QUEEN'S PARK SITE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17735, 8 December 1919, Page 8

QUEEN'S PARK SITE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Since my return from the South, my attention has been called to a letter in reference to the above, appearing in your issue of November 19th, and signed by "Accuracy," and with your permission I beg leave to reply. In his letter "Accuracy" charges me with "Arrogant presumption," because I claimed to appear before a Parliamentary committee in the name and on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Wanganui. If "x\ccuracy" had only tr.ken the trouble to inquire from those in this town .who could have given a full and true report of what transpired he would have found that I made no such claim.- The "Arrogant presumption," if it exists, is on the i part of "Accuracy" in setting him- j self up as a judge, in coming to a hasty conclusion, and in rushing into public print, before he had a full knowledge of all the circumstances of the case. When I spoke before the committee, I. claimed to speak oh behalf of the parents of Wanga-* nui North, among whom I live and labour, including Baptists. Methodists, and Anglicans, as well as Presbyterians, for as the matter has never been discussed by our church courts, I could not. and did not, claim to speak on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Wanganui. The mandate authorising me to appear before the Wanganui Education Board, and also before the Hon. J. A. Hanan somp eighteen mouths ago, was the maindate authorising me to speak as I did last month while in Wellington.

No doubt "Accuracy" was misled by what Mr Pirani is reported to have said in Wanganui after his return from Wellington, but I cannot be held responsible for what Mr Pirani either says, infers or insinuates. I am only responsible for what I say, and what "I have said I do not hesitate to say again, and that is, "that it is a wasteful and extravagant expenditure of public money to build a school costing at least four thousand pounds on the Queen's Park site, when in one of the densest populated parts of Wanganui there is no school at all." If "Accuracy" is sincere, and at all anxious to debate the matter, perhaps he is willing to accept the challenge I made Mr Pirani eighteen months ago to take the platform against' me". It may interest "Accuracy" to learn that Mr Pirani failed to respond—-he prefers io express himself on this matter within the confines of the .Board room where he knows the people of Wanganui North and their representative cannot reach him (in the meantime.) Respectfully suggesting to "Accuracy" to be more accurate in his enquiries in the future before he charges any honourable man w.ith "Arrogant presumption." —I am, etc.,

DAVID CAMPBELL