MR, BAGNALL'S REPLY TO W. PLANT.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2124, 18 August 1875, Page 3

MR, BAGNALL'S REPLY TO W. PLANT.

To tlio Editor of tlio Thames Advertiser,

Sib, —I believe it is somowhero stated " that to tell only a part of tho truth is worse than lying." lour correspondent, " W. Plant," quotes a part of a sentence from my letter of tho 13th instant, and then proceeds to inform mo that there were delegates representing 400 to 500 members of friendly societies present at a meeting concerning which I said," I bolieve it will be found that tkero was no meeting of delegates of tho various friendly societies on tho Thames, for tho reason that some of tlio societies had not appointed any. 1 "" W. Plant" has proved that my opinion on this matter, at least, was correct, for if delegates of the various societios had been present, about 1,000 members would bo represented. Your readers will probably bo surprised to know that what was represented through your columns as a meeting of delegates representiug the various friendly socioties at tho Thames (of which there are seven), consisted of fivo persons, representing only three of these societies. The best of the joke is, that these delegates were appointed to consider what amendments were required in tho Friendly Societies Act, and all they did in tho matter was to pass a resolution condemning what I had done, while not ono of tlicso know what I did. Mr Plant is exceedingly unfortunate in quoting the case of tho Kauwaeranga ratepayers' meeting, 1874, to prove the incorrectness of my opinions, as tho opinion which I then expressed has been concurred in by threo of tho best lawyers in Auckland, and did not cost the ratepayers £8, as stated by Mr Plant, who is not a ratepayer in tho Kauwaeranga district, although he would have your readers to believe so, by saying.that my opinion cost "us" somo£B. I am happy to say that wo havd no such " plants" on Block 27.—1 am, &0., ,L. J, Baqnall. August 17, 1875.