SECRET HISTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 261, 4 November 1935, Page 10

SECRET HISTORY.

ROTORUA SELECTION. REPLY TO MR. J. B. DONALD. WHY MR. J. HISLOP RESIGNED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, this day. In a letter to the Rotorua "Morning Post" Mr. J. Hislop, who recently resigned his position as chairman of the Democrat party organisation in Auckland, gives a definite denial of statements recently made in connection with the candidature of Mr. F. W. Doidge, by Mr. J. B. Donald when supporting the candidature of Professor H. H. Corbin as Democrat nominee for the Rotorua seat.

"On February S, the date mentioned in his remarks,. Mr. Donald had nothing to do with the Democrat party in Auckland," states Mr. Hislop. "Futhermore, on March 2G, when Mr. Goodfellow and I attended a conference in Wellington, the name of Mr. Doidge was mentioned to the national executive of the Democrat party—an organisation that appears to have been entirely superseded by Mr. Davy—as the prospective candidate for Rotorua. Every member of the executive, including Mr. Davy, then heartily supported Mr. Doidge's nomination. I brought this message back to tho Auckland executive, but in spite of this Mr. Donald and Mr. Davy worked against this nomination. "Professor Corbin, who had left for Sydney, was approached by Mr. H. C. Baulf, who was merely secretary in Auckland, and asked if he would consent to stand for Rotorua. Professor Corbin said that he would do so, but that if a better man came forward he was quite willing to stand down. This act of Mr. Baulf was held up as a sort of solemn obligation on the part of the Democrat party. I would never accept this position. "Not Notified."

"When Mr. Doidge's nomination came up for decision by the Auckland executive, Mr. Alan Donald, brother of Mr. J. B. Donald, Mr. McCartney, Mr. Armstead a.nd Mr. Stallworthy, who were all members of the executive, did not receive notification of the meeting. Those who .were present carried a motion nominating Professor Corbin, but I may say that even these members were in favour of Mr. Doidge. Mr. Donald, however, at that meeting definitely stated that he wanted Professor Corbin's name to go to Wellington, but that there was no prospect of the national executive accepting him, and that the nomination would ultimately go to Mr. Doidge. Of course, under the circumstanccs, I attached no importance to this and protested against the injustice to Professor Corbin in sending his name to Wellington when there was 110 doubt about it being blackballed. Next day, however, I learned that this meeting had been carefully arranged, and, as chairman, I refused to accept the minutes of the meeting. In the meantime Mr. Doidge had come out as an Independent to avoid being made a battledore and shuttlecock of intrigue.

"This is only one or the things I had to submit to, and I may say that when I sent in my resignation as chairman of the Auckland organisation of the Democrat party I felt' that I had had a good hot bath with plenty of soap. This letter sets out truthfully the position regarding the Democrat nomination for Rotorua electorate. It was this and their attitude toward Mr. Harris m Waitemata which disgusted me with the whole business.

"I may also s#y that, as chairman of the Democrat organisation in Auckland at the time, I know that the executive never received any letter or cablegram or any other communication of any sort from Lord Beaverbrook, or anyone else, relating to Mr. Doidge."