THE LOCAL POSITION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16704, 12 December 1919, Page 8

THE LOCAL POSITION.

MB ISITT'S STATEMENT. A representative of "Tho Press'' sub mittod-to 31r L. 2f. Isitt. Liberal can didate for Christchurch North, the re ferences made in tho leading column: of "Tho Press'' on Wednesday to Mi Isitt's attitude in tho event of tin Liberal Party not being returned wit! a working majority. -Mr Isitt said: "I agree with this sentence:— 'Mr leitt, as wo understand him. will vol/ for Sir Joseph Ward if Sir .To«eph liau n Majority exclusive of tho members of Jit Holland's official Labour Part}*.'" The roporter pointed out thnt tliii statement was amplified by a later sen tenco as follows:— Mr Isitt is r.ot "iven to equivocation *nH when ho fpeaks of Holland, Scrapie, ' c-rd Co., ho can only mean tho official Labouj Party, of which Mr Sornplo in or.ly one member, like tho othor <0 odd who nrc standing in other districts. Ho apparently realises that between joining tho Labour Party to put Sir Joseph in, and joinjn" them to keep Aim in, thoro is no difference for a man of pricciplo aj«l clear understandtag." , "I am very anxious," Mr LStt said, "to safeguard myself from any possible misunderstanding, and I ask: Who arr those 'other 40 odd ivho are standing in other districts'? I am under tho impression that some of thorn aro standing as Independent Labour, or LiberalLabour: if so, they aro ontsido what 1 refer to ns 'Jlr Holland's official Laboui Party.' When I say Semplo, and company,' I refer to every man who stands as tho official candidate of 'Air Holland's official Labour Party ' and is bound to them oy his acceptancc of the position."