EDEN BY-ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 167, 12 April 1926, Page 8

EDEN BY-ELECTION

« MR. V. H. POTTER’S ATTITUDE REPLY BY MR. J. S. DICKSON “Dominion” Special. Auckland, April 11. A statement made by Mr. V. H. Potter, M.P., at one of Miss Melville’s meetings this week, was replied to by Mr. J. S. Dickson, chief Government Whip, at the meeting addressed by the official Reform candidate (Sir James Gunson) at Avondale. “I desire all present to know that an attempt is being made to split our party vote by those whose aim is to lose Eden to Labour,” stated Mr. Dickson. “I ■would further like to say that I resent the insult levelled at my leader, Mr. Coates, by Mr. V. H. Potter, M.P. Mr. Pottei made this statement from the public platform: ‘That if Mr. Masse}’ had been alive to-day the whole trouble would have been settled in 48 hours in Miss Melville’s favour.’ ” Mr. Dickson added that the Prime Minister had investigated the charges made by Miss Melville and had given his decision that Sir James Gunson was constitutionally chosen. Mr. Coates had then endorsed Sir James Gunson’s candidature. Mr. Dickson therefore expressed resentment at Mr. Potter’s action in questioning that decision and in attempting to upset it by working and speaking in the interests of a vote-splitter. “Miss Melville says she is a true Reformer,” said Mr. Dickson. “Here is her record: In 1919, nominated and supported by the party; in 1922, a votesplitter in Roskill; in 1925, nominated and supported by the party; in 1926, a vote-splitter in Eden. Is this true Reform ? The position is that every man or woman who works and votes against Sir James Gunson is voting and working for the extreme Labour Party. I appeal io all Reformers to stand firmly by the party and vote for Sir James Gunson and the Coates Government.”