A CRUSHING REPLY

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 212, 6 September 1911, Page 6

A CRUSHING REPLY

■ ■ I HI ■—■ » I TO OPPOSITION CRITICISM. " OUT OF THEIR OWN MOUTHS." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Consequent upon a question asked in the House yesterday afternoon respecting the statement in the "Westminster Gazette." republished >n the "Dominion" yesterday, the following cable was dispatched to the High Commissioner bf Sir Joseph Ward last evening: "Kindly look up the 'Westminster (i&zette.' July, said U> contain a statement issued by you, in which, amonp other things, you said that we require labour to produce and help pay interest on our inflated debt, which is mounting up rapidly, and that there was need for another million people in the cities, and two millions on the land. The statement also says we are badly in need of the millions mentioned, and if there to-morrow there would be ample work for all. Please let me have a full report by ca'ble, also statement in "Gazette." The following reply was received ithis morning:—"Re 'Westminster Gazette,' July 22: Had not seen this until receipt |of your telegram. Statement was not made by me; waj extract from "Otago Witness,' May 10, issued by our adveri tising agent, who selects paragraph from New Zealand papers for circulation after first submitting them for approval. This was noted on present case. — (Signed), Hall-Jones. - ' In making thus announcement to the House this afternoon, Sir Joseph WaTd drew attention to the fact that the exact words published in the Opposition organ in Wellington were to be found in the '"Otago Witness," May 10, which he proceeded to read to the House word for word as they appeared in the "Dominion." The "Otago Witness," he added, was a well-known Opposition journal. It only showed, he said, what amount of damage was done, or attempted, by such criticism, will misrepresentations, and m'sleading statements in & section of the Opposition Press.