THE MASTERTON ELECTION

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11220, 11 December 1911, Page 6

THE MASTERTON ELECTION

[TO THB EDITOR. I Sir,—l have read with a certain amount of amusement your leading articles referring to the political struggle. Might Ibe candid and ask yon, do you really believe in the views you have yourself expressed? I consider tliat your treatment of Mr Hogg has been most unfair. Iv Friday's issue of your paper you state that Mr Hogg's " inherent prejudices" will not allow him to do other than vote against Mr Massey. Now, Sir, Mr Hogg lias repeatedly assured us (and he is backed by Hansard) tliat ho would support every Bill for tlie benefit of the great masses, but that he is opposed to monopoly in any shape or form. Is this "inherent prejudice"? If so, then it is to the great detriment of New Zealand that all her politicians do not sutler from tlie samo complaint. In Saturday's issue a letter appeared in support of tlie self-styled Reform Party, aud, Sir, it was actually signed "Democrat.'' In perusing Hansard, I find that Mr Massey's party has consistently opposed almost every democratic measure that has been brought before the House during the past twenty years. Are people to bo hoodwinked inro believing that this party is now democratic? Can the working man support a man who is pledged to vote with this undemocratic party? Mr Herdman is to address meetings on behalf of Mr Sykes during this week. Now, Sir, if Mr Sykes is afraid to trust to his own merits for his support, of what use will he be to liis constituents in Parliament?—l am, etc., J. W. ANDREWS.

I TO THB EDITOR, i Sir, —In your Saturday's issue a correspondent who calls himsolt'Deuiocrat argues that Mr Hogg must be a Government candidate, because followers of jingoistic Joseph vote for him. If Democrat is logical he will at once admit that Mr Sylies is a conservative, because he has tho whole conservative vote of the Wairarapa behind him. This inference, appears to me to be the correct one as Mr Sykes would deny householders tiio municipal franchise. Is this reform, or is it retrogression? Who are tho rate-payers, if not the rent-payers. Householders should consider this well before voting for Mr Syncs next Thursday. Democrat's argument is on a par with your own explanation of the railway vote. Yon apparently think that the railway men have no thought for anything but their own job. In effect you say to them leave off crawling to Ward and start crawling to Massey. The railway men will get better wages and conditions when they deserve them. That will bo when they, crawl to no man but stand shoulder' to shoulder to and assort

their manhood. The capitalist and tlie" land monopolistor itheir liomineo are not the workers' friends. If tho railway men and all other workers are true to themselves and their class, they will vote for Mr Hogg, tho real Reform candidate, not the make-be-lieve.—l am, etc., RUSTIC. Kopuaranga, Dec. 11th, 1911. [Mr Sykes has never, to our knowledge, said that ho would deny householders tho municipal franchise. If he did, such a statement would havo been entirely inconsistent with his other opinions, which certainly embody tho principles of true liberalism. If nothing worse than this can be said against Mr less said against him the better.—Ed. W.D.T.]