“WIBBLY-WOBBLY WANGANUI”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19440, 28 October 1925, Page 5

“WIBBLY-WOBBLY WANGANUI”

(To the Editor). Sir, —Being a staunch “Coull and Confidence” man, after reading the report of Mr Veitch’s speech in St. Paul’s Hall, my exclamation was, / 1 Oh, for the pen of 1 Has Been’ and his wonderful powers of summary.” What mincemeat he could make of Mr Veitch! It would be hard afterwards to find an elector to vote for him. Much as I would like to do the Report justice, I know I cannot, and I really would give something to see how “Has Been” would sum it up. Mr Veitch’s hearers must get tired of his “sob stuff” and his “twistings.” The usual tale of 1 'achievements,” presumably numerous letters—which no one else could possibly have written—to the Ministers re loans on houses, and “concessions” to the city; but, here again, there are surely no concessions that another member would not have got equally as well. If Mr Veitch has done “so very much,” and another man could not have done it equally as well, then it speaks wonders for the Reform Party that they have treated a man who has never had a good word to say for them, and has never helped them with any "constructive” criticism-so marvellously well. “Experience has increased his usefulness.” I suppose Mr James Hogan might have used the same argument when Mr Veitch put him out on the Reform vote, as, in the interests of lae town, Mr Coull must put Mr Veitch out this time, and I say that, not from any personal animosity, but because Wanganui does not want to be “unrepresented” any longer. The majority—Reformers, Liberals, Nationalists, and, judging from Helensville, even Labour—the country wants Mr Coates. He has particularly asked that only supporters pledged to him be returned, so that he can carry out his policy for the “common good.” Mr Veitch has said he will not support him. He might have gone further, and said that he never had and never would support anything that would not put him nearer a portfolio for himself. He says “the Government was forced to,” etc., and in another breath, and in other circumstances, he would condemn them for doing it and making an expensive breakfast table.

That brings me to the heading and real point of this screed—the wibblywobblers. These, in this town, are those who will not see anything larger than personalities. Mr Veitch wrote a letter re their loan, or their pension, or some other concession they wanted, so although they want Mr Coates they must, they say, vote Veitch, on account _of the letters he has written, or the Ministers he has interviewed on their behalf. Would any member not have done exactly the same for them, and can these wibbly-wobblers not see beyond their “prince of wibbly-wobblers” their city and country —something bigger than self—and see that voting for Mr Veitch will be voting for a bad debt as an asset to the city, and expert accountants say bad debts should bo written off, and never are and never can be assets. Their duty should be plain. If they do not vote for a Coates candidate, then they vote against Mr Coates, and cannot be said to have the common good at heart. —I am, etc., CORNWALL. Wanganui, Oct. 24, 1925.