EDEN ELECTION SENSATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1914, Page 4

EDEN ELECTION SENSATION

THE OFFER TO A THIRD CANDIDATE HOW WAS IT OBTAINED? VIGOROUS REPUDIATION, (BT TELEGRAPH— PRESS iSSOCUTION.) AUCKLAND, 9th December. A vigorous repudiation of all knowledge of or consent to the alleged negotiations between his late election secretary and Mr. Richards was a prominent feature of two speeches delivered tonight by Mr. C. J. Parr at Avondale and Kingsland. In both places the Government candidate during his explanation of the position received an enthusiastic hearing from the great majority of those present, though insignificant minorities attempted now and then to strike a discordant note by interjecting i insinuations that Mr. Parr had knowledge that the offer of £100 was to be made to Mr. Ridiards to ensure the latter going to the poll. Speaking at the Jubilee Hall, Kingsland, where there was a-n attendance of some 600 persons, Mr. Parr said that before dealing with political questions he wished to refer to the dastardly eleventh 'hour attempt that had been made to stab him in the back when he was 100 miles away. (Prolonged ap« plause.) "I left Auckland on Monday . • . on a sad mission, and I was utterly oblivious of the fact that my political enemies had done this thing. I say that to get a letter of this kind and circulate it in the form of dodgers without giving me a chance to simultaneously give my explanation was cowardly and unBritish." (Lour cheers and applause.) Continuing, Mr. Pavr said that this sort of tactics had been in use during the past fortnight, as an instance of which he referred to the mobs who have been following up the Prime Minister and trying to prevent him from obtaining a hearing. (Cheers.) " Believe me," he went on, "it is the same gang that is trying to smash me now. As regards this £100 offer, I learnt for the first time on my return from Cambridge this morning that Mr. Harris, who had been my election secretary, was approached." Continuing, Mr. Parr said :—: — "Mr. Harris is prepared to go to Court, and win go to Court, and swear that he Was approached in this matter. (Renewed cheers.) He met certain men twice by appointment, and I am going to get to the bottom of it. (Applause.) I hope to get out every word that passed between those men at that interview. (Uproar aaid cheers.) They got from Mr. Harris this precious letter, but what I want to know, and what the electors would like to know, is, what were these other men prepared to do? (Cheers.) We have not heard yet, but we shall hear. (Renewed applause.) Having sent Mr. Harris away tricked and trapped, these other men at once set to work and gd£ out their precious dodgers and spread them through the whole district. Am I, whom you - all have known for twenty years, and who have never done an underhand trick, to be condemned and hounded down by men like this because of the action of an indiscreet young man, done absolutely without my knowledge or consent, and in^ my absence 100 miles away? (Loud cries of "No," and continuous cheering.) I knew nothing of this offer of £100 to Mr. Richards. As soon as I heard of it I gave Mr. Harris one mmute to g«»t out of my office. I feel, however, that he wae foolish and no worse. Then I went to the newspaper offices and repudiated his action, afterwards issuing a, circular ■ myself, in which I explained that Mr. Harris's offer had been mado without my knowledge. 'The other sidehad a start of me, and it i« difficult for the truth to overtake a slander in such circumstances, so my circulars may not have reached every elector ; but do your best 10-morrow." (Voices : "We will," a-nd cheers.) Mr. Parr added that be knew the people who Were paying the cost of the dodgers circulated containing Mr. Harris's letter. These people, he alleged, held high positions. TThey were actuated by a desire to do him harm, and the Reform Party harm. Later he would have something to say to these people. (Cheers.) A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by an overwhelming majority, only two hands being held up against it. The motion was followed by three cheers for Mr. Parr, and three cheers for Mr. Massey. Many of those present then made their way to the platform and showered congratulations and assurances of support upon the candidate.