Me Haselden's Position,

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11729, 2 December 1905, Page 7

Me Haselden's Position,

TO THE EDITOE.

Sir, — This morning's Chronicle states that 1 infccifored with Mr BassotLd mooting. I did nothing of the sort; it is only another of thosa stabs which the Chronicle has been using against me for the last six months. Mr Bassett was quoting from a letter of mine to the papers, and I have yet to Jearn that one must not interject at a political meeting. A member is allowed to do so in Parliament, and I always thought there was more freedom allowed at a political meeting, and all I wanted to do was to assure- Mr Bassett that I had no grievance against him, but only against the Chronicle for their unfair and misleading leading article in Fiiday's issue. Than 1 asked two questions, and Mr Bassett replied satisfactorily and politely. I suppose I had as much right to ask a question as anyone else. Now, a word about my manifesto. I consider Hie Chronicle had no right to comment on it until It was issued. I pay for the printing and issue. What right had the Chronicle to get ahead of me in the criticism of it before it was issued to thepublic? The Chronicle says it is a tissue of misrepresentations. It is nothing of the sort. The Chronicle seems to think that I ought to take their blows aid sit quietly under them. lam not built that way, and for every blow the Chronicle gives me I will give two back. I shall have something to say about the Chronicle in the Drill Hall on Monday, and now invite the editor io bo present. With Mr Bassett I have no quarrel, he naturally likes to have a paper to champion him. I am fighting a lone hand, btit shall com" out "victorious"' by trusting to the verdict of the people md not the support of a newspaper. — I am, etc., . F. H. HASELDEX.