CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2176, 28 April 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Corrosponilonce ou publio matters is wolcomod at nil times, but it must bo distinctly undorstood that this journal is in no way associated with tho opinions of its correspondents.] [To tub Editor.] Sir, —Olio cannot help feeling sorry, .ot only lor Mr. Lysnar but also for iiis supporters, that ho has been unable to accept the clmllengo which J threw down to him in your issue of tho 2-lth inst., for not only his opponents' hut his friends must recognise its significance. Is is of course quite possible that Mr. Lysiuir docs intend to endeavor to reply, and finds it safer to defer this answer so that 1 tnav have no opportunity of dealing with it until after the election? If lie is returned at*- Wednesday’s poll (which I cannot believe to be possible) one can only feel pfty for the man in his triumph as well as grief for the town, for there is scarce one of his friends who will envy him. I have no desire to “rub it in,” as 1 would gladly have left unwritten my. letters in your columns, had my sense of duty-to the town allowed mo, for the task has been unpleasant. One cannot help remarking, however, thatneither Mr. Lysnar, or his supporters could summon enough courage to answer them, and that with one exception, the writers of letters to the papers in support of the candidate continued to shelter themselves invariably under a nom-de-plume. . I can. only hope that this correspondence may have done some good, and await with confidence tho ultimate justification of my opposition to Mr. Lysnar’s election to any representative position.—l am etc.. W. LISSANT CLAYTON.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. [To the Editor.] Sir, —I think the electors and citizens of Gisborne are indebted to you for the straightforward statements you have , made as to what we are entitled to expect in the character of a person seeking the highest honor it is in the power of the burgesses of Gisborne to give. At a time like the present it would bo well for us to ponder well the advice given to tho electors of America by Archbishop John Ireland, U.S.A., when he said to the Catholics of that country these’ memorable Words: “The first duty of citizens in. reference to the liquor traffic is to free the country from tho political control of the saloon. So long as tho saloon is in power, intemperance will run riot and daily wax nioro defiant and more destructive. Never give your votes to put a saloon keeper in office;'it is not to bo expected lie will forget in the service of his country, the interests of his own traffic. Beware of tho saloon candidate; he owes his election to tho saloon-keeper, retains kind remembrances of liis benefactor, and serves him as occasion offers, lveep out of office the timid man, who will fear to do what is right lest he offend the saloon-keeper. To brave men only, to men of principle and conscience can the reins of Government be safely trusted. Tho first and most necessary step toward reform it to reduce beer and whisky men and their friends to obscurity, and to wrest completely from their hand tho helm of Government in village, city, and state.” Sir, these sentiments are exactly in accord with my own. ■ If tho electors of Gisborne are alive to their highest and best interests, the one publican, together with his friends, will bo rejected by the burgesses ou Wednesday next, and will honor themselves by returning l)r Williams as Mayor, and", Mr Dartoii as Councillor. I am, etc., FRANCIS -STAFFORD..-*

THE UAYOKALTY

[Tj the Editor.]

Sir, —Mr. Lysuar having published the minutes of a meeting re Roebuck Bridge, I think your readers will all admit that by his proposed amendment to tac'k on another bridge, which had . never been considered, ho made a futile endeavor to shelve the proposal. This, as all who are acquainted with Mr. Lysriar’s tactics well know, is the manner in which he invariably endeavors to block progress. He invariably has a “better scheme.” There are at present several practical and very useful measures before the Borough Council which are being considered in a calm, deliberate, and businesslike manner. There are no petty jealousies, and whatever may be the result of their deliberations, we feel they will at least merit the respect of the ratepayers. Since Mr. Lysnar’s absence from the Council Chambers, there have been no acrimonious discussions, and each individual member of the Council has the respect of the whole of his fellow, Councillors. Past experiences in all local bodies clearly indicate that unless special members be also elected, pledged to bow slavishly to Mr. Lysnar’s autocratic wrongheaded ness, his election to the Mayoral chair must result in calamity. Until tlie burgesses are convinced of either the utter incapacity or gross corruption of almost all other members of all local bodies, it is indeed difficult to conceive how anybody can logically cast his or her' vote in favor of one who has so persistently blocked our labors and abused all and sundry who have not happened to fall in with his extraordinary tactics. Compare Councillor Williams’ conduct at our last meeting with what would have surely occurred had Mr .hysnar been in his place. Or. Bright had as a matter of form brought forward in the shape of a proposal, licit really for acceptance in original form, but moro to have something definite before the Council, a modus operandi. Cr. Williams, after a little consideration, proposed an amendment. Crs. Bright and Pettie, in the name of tlio latter, then brought forward another amendment. The further amendment was not of course considered in a hostile spirit by Cr. Wiliams, but on the contrary with that candour which is an outstanding characteristic of Cr. Williams, he admitted that at first sight the new amendment seemed more feasible and workable than tlio one standing in his name, and asked for time for consideration, so that lie might, if ho was not convinced to the contrary, give way to the new amendment. 1 venture to suggest that had anv member • dared to question tlio efficacy of any proposition of Mr. Lysnar’s, no matter how unworkable that proposition might have been, hours would have been wasted in quite unnecessary and anything but edifying hostilities. There is at the present time no clique or party in the Council. Matters are progressing 'harmoniously; and, as one of its members, 1 unhesitatingly assert that each individual member is exercising

himself lo tho fullest extent for tho welfare of the borough, and 1 appeal to the burgesses not to disturb so desirable a stato of affairs..—l am, etc., JOHN SHEIUDAN.

> [To me Editor.] Sir, —O’i would like to ixplano to you about a Mayoral Diction which took place in Waterford, Ireland, in tlie year 1905, in a small plaice called Gisscald. Tho Candidates wint by the the name ov Countryley and Truthsnar. Wato now, and I will bigiii my Stliofy. Well, thin, there was a Puli lit a. Dlashlin in tho brake, and- the Alin wurkin on the Puhnt ilruv ouver in Trutlisnar’s vehicle and, had luck to mo sorr, if every Alan of ’em didn’t vote for Countryley, and of eoorso ho got in. But, begorra, Truthsnar mod up liis moind to git homo on the spalpeens, so says lie to himself, says he, .“Wato now till the Harbor Boord Diction conics oily ami bediul, I will git a sate, and whin I git that I will shift ivory Alan of ’em, so I will.” So wliiii the.lAar-, hour Boon! Diction kom off,’lid was dieted rite.cnuff, and the foirst chance lie got ho moved a resolution that he Blushtin be stl topped, which was carried scliolder high, and tho Alin got tho saielc. ‘•Hurrah,” says Truthsnar. Then the Alin that was left on the Boord’s wurrks says to thimselves, says they, “AVc oughtro git more wages,” says they, -“as we wurrk longer hours and git the same pay as tho Alin about the town do who only wurrk eight hours a day.” So they applied to the Boord for more pay. but Truthsnar thought, good man Unit he is, that soiiie of tliim too had voted agin him at the Mayoral ilictibn, and of coarse he is a Man iviry inch of him, -so lie jist voted agin it, bless him, and the Alin were' licked agin, which mod him shmoile finite loud, so it did. And now, 1 am tould, lie is euntestiu the Alayoral sate agin, and all the wurkin Min are goin to vote for him because they know rite well lie loves tliim all, so he does.—l am, etc., “PADDY LYNCH.”