CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2491, 3 May 1909, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, but it must be distinctly understood that this journal ie in no way associated with the opinions of its correspondents. All letters must be legibly written and inscribed, on one side of the paper only, otherwise they will not be published. *An asterisk at. the foot of a letter indicates that some portion has been excised.]

A CHALLENGE TO THE MAYOR

[To Ties Editor.]

Sir,—ln your leader of the 29th ult. you were good enough to assert your regret at my defeat and to express the opinion that such defeat was attributable to my “frank criticism of the Mayor.” The belief that my non-suc-cess is attributable to no other cause is a comforting fact. It is not, however, my defeat nor the causes which Jed to such defeat so much as the means employed to bring about such a result that interest me. In the incipient stages of the Lysnnr, or otherwise Progressive, League,l pointed out the dangers of allowing this peculiar organisation, backed up by the capital of ambitious incompetents, to dictate to yoilr representatives on the Council. I am convinced that despite the fact that- the alleged ticket of the Progressive League was not as a whole successful, that tho organisation did really succeed in obtaining seats for the candidates in whose candidature they were really interested, and a scrutiny of the figures will show how a certain other league having been roped in was gently lowered on polling day. I am, and have always been, a Liberal, but I cannot understand how it always occurs that our otherwise splendid labor organisations fall into every political trap that blatant tub-t-liumpers and mob orators set for tlio capture of votes. I have paid tho penalty of my criticism! ! but 1 am not of that, alas, too frequentHass of individual “who soured by unsuccess becomes in course of time childlike in his humility.” I have been politically, unhorsed, so to speak, whilst defending a comrade, but I am far from politically dead, and I should bo wanting in my duty if I allowed the mischYefs of such organisations to creep unnoticed till they would reach a magnitude absolutely overwhelming. VVo have in our midst the nucleus of wliat, Unless nipped in the bud, must develop into a “Tammany Hall,” and bring in its train all the moral retribution of its notorious prototype. lam far from saying that at- the present time all the elected nominees of the League will b’indiy follow their “boss” or carry their partisanship into the consideration of municipal affairs —some of them 1 believe are quite incapable of such conduct—but the fact remains that they are promoted partisans, and such a fact cannot but prejudicially affect the estimate of their value as unbiassed borougli representatives. Nor are nij iemarks directed at the individual nienv bers of the League, but- at the combination. Fain would I have spoken thus prior to the election, but I vas linked to another gentleman’s candidature and possibly many of his supporters would have been as unwilling to endorse my opinions as I would have been to accept responsibility for theirs. _ I have paid the penalty of my criticism ! ! but- after a calm review of my actions on the Council and my utterances through the columns of the pi ess, I would not retract one word written,oi erase from the minute book one vote recorded, if" by so doing I could be granrecorded if by so doing I could be granted a life seat on the Council, on which I have at all time*; esteemed it a high honor to act as one of your representatives. I have never assumed -any impure motive on the part of Mr. IV. D. Lvsnar, nor made use oi a solitary statement- that was oJsi'y provable or disprovable by records or evidence available to that gentleman, or indeed to the public in general. The charge against me has not been the bringing forward of false accusations. but the fact that I have too warmlv expressed and deiended my views. It was said by my opponents that the allegations made were only brought forward to promote by own oF Mr. Millers candidature, but now that the election is over and such an imputation is no longer possible, I emphatically repeat and reiterate my statements regarding the conduct of Mr. "William Douglas Lysnar m connection with (1) the brick area; (2) the advocacy of a 50 per cent, reduction on abattoir charges for killing pigs; (3) his attempt t-o foist on to the ratepayers a most expensive though practically obsolete form of sealed pan waggon by-the acceptance of a tender of one of his committee higher than that of another competitor for an up-to-date vehicle; (4) his advocacy for doub.e harbor rating in the borough as against the county. . . ... , .And I challenge him to justify such action before any independent- tribunal or commission. Further, I will accept the full onus probandi of tho statements and still further X will undertake betoro any such co-m-mission or tribunal to utterly disprove any assertion of him ■or his supporters to the effect that i have- at any time misused or attempted to misuse the confidence and trust ieposed in me by the electors for my own benefit or advantage. This is surely a plain siiai_,ht-out challenge, and what I want is a plain straight-out answer, and not abuse by cowardly innuendo. In conclusion, let me record my deep sense of gratitude to those of the electors who have supported me, and to the manv friends who have been _ good enough to personally express their appreciation of my slight services; also mv deep regret that a majority of the electors have been prevailed upon to -sacrifice for his “frank criticism such a faithful old servant as James VV hurray for the promotion of the practical -autocracy of a candidate.—-I am, etc,.,

JOHN SHERIDAN