mr. Either is of course fair game for the other side to shoot at, and ho is well able to defend himself and deal out a Roland for his attacker’s Oliver. When, however, it comes to dragging in an outsider, and besmirching his character, it is quite another matter. Mr. Atmore twitted tho Minister with being a No License advocate and at tho same time appointing to a public position a man who had boon convicted of criminal offences. Subsequently another member, Mr. Colvin, usually a most courteous and inoffensive gentleman, referred to -Mr. Simpson as the man whom the Minister had dug up at Karamca. Mr. Fisher had nothing to say at tho time further than ho knew nothing against Mr. Simpson’s character, but if it was as represented ho would not consider him a fit person for tho position to which ho had been appointed. So tho accusation had to stand for a few days. Among our telegrams to-day, however, is one from Westport which puts a different light on tho matter. At a meeting of the Duller Comity Council on Tuesday several members referred to tho aspersions cast upon Mr. Simpson in Parliament and declared that he is an honourable man, in every way fitted to represent his fellow citizens. It appears that in his youthful days Mr. SiiStpson did get into some trouble, but, according to a Westport paper, lie at the time strongly resented what ho felt was an injustice done him and wished to appeal but was unable to do so on account of the heavy expense. At any rate tho remarks of his follow members of the Buller County Council, and tho fact that his fellow settlers havo expressed their complete confidence in him by electing him their representative, should suffice to show that if lie has a past ho has lived it down by conducting himself subsequently in a thoroughly upright straightforward manner. ' Tho chairman of the Westport Harbour Board, in a letter to a local paper a few days ago, wrote of bira that “his own fellow residents rejoice in him and havo the complotest confidence that while he is with them they liave an exceptionally able, energetic, and progressive man to voice their interests. To know the man and talk with him is to feel at once that you are in tho presence of a fultpov.*ered, determined pioneer—tile main typo that this country wants . . . Mr. Simpson is one of our rising young men. Ho is one of the manliest,' and as straight as a gun-barrel.” Even the worst criminal, if ho mends his ways, is entitled to have his past condoned,, instead of having it raked np against him years later, and if party politics are to load to tliis kind of thing tho soqnor they are done aw r ay with the bettor.