An Interesting Revelation.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15219, 5 March 1915, Page 6

An Interesting Revelation.

The petition against the return of Mr Tau Henare, tho member for Northern Maori, wae dismissed by the Court yesterday. The hearing did not end, however, without some exceedingly interesting light being thrown upon the pretty ways of "Liberalism" in politics. It will be remembered that the Opposition, who prior to the election had not disputed that Mr Henare was a Reformer, pretended in the confusion after the election that he was really a Wardist, or at any rate an Independent with Wardist leanings, and the whole country witnessed with amazement a march by the "Wardist organiser and certain Wardist politicians into Mr Henare's district. Amazement, amusement, and disgust continued to grow as it became clear that a determined attempt was being made by the Opposition to persuade Mr Henare to join their camp. After some time the enthusiasm of the Opposition for Mr Henare cooled, and the public next heard that a petition against his return had Jbecn lodged \y tho Opposition through Native agents. It was then abundantly clear that the Opposition's attempts to persuade Mr Henare to turn his coat had failed. Tho Opj»sition appear to have gone abont the business in a shamelessly determined manner, for evidence was given yesterday showing clearly that an attempt was actually made to intimidate the new member. Mr Henare was placed upon his oath, and testified that at a certain gathering,on Junuary 4th, Nau Paraone Kawiti, one of those, who subsequently fatheredjtho petition, offered not to present the petition if Mr Henare would vote for Sir J. G. "Ward. Mr. Henare refused to be intimidated. He testified also that Mr Dennehy, Sir Joseph Ward's political who spent some time in the district—hie importunities were said to have driven Mr Henare into taking flight—made the same offer as Kawiti. We do not know whether there is any means of prosecuting this matter further, but perhaps it will hardly be worth while. The fact is clearly established that a highly discreditable attempt was made to interfere with the political position of a member of Parliament.' The "Liberals" were desperate, we knew, but not many people would liave believed that they would resort, even in their desperation, to such disreputable tactics. There are others, however, who know something of the real spirit of "Liberalism" and the methods which it was at nil times willing to employ when necessary, and to these there is nothing very surprising in the intrigues of the Opposition in tho case of Mr Henare. Tho morality of the intrigue is the measure of the political morality of the Opposition, and it does not smell sweet.