MR. GRAY AND THE HALFHOLIDAY MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13272, 13 November 1908, Page 5

MR. GRAY AND THE HALFHOLIDAY MOVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THT, PRESS." Sir, — Mr John Clarke has in this morning's issue of "The Press" given his version of the Gray-Farland corn-cr-eation, and states that this is all that passed between them. Mr Clarke should have studied the situation a little before rushing into print, so for his benefit I will quote from tho "Lyttelton Times" of April 24th, in which Mr C. M. Gray admits part of the conversation as embodied in the signed statement given to mo by a prominent citizen. It is as follows:— "I was met on tho platform by the secretary (not Mr John Clarke), who informed mc that I had not been asked to spen.k as his committee were under tho impression I was .against the proposal," and, continues Mr Gray, "to this remark I simply smiled." This admission by Mr Gray clearly disposes of Mr Clarke's argument, that, as ho heard all that passed between Mr Gray and myself, I must therefore be untruthful when I attribute to Mr Gray tho conversation as published. I notice that Mr Clarke and Mr Gray both ignore the statement by Qr. Williams that. Mr Gray remarked to him that ho was a strong supporter of tho "movement." Since entering; upon this discussion I have learnt that at a recent meeting held in Christchurch North Mr Gray was taxed with this statement, and was compelled to admit that it was correct. This is hardly in keeping with his statement that my facts are imaginary.—Yours, etc., H. A. FARLAND. ■ November 12th.