THE WAIRARAPA SEAT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 68, 13 December 1919, Page 8

THE WAIRARAPA SEAT

THAT MISSING LETTER MR. HGRNSBY'S IMPOSSIBLE "CONDITIONS" WHAT LIBERALS THINK(From Our Own Reporter.) Martinuorough, Dewniber 12. After the direct clulleugo thrown out by :\rr. i. ;o. M'Leod at .Viartinbjroujh O!i Wednesday, Mr. Jlornsby had to refer to the matter of the publication of the letters.

Air. Horns'iy used some v>ry hard, words in speaking of his opponents, but as is prudent when using such terms as 'Tic direct," "liar," and "vicious lie," Ho diil not apply 'Ac terms definiiely to any person ur any group of persons. As to his. letter to Air. ulassey and the j-epJy from Air. Masscy to him, he said that ho had not kept a copy of the letter, but he was obtaining one from .Ur. Mussoy'e office. As to the reply, ho had quoted it in full, although it had not l.ceii published in full. Vie said that ho would publish the letter and the renly in full, but he hnnijel certain conditions These were that Ilia oppiuunt should first publish all his telegraphic and other correspomhnce with Mr. Massey, all correspondoi:ee bet.veon Sir Walter Buchanan aid Mr. Ma-wey, and all telephonic, messages and i>l her com nunications between Sir Walter J-Juchiinan and Mr. Mass>y.

It h>ipj)-3iw that Mr. Mleod has !md very little ccre-rspomlenco with Mr. Massey, and this he is quite prepared to publish. But he knows 'nothing of Sir Buchaii i j's correspondence, and his attitude is that it is no business ;if his, just as it is no business of Mr. H'onisby's. He will not. agree io (ho conditions imposed. In. air,- case tint correspondence his aiPver been used for any purpose iu tho campaign, and wjilainly r.u g.irbleit version of it 1-as ever been published to injure the Wardist candidate. Mr. Hornsby's complaint is that it is being suggested that .he tried to get tho Reform nomination for Wairarapa, an-1 that this was calculated to injure his campaign as ii Liberal. Then) never wn* an idea m the mind of Mr. IFassey or anyoHier responsible member of the Rjfprm Party of Adopting Mir. Hornshy into the party. Tho oniv suggestion evor made was ihat 3Er.' flm-nsby, being then an Independent, he shimld :iot Iμ opposed by a Reform candidate, in vie* , of his having supported the Government throughout the war period. • The idea of sucli a suggestion was that a contest for tho seat might be avoided, but, as was made quite clear by the Literal leader, there was never any chance of avoiding n. contost. for Sir Joseph Ward had already opened negotiations with at least one possible Liberal candidate. This was known to the meeting of the Reform Party at Carterton, -and so it vms that tho suggestion not to oppose Mr. Hornsby was "turned down with a bang." Perhaps Mr. Jlornsby would like to make publio his correspondence with Sir Joseph Ward which led to his being received again into tho Liberal foU\. l ? or Mr. Hornsby very nearly missed tho Liberal nomination, "and for reasons _ which havo caused prominent Liberals in the electorate to withdraw support from him and to support Mr. M'l-po-1. After Sir Joseph Ward's meeting at Martin'oorough on Monday ho was entevtained at cupper, and tho other gentlemen present were twelve members of the Liberal. Party. Mr. Hornsby -';n* hot present. The speeches were of politics, and one- very prominent Liberal—a gentleman who has been Sir Walter Buchanan's life-long political opponent ami pc-rsoiul frie.id—sai:l that he wished to make his position quite, clfar. and it was that he could not support- Mr. Hornsby, much as he regretted having to oppose the Liberal Party. Thereupon threo. other gentlemen of the company, the four being among the best known" and most influential members of the Liberal Party in Wairarapa. also informed Sir Joseph Ward that llioy could not, support his nominee. This niatt.?r nf tho letter to M.r. Mas.«ey will probably b? cleared up l-efors tho end of the'fifty. If the leOr should bo published, Mr. H.vrnsby will be kept busy explaining until' the eve of the Hyetion.

Mr. HTi«!;l is winning in this fiErht. The inrwliii ,1 . issue is being raisod against, him in f'arterton, aiv.l :n effort is heini! made io sot votes on the- f!artevton versus MartinTioronßU. issue. How far that effort will he successful it ia not psissibl* ta say. hut unless it is. very successful indeed it cannot destroy Mr. Af'Lead's slmncM.