REFORM AND UNITED

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 138, 7 March 1929, Page 13

REFORM AND UNITED

NOT WORKING TOGETHER SIR JOSEPH WARD CORRECTS A REPORT By Telegraph.—Pfess Association. Woodville, Dlarch 6. According to telegrams received by the Prime Dlinister at Napier, the condensed Press Association report of a speech made by him at Gisborne has created the impression in some quarters that a pact exists between the Reform and United Parties'. “It is hardly necessary for me to repudiate the existence of any such understanding,” said Sir Joseph Ward, in an interview to-day, “but to remove the misapprehension that has arisen I wish to repeat the actual wprds used by me. These were:— Co-operation of all sections is required to advance the country’s best interests. What we want-is to pull together. We want Reform, United, and Labour working with each other. We want, mutual trust and forbearance and not each at the other’s throat all the time. “The Dress Association report credited pie with the statement that Reform and United were working together—a statement I never made, and one with a vastly different meaning frorii that contained in the views I actually expressed, as I was not referring to the individual politics of any of the three parties. The Press Association has issued the following reply:—“With reference to the telegram from Woodville in which Sir Joseph Ward states that a report of his speech at Gisborne has created a wrong Impression through being distorted in condensation, reference to the original shows that it was sent correctly and in the form he approves. Apparently the telegram has been wrongly filled in by some papers, and a different meaning given to it to what Sir Joseph really said.” "The Dominion’s” Special Service report of the Prime Dlinister’s utterance was correct, agreeing in every particular with Sir Joseph Ward’s statement Quoted above. The Press Association’s report of the speech was not used.