MR VEITCH AND MR PIRANI.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14463, 30 November 1914, Page 8

MR VEITCH AND MR PIRANI.

TO THE EDITOR! Sir, —The conducting of a political campaign by candidates in the correspondence columns of a newspaper instead of on the platform or in the advertising columns is new to me and hardly fair to the papers, but 1 am unwillingly, compelled to adopt that method in reply t<> Mr Veitch. Sir Joseph Ward voted against proportional voting for members of the House of Representatives—see Hansard vol. 147, p. 425). He certainly voted for Mr Veitc'n’s -Bill, but so did the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Mr Harris, and Mr Young (all Reformers), although yon reported Mr Yeitch as . saying ■ that “Reform voted against it to a man.” It would be impossible for a politician to make; more ••■mistakes" than Mr Veitch did in his speech on November Bth, and it would fill a column to enumerate them. For instance, he said “aH’’ who opposed Mr Wilford's 45 hour week for factory workers were followers of the Reform party. And yet he knows that Messrs S. 'll George,, C. H. Mills, and Samuel all op-posed-it, and they arc supporters of tlie Opposition and four of the same party did not vote at all. Mr Yeitch stated that the - present Government party had endeavoured to cut down the educational endowments by 4) million acres. No .such attempt was-made by any party. A second le-.er appears from Mr Veitch in reference to his land speculations. His explanation of his connection with one land company is all very well, but 1 quoted three land companies in which the* Mercantile Gazette states Mr Veitch holds 1500 shares altogether. Mr Massey’s-interest in the ostrich farm, on, which a company has spent nearly £30,000 is .£IOOO. Where does the difference come in. I maintain Mr Massey’s deal is an honest one, and I did not say Mr Veitc'n’s was not, hut, I asserted it was unfair for one land investor to condemn another on the public platform for speculating in land when lie is in exactly the same box himself.—l am etc., - ‘ ; FRED PIBANI.