MISREPRESENTATION BY "MR." W. PLANT.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2127, 21 August 1875, Page 3

MISREPRESENTATION BY "MR." W. PLANT.

To tho Editor of the Thames Adveiitjsee,

Sib,—The last letter from this gentleman is, if possible, worse than tbo first. With one exception it is a series of untruths and misrepresentations, and would be beneath my notice were it not that Mr Plant is a delegate of the Protestant Alliance Society. He is one of tbo fivo. delegates of the three friendly societies which, according _to his own statement (this ia the exception abovo referred to) did nothing but condemn my conduct " in constituting myself a (it is a wonder they did not say the) representative of all societies." It is true, sir, that this is all tho business dono by these delegates; but it is not true that 1" constituted myself a representative of all (or even of any of the) societies." It is true that I have, as a member of a friendly society, been for nearly two months corresponding with a member, of tho House of Bepresentatives on the Friendly Societies Act, and have in,my possession documents which provo that tho notion taken by me was the meana of having the subject brought under the notico of tho Government, which has promised to introduce an Act amending the present law in the most urgent particulars during the present session of the Assembly. The action which led to this was taken by me some weeks before these delegates were spoken of. I think your readers can clearly see that these delegates are guilty of three very improper acts. First, in passing a resolution in reference to my conduct, which was founded upon a false assumption; second, in causing a statement to appear in your columns which was not true; and third, in neglecting tho business which they were appointed by

their societies to perform. I hold it to bo tho duty of theso delegates to refract what they havo done, instead of attempting by falsehood and misrepresentation (as ono of them has dono) to cast odium upon mo for doing what I or any other momber of a friendly society has a perfect right to do. Mr Plant know? h6 is trying to mislead your readers, and that I did not mean tho publio to uuderstand that thero had beon no meeting of delegates, but that tho meeting was not ono representing tho various friendly societies at tho Thames. Ho also judges my statement in referenco to tho Kauaoranga district by his own standard, and thinks I would attempt to mislead your readors on account of tho difference between £8 and £7125. I say my opinion did not cost tho ratepayers cither of theso sums, or any other Bum, and that our Resident Magistrate did not disagree with tho opinioa held by mo and 1 tho persons referred to in my last (not obtaiued on tho cheap, cither), but stated in tho Court that if tho question of tho validity of tho election of tho Board rested solely upon tho.point of tho adjournment (this being tho only point upon which I expressed my opinion), ho would not bo inclined to disturb it. Tho election was upset because no poll was taken, tho ratepayers themselves refusing to havo it taken. In conclusion, lot mo assure W. Plant that his removal from tho Thames would not increase my happiness, but that to see him tell tho truth, and exhibit a little of that friendliness which should charaoteriso tho conduct of members of friendly societies^would do am, &c., L. J, Baonall. August 20,1875.