MR. MOORE'S ACCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1310, 13 December 1911, Page 7

MR. MOORE'S ACCIDENT.

AND MR, BELL'S GENEROSITY. SOME UNGENEROUS COMMENTS. At Mr. Moore's meeting at Seatoun last •night, Mr. W. S. Bedford, who addressed tho gathering for some time until .Mr. Moore motored over from Karori, said that The Dominion had stated that Mr. Moore had turned a somersault. Well, Mr. Moore was a bashful sort of man, and did not take sufficient advantago of the position of Mr. Bell, whoso cessation of platform work was a very cunning, crafty political dodge. A questioner subsequently asked if Mr. Carey (who was present) agreed with Mr. Bedford that Mr. Boll's ccssatibn of platform work was "not generous, hut a trick." Mr. Carey: "I trust that Mr. Bell is a gentleman, and I believe he is; but between the ballots there is so much bargaining going on that tho sooner tho second ballot is dono away with the better." STATEMENT BY ME. BELL. Interviewed last night as to the statetynt ma do by Mr. W. S. Bedford, at Mr. Moore's meeting at Seatoun, that Mr. Boll's action in cancelling his meetings in connection with the second ballot campaign in the Suburbs was a "cunning, orafty, political dodge," Mr. Bell stated that on hearing on Monday morning of Mr. Moore's accident he (Mr. Bell) telegraphed to Mr. Moore as follows:— "Very much regTet your accident. I havo cancelled all my meetings so as to nut us on even terms." Later Mr. Bell saw Mr. Moore and explained to him that the cancellation was in order to enable Mr. Moore to obtain rest if ho so wished. Air.. Bell staled that Mr. Moore accepted v tho offer with expressions of gratitude, and did not suggest that Mr. Bell's meetings should bo proceeded with. "I had thought," said Mr. B;1I, "that my action would have been of sonic use to' my opponent. I had not thought that it was likely to be considered as "a cunning, crafty, political dodge!"