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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 72

Melness, 22nd July, 1894. Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, C.M.G., The Camp

Melness,

Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, C.M.G., The Camp.

Sir,—

I only returned from the country yesterday, and found your letter awaiting me.

page 7

Under ordinary circumstances that letter would be unworthy of an answer, so grossly inaccurate is it (for I will not condescend to use your own language) on the political points alluded to.

First, however, as to the Moa Flat purchase. If you cannot see that, after your attempts at Lawrence to tickle the ears of the groundlings by your pretence of demanding "leaps" of graduated taxation for bursting-up purposes (when even the Government have got all the graduation they wanted), I was not justified in pointing out that your whole life had been passed in assisting the process of accumulation of large estates, and was even now employed in lending money upon them, it is of course hopeless for me to endeavour to make it clear to you. The point whether you were in the House or not when some part of this process was going on had nothing to do with the matter. None but a fool would question the honourable nature of the employments mentioned, although you yourself were not above leading the people to believe, in your new-born zeal for bursting-up, that it was a crime to own an estate.

But when it comes to the plural voting question I confess that I have a difficulty in keeping within due bounds, and it took me some time before I could believe that your remarks were due to ignorance and for getfulness of what had taken place in the past; while at the same time you would not take the trouble to look the matter up. Your statement is three-fold and in all alike grossly inaccurate. You say first that you voted for the "one man one vote" principle; (2) that Sir George Grey's Bill (from which I quoted) was introduced on the eve of a general election; and (3) that only some half a dozen voted for it and that only for electioneering purposes.

First then as to the "one man one vote" principle. You did not vote for it. Here you are evidently page 8 confusing "manhood suffrage" with the "one man one vote "principle. "Manhood suffrage" was passed by Sir John Hall before I entered the House (about /82 or thereabout) but it left plural voting behind it, white latter was only abolished by Atkinson in 1889, in the Representation Act Amendment; and you voted against this clause (as of course you had a right to do) confining everyone to one vote.

Secondly as to Sir George Grey's Bill, "brought forward on the eve of a general election." It was introduced and debated on 12th September, 1884, that is a fortnight after the opening of the first session of a new Parliament.

Now for the "half dozen" who voted for Greys Bill. The voting was ayes 25, noes 26. The Bill therefore may be said (though I did not say it) to have been lost by your vote.

Of course I could easily comment on all this in your own fashion if I chose, but I refrain from doing so, perceiving that you are in the habit only of making rash statements without taking the trouble to verify them.

As to the Registrar business it is clear to me that you lack the manliness which prompts men when they find they have made a mistake to acknowledge their error. I have been slow to break up an old friendship under the belief that remarks that escaped you were made in haste and anger after a harassing contest. But that friendship is now at an end and my patience and forbearance go with it, and this letter is the only intimation of the fact that you will get from me.

Yours truly,

Scobie Mackenzie