THE POLITICAL TRICK.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16701, 9 December 1919, Page 8

THE POLITICAL TRICK.

MTv NOSWOKTHY'S STATEMENT

the crtirsc* of a conversation with our Ashtv.irton representative yesterday afternoon, tho Hun. . Xosworthv, Minister of Agriculture, firstmade a casu;:l refercec to the allowed offer which had been made l v tho Ht?v.; liuwatd Elliott, on be:;a:l of tht) ■ P.P. A. to Mr H. M. Jones, the Demo- j crutic Lio ral candidate tor tie Ashbur-j ton ?eat. to retire in Mr Nosworlay's i favour on the understanding that all his expenses to date would Ic laid, and tiiat i::s nanio noald be forivarded to the Cio.etnnuiU for ia>oui;it)b c<'n.-'.dez-ation to i.is to a seat in the Upjwr ll.nise. Mr Xcsworthy then went on to siy he strongly felt, in justice to himself and the Government, of which he had the honour to bo a member, that, until he saw the announcement in tho paper ho knew aUSoluU'iy nothing whatever of the alleged offer, or anything whatever of any intention that snch an offer would b>* madc\ or that there had been any tloii-iht whatever that such i:n offer would be made, lie was absolutely convinced that no single member of the Government, or the Uovcrnmrnt itself, as a body, would in any degree whatsoever, countenance such a propostercus offer, or m any wny lend its support to i such rn effer "b-ing made. He was in j the present contest for the Ashburton | seat "entirely on his own merits, audi on the merits of what, as member for the district for the past eleven years. . ho hail tried to do. and hoped ho had ; done for the Ashburton electorate, and tho Dominion as a whole. He was runnin? his present e.awiid-iture entirely on his own, and on what- he was eon- i vinced were good and j\i-t lines, and intended continuing doing so without my reference to tho other two candidates.

P.P.A. DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY.

Mr G. E. Franklin, chairman of tho Christchurch centre of tho Protestant Political Association, yesterday made a statement with reference to the offer alleged to have been made by tho RevHoward Elliott to Mr H. M. Jonos, of Ashburton, for the last-named to stand down in the contest for the Ashburton electorate. Mr Franklin stated that while in Christchurch the Rov. Mr Elliott was a busy man, and did not see him or discuss tho matter with him in any manner whatever. It was a surprise to Mr Franklin to read about tho alleeed offer, because although ho know that Mr Jones was to be a candidate, and had been tho secretary of the P.P.A. at Ashburton, that gentleman had not been brought out at the wish of the organisation: nor. bo far as Mr Franklin knew, hnd a candidate been selected bv the P.P.A. in any other nlaco. All that that body had done in elortion matters was in some instances to give their own people advice, moro particularly regarding education. TTie soeretnry of the centre, continued Mr Franklin, knew no more about the matter than he did. It Tcould be incorrect to state that the Christchurch centre hnd made anv offer; in fact, it had not boen given a chance to express its opinion. Asked if ho knew of anythine that mitrht have given Mr Elliott reason to b'eliove that the centre would bo pleased nt the retirement of Mr •Jonc Mr Franklin said that ho could not think »»f any. It might hnve been flint Mr Elliott had discussed the mutter privatelv with a member, but he did not think this was the ease. The <vntrc. concluded Mr Franklin. h"d not hnH nny communication with Mr Elliott, either written or verbal. REV. HOWARD ELLIOTT'S EXPLANATION. (press association thmtcrasO "WELLINGTON, December 8.

Regarding the alleged olfer to a candidate in tho Ashburton contest, tha Rev. Howard Elliott states that on behalf of tho P.P.A., ho interviewed Mr H. M. Jones with rcferenco to his candidature, as it was considered locally that -«lr Jones might divide tho Protestant vote. He urged Mr Jones on this account to withdraw from tho contest, and understood tho P.P.A. would meet any expense incurred up to that date. Mr Jones asked for a week to consider the request and pledged himself to treat it conhdentially. He declined to stand down, intimating that he believed it to bo a matter of religious duty to stand. Mr Elliott spts the suggestion of n sent i" the T Tr-cl->tiv> i« so nonsensical as to bo unworthy of notice. Neithor Mr Massey nor Mr Nosworthy wns consulted, nor were thev aware of his intention to approach .Mr" Jonce.

ME JONES REAFFIRMS HIS STATEMENT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.)

ASHBURTON, December 8. Mr H. M. Jones, interviewed by a "Guaruian" reporter to-day, reaffirmed his statement of the'olier made by the Rev. Howard Elliott. Mr Jones, said ho not know Sir Elliott's reason for asking him to withdraw. although ho did say that the request was made in tho interests of Protestantism. Mr Elliott added that he had been instrumental in getting a candidate to withdraw from a North Island constituency. Referring to Mr Massey's statement that his (Mr Jones's'* withdrawal was not likolv to benefit the Reform candidate. Mr Jones explained that the official support of tli" AsMiurton branch of tho P.P.A. was iriven to Mr Nosworthy, for whose elevtinn Mr Elliott made a strong apnenl at a re-ent public meeting in Asliburton. At the same meeting Mr stated tbiit he had asked Mr •Tones to withdraw, and had been refused. Air Jones said to-day that as h« had been interim secretary of the P P.A., it was 'ikely that he wo'tld rere've some P.P.A* support. which otherwise would have gone to Mr Nosvrrtlr* if he (Mr witl-drew. "Tl-ov are afra : d I'll take votes from Mr Nosworthy," added Mr Jones.

ME MASSEY'S EEPLY.

Tho first statement made by Mr j r . r f>s was replied to by Mr Massey, as foll'ws: — . "I bol-'ovo the inndr.nt refcred to in the 'T'r-\«s Association me>snL r e to bo a popt'oi] trick, such as wo have bad experience of in previous elections i.n X *w Zealnnd. However, one thing is ouite certain: I hnv» nr-vcr been eon-iilted, directly or indirectly, nbiut the matter, nor would I allow "such a proceeding. The suggestion is, to my* mind, absnrd on the face of it. "It is stated in the te cp-am that >fr Jones is n D-nincrati- L-b-rnl candidate, and this boinp the case, 1 cannot understand his withdrawal being in

nny way likrlv to benefit the Reform caiulitialcj although for gentrno Lib ralistn the latter is probably ahead of the other two candidate.*. i "I horii' iho nvitt!?r will bo thor•nchly s"i:trtl rn<l the blame placed on tlii* n<;!:t dors. If I can nss-st in rvv n.iv I slirll Ix* very "lad to do no. lie t.'Ts throughout th? D'mininn who nrv with rue arc cut on our sii?o .a j-fraight. do in -ibs"l::tr:y free inim in>projvr ir.cth'" s >jr sharp practirc in any v. v whatever. >