Mr Reeves at Fendalton.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6036, 19 September 1887, Page 4

Mr Reeves at Fendalton.

TO THE EDITOB OP THE STAR.

Sic, — After reading Mr Garrick's speech at Fendalton, I referred to my shorthand notes of Mr Beeves 1 speech, to satisfy myself as to what he actually said about the Upper House. The following is an exact transcript of my notes, without omitting, adding, or altering a single ■word : — " I think the Lower House should stand a good reduction, but I should not foe in favour of reducing it to lesa than J&150; but the other House, although the ionorarium should not be cut off altogether, yet could well stand a reduction of 50 per cent, &c, &c."

I have no doubt that in transcribing I substituted the word " abolished " for " cut off,". and I believe I wrote, " While it Should not be abolished altogether." In -any case, there is no doubt as to the fact that the honorarium of the Upper House, and not the Upper Houbo itself; was referred to.

I cannot imagine Low the mistake occurred, unless, in the hurry of writing,' the word " not" was accidentally omitted. "Possibly my manuscript was more than ordinarily illegible, and the "while it" ■may have been mistaken for " which." Since writing the foregoing I have referred te the Press report, and find that it reads as follows : — " He would not reduce the honorarium of the Lower House below .£l5O, as, if it were made lower than this, it would drive poor men out of the House. "The Upper House he would reduce 50 per /cent, but he would not do away with the payment altogether." I write this letter unsolicited, and simply as a matter of ordinary fairness to Mr "Beeves. — I am, &c,

GEO. M'JNTTEE.