THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19462, 8 November 1928, Page 13

THE SPEAKERSHIP.

SIR CHARLES STATHAM REPLIES TO CRITICS.

[THE PBESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, November 7. An effective reply has been made by Sir Charles Statham to the criticism of his Labour opponent, Mr J. Robinson, respecting his acceptance of the Speakership. "It has been alleged that I have done a dishonest thing and that in taking the Speakership x did not honour my. pledges," said Sir Charles Statham. "At the election in 1922 I claimed absolute freedom to vote as I thought fit in the event of a no-confi-dence motion, and when Parliament opened in 1923 I was.really free to join any party. Sir Frederic Lang (Speaker) and Mr it. S. Malcolm (Cnairman of Committees) had both been defeated. The Reform Party had a majority of three. No other Party could have carried on, and no one wanted another election. The first man who approached me in regard to the Speakership was a prominent member of the Labour Party. I don't want to mention his name, but what I say is perfectly true. Mr Holland has been kind enough to refer to me as the ablest Speaker New Zealand has ever had. I am sure that it was not the desire of the official Labour Party that I should have to contest this election.'* Sir Charles then repeated the promise he had made from the platform at his meeting the previous evening. He said:—"l am fighting this election on the assumption that I will be reelected to the Speakership. If, through any unforeseen contingency, I should not be re-elected to that office, or being re-elected should" relinquish it, I will resign my seat and submit myself again to the electors. The electors would then have the opportunity of hearing me speak untrammelled by the restrictions imposed on me at the present time by my inability to express my views on Party politics."

CHRISTCHURCH EAST.

Mr H. T. Armstrong, the Labour candidate for Christchurch East, addressed well-attended meetings last evening at the corner of Montreal and King streets, and at the St. Martin's Library. Mr Caw and Mr Joneß presided. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed at each meeting.

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.

Mr J. K. Archer, Labour candidate, addressed a meeting last evening at the corner of Edgeware road and Fitzgerald street. There was an attendance of about 150, and the candidate received an attentive hearing and; at the close of his address answered several questions. Mr Archer also addressed a meeting.of about 100 electors in the Elmwood schoolroom, and at the close of his address answered several questions and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks. Mr G. Manning presided at both meetings. Mr Henry Holland (Reform) addressed a meeting at the corner of Brown s road and Lines road last evening. The chair was taken by Colonel ,C. J. Cooner. v ' ■ , „a i - There was an attendance of 70 electors. At the close of the address a unanimous vote of thanks was passed. AVON. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) addressed a meeting of 200 electors in the Linwood Public School last evening. :; - Mr E. Car-ter-presided. After his speech Mr Sullivan answered questions for an hour, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence which was carried with, acclamation., : Mr G. T. Baker, United candidate, I.addressed a meeting at New Brighton. MHe was accorded a vote of and 'confidence. Mr;A. W. Owles presided. RICCARTON. Mr H. S. Kyle addressed two wellattended meetings last evening. The first was at Puaha, where Mr H. Chapman was in the chair. The other was at Little Eiver, where the candidate received a splendid hearing. At the conelusion of .his address, Mr Kyle received a hearty vote of thanks. KAIAPOI. t , ... ■ Mr J. A. Flesher addressed meetings on Tuesday at Weedons.and Templeton. Mr. J. A. Briden, chairman of the School Committee, presided at the former, when there were about 50 present. On the motion of Mr T. Hight, seconded "by Mr D.'McVinnie, he was accorded- a vote of thanks. Mr Flesher then proceeded to Templeton, when he was greeted with an audience of about 100. Mr P. F. Ryan was voted to the chair. A unanimous vote of thanks, moved,by Mrs J. McCance Johnston, seconded by Mr A. Carey, was passed to the candidate. ■ Mr R. W. Hawke, United candidate, addressed meetings on Tuesday at> Mairehau and Shirley, dealing at length chiefly with the lan 3 question. Hs was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at each meeting. Mr W. J. Walter presided at Mairehau and jMr G. T. Jones at Shirley. Mrs E. R. McCombs addressed a largely attended meeting at the Burwood "Hall on Monday evening. Mr George Shipley presided. At the conclusion of the meeting the candidate answered a number of questions and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Later . Mrs McCombs addressed a very large meeting in the Papanm Methodist School. Mr Adair presided. At the: conclusion of' the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. HURUNUI.. '^~3' Mr F. L. Turley, Labour member for Hurunui, addressed an audience of about 250 people at the Eangiora Town Hall last evening. The Mayor, Mr "W. A. Bowse, presided. The candidate received an, attentive hearing, and answered a number of questions. At the conclusion he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. . MID-CANTERBURY. Mr C. Morgan Williams (Labour) was met by a good attendance at Sear field on Tuesday night, when Mr A. Bennison presided. A number of questions were answered by the candidate and he was accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of Mr H. L. Driscoll. Mr J. Connolly (United) spoke in the Allenton School pn Tuesday night. The chairman of the School Committee, Mr R. Houston, - presided over a large audience. Mr Connolly was well received and spoke at length on the land for settlement scheme, and the relief of unemployment. At the conclusion, he answered a number of questions, and received a hearty vote of thanks. At Killinchy. Mr Connollv was met by the largest political meeting held at that centre during the present campaign. Mr Marshall presided and the speaker was thanked for his. address. (