THE MEMBER FOR AVON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8351, 24 June 1905, Page 4

THE MEMBER FOR AVON.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Your correspondent "Veteran Liberal," in referring to the correspondence that has recently appeared in your columns regarding the Avon seat, is apparently working himself into a passion. He blames Mr Brunt's supporters for having started the correspondence for the purpose of damaging Mr Tanner in the eyes of the electors, and also for doing so under a norn de ijlume. I have read the correspondence from the start, and if my memory serves me right the first one was " Tannerite." Since this one appeared seven others bearing on the subject have appeared, only two of which evidently came from Mr Brunt's partisans, namely, "Bruntite" and "R.G.," and they were in reply. Then, as regards a norn de plume, " Veteran Liberal " shows very bad taste in complaining of others about a - fault of which he is palpably guilty himself. In reply to " V.L.'s" query, I would ask, Was not Mr Tanner requested to obtain the Government sanction to the adoption of the private letter-boxes in i the borough, which he failed to do, ! and it was left for a private ratepayer 'to bring into effeect? There is very little during the fifteen years that he has accomplished Tor the electorate, and the district would hot have missj ed much if some other member had been our representative, and very probably we might have been better looked after. "Veteran Liberal" says that it would take Mr Brunt some time to reach the height of parliamentary knowledge gained by Mr Tanner. Well, that is a question. Mr Tanner is certainly credited with knowing something of parliamentary procedure, and it would be a sorry spectacle if he did not, .after such a term of office, but his influence in Parliament is nil. I quite agree with "V.L." that it would be more advisable for n straight-out contest. Certainly the other gentlemen who have been mentioned as "candidates have no possible show, and would only confuse the issue. I believe that the feeling right through the district is for a change, and Mr Tanner cannot surely complain, for the electorate has treated him exceptionally well, and if Mr Brunt is " given a turn " the district will be well served. — I am, etc., NEW BRIGHTON ELECTOR. Christchurch, June 24.