THE GAUNTLET THROWN DOWN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 9

THE GAUNTLET THROWN DOWN.

■ k -statements recently .made by , the Leader.-of,ihd Opposition , ;in .'Kg&id. to actions qt the ;-Goyorilffleflt were -replied . to .by Sir' Joseph Ward;, ill• the .c'OUrse of; an interview,: here., The statement. that 'the Gov-ernment:had-;beerignilty;o'f: certain.tactics Solely iivithe interests pfparty/wereso con-' Z, *7'x^ h * :fa , ct ' :that it.:ivas ; hardly.-worth .contradicting tfiem. ..At the iame ttei;%ows%&s%**'■■&**psiibh■•toVtfo.vsa'out. of -.Jlle;Mouths el .niembefs-bf Mr. Massey's 6wii ; Pfrty-'flS, recent Selections,, admis-- ;.« ortvTOt.aede? by-vtheni; thatVtltey ;had no , taul to .find;m:re 2 ard;to Government treat-' taent,;.as Jar-as. thgfrVdistrictsi were.:conterßed,..;:Eq«ally;,^ithput:.:foundation^ere: ,the • statements; made'; by, th& Leader of the.. : Opposition to-.the; effect.that there had ■< been: bribery :a nd, e xi)enditureof puWic money 4nd' ;the,promi S in 2 ,--.ol: billets' and.-rseste--m-fte Legislative:,(Jounpil;,as -.4 . reward for ■ partv-

■Jhese;-.statenientg i '.said , .Sir Joseph Ward", contrary M fact, .incTare justfe^;^^ r fa't6o':e X traordinary asser-Mr.vMasie-y. niade in the' Hoiise : - toiAucklwd;stating thattho ■roT aS A At t M USt be WOD a": costs.'. telSl g h ? r t - . - \ SSey to P^uce : any such this .has never. been - done 'for thevvery s good, reason - that, ; ha stldh message arft; lßcbifli .;inj -foundation in the. same ,Va-v indl.publcly.chdUense the-Leader of afe any - C! * b»beryi"or?l&^r. 1) 1I-, bSen P r °W'sed; seats in W ; L pg'slat(^Coohcilvas : alleiied:by.him; "^lt' ,liis statement.... Only, m dne, instarice- was I asked to trtimiso a seat in the' Lfeialativ^ I ; declined i 6

-J h , e J* , th <> Horn' f?": o es^»°."', a ? "dm the Ministry, and Mr fe^r-'# meilt: : F/ "? e # nl^ that? tho v leaS different, of otfnlbrim?ihe ana,hnnself,.; As'a : matter-of fact no 'questign;of,policy;was raised;,: Fnrtheriabre-tte ...bir Joseph,, Ward .then .referred to" the; rei" ; nwrte,which; 4 haveyfa.ll e h l^ mt ; th 6FW' ; te 10 - - appointment; ?, r w ?«ta as,a!member;df'the exeoiitivpt*t ; %^ h « y mciußion:bf ; : a .reprL m n^n S t^ e n C ya«,th e ' ;adffl,n Pubfe JfeS ar^that:.iii■;*, : of^l l e.Oppp 9 itipri f VNbt^iong^o ; fe* ss ?y W'Wfe-statcd-that, m '^ n '::* ishpuld: ■ renrSa ;^ {ve S :on;;;eaoir:side.:of:the;House,SS t if ■-•Bersj Leader s :ideas ■hi part?: :^^ r chflr2ed;,me ;with ; S^ g?, th ; .vthp.ysouthern; Maori i eleotfoii. Those telegrams :.Tver<);riot .•paid.-for- at'.the publicpxpense^.biitprepaid for;out:oVmy notice. thatSMr;',M aS6fl yl