“PERSONAL ABUSE”

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 62, 6 December 1929, Page 12

“PERSONAL ABUSE”

ATTACK ON MR. JOHNSTON MR. KERR’S UTTERANCES Surprise that the United candidate (Air. J. Kerr) had resorted to the introduction of personalities in the Hutt by-election campaign was expressed by Air. H. F. Johnston, the Reform nominee, during his speech at Aloera last night. “I had hoped,” said Air. Johnston, “that no personalities would be engaged in in this campaign. From the beginning to the end of it 1 will not descend to personalities of any description whatsoever. (Loud applause.) I think, however, that the United candidate is in danger of falling into a career of personal abuse. I have had handed to me a verbatim report of portion of his speech at Korokoro last night. It reports Mr. Kerr as follows: — “The Reform Party have such a case to answer in this election that they were afraid to put their case in the hands of a clean, decent young man who would fight this election as clean as I fight. They held a meeting to choose a candidate, and this young man. who served the Reform Party by conviction, was turned down and a very astute lawyer was put in. He is hoodwinking to the best of his professional ability the electors of this country. He is a man who thinks he is talking to a jury, but I will tell you this; he is talking to a jury who can understand him and can see the lawyer in him. He can turn argument; that is his profession. He can talk on cases in the courts and try to make black look white. He is attemptting the same tactics to-day, but is failing miserably. People realise Reform has no case. An honest man. a politician, would have been ashamed to stand on a public platform and advocate the Reform Party’s policy because such a policy is not what this country needs.” No Comment to Make. Proceeding, Air. Johnston said that insofar as the statement contained any reflection on the legal profession he was of opinion that that profession could afford to regard Air. Kerr’s remarks with contempt. (Loud applause.) “So far as it contains any reflection on my honesty, integrity, and character,” Air. Johnston added, “I leave it to my friends to answer. I make no comment. (Applause.) So far as it suggests that I have displaced Air. Jacobson as the Reform nominee, I leave it to Air. Jacobson, who is the chairman of my combined committees, a personal friend, and a loyal supporter, to reply to. (Loud and sustained applause.) Loose Statements. “Air. Kerr seems to be falling into this class of loose statement,” continued the candidate, who went on to refer to what the United nominee was reported to have stated at the same meeting in regard to a “pre-arrangement” of the Labour amendment moved in the House on the question of the Civil Service salary “cuts.” The Labour Party yesterday had repudiated Air. Kerr’s statement, as had also the Alinister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes). Air. Forbes said the amendment was not pre-arranged with the United Party, and Air. Fraser claimed that the amendmuit was not the subject of prior discussion, neither was it pre-ar-ranged with anyone. “I accept the statements of Alessrs. Forbes and Fraser,” added Air. Johnston. “It is for Air. Kerr to tell you with whom the amendment was pre-arranged.”