ABOUT A PLEDGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 9

ABOUT A PLEDGE.

"A< NICE LITTLE NOTE TO SIR JOSEPH." Mr; ' Atmore, the Independent Liberal candidate (who is going to win the Nelson f-eat), having asserted that written pledges to support the Government were now required from official candidates, the "Colonist," sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister at Milton: Mr. Atmore stated platform Tuesday that written pledges were now demanded from Government nominees that they-would vote with' Government if Patty endangered. Wo published denials both MacMahon and Graham. Atmore now states we appear be woefully ignorant of working party machine and challenges us to secure denial from responsible member Cabinet. Kindly reply to-night for publication morning. Sir Joseph Ward's reply came to hand on Saturday. It is as follows:— In reply to your telegram, Mr. Atmore's statement that written pledges ' were now demanded from Government nominees is without any foundation in fact. No candidate in any portion of the Dominion has been asked by me or from me. for a written pledge. If a man required to be pledged in writing to support Liberal principle any. party would be ' better without him.

■Interviewed by an "Evening Mail" -representative, Mr. Atinore Eaid that as the Premier had replied ia contradiction to what he (Mr. Atmore) had said, ho was at liberty to state that he had been approached on two occasions, and asked for a.written pledge to support the Government on no-eonh'denco motions. All the initiative was taken by the party representative, and what may or may not have been made a trap for him (Mr. Atlrforc) was laid when Mr. Atmoro was told that the party representative desirod to see him on September 23 last. He naturally consented, but found on ono occasion that the representative was not at the place stated, and a message was sent for Mr. Atmore to go and see the representative at another place. This Mr. Atmore refused to do. stating that ho was not going to run round after any party representative. At both meetings Mr. Atmore was asked to give a written pledge that ho would support the Government on all no-confidence motions. The actual words were:-

"Now, can't you givo mo a nice little note to Sir Joseph, assuring him that he can depend upon your vote on nil no-confidenco motions?" It will bo observed that the time Mr. Atinoro wis. approached was after Mr. MacMahon's candidature had been announced, and the second interview was actually on the morning of the day on which 'Mr. MacMnhon nddrcsscd the electors nt the theatre. At the interview 3lr. Atniore wu.s told that if ho acceded to tho request (he representative would lie too busy iu other parts of tho Dominion to como (o Nelson and orfraiiito. 3fr. Atmore gavo his reasons why ho could not conscientiously eivo a. pledge of Ihe nature indicated. He promised to tlenl with the matter,in detail at his Wednesday night meeting.

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