PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

REFORMERS AND A BY-ELECTION. QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. SUGGESTED IRREGULARITY. (Ry Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A suggestion of irregularity in the arrangements for filling the vacancy in the Grey electorate was hinted- at by Mr 0. W. Russell (Avon) yesterday afternoon. He declined to be drawn into details and thus precipitate, possibly, a long and monious discussion. Under the circumstances, a condolence motion being in prospect, but be plainly indicated that later, oil be would have something to say. _ He knew what was the law, and what was tlie Government’s duty regarding.the election.

The Prime Minister answered that if Mr Russell was of opinion that the Taw had not been complied with, he was wrong,, for tlie law had been followed to the letter. The writ was isued at the earliest possible moment, and could not Have been issued an hour earlier, the date of the election being fixed for July 17th. The member should say what be complained about. Mr Russell: I am-not going to be dragged into a row now. Opinion in the lobby was that Mr Russell was referring to complaints from the Liberals and Labor supporters iu Grey electorate that their Reform opponents knew something which enabled them to make much more effective arrangements for halls tlie day before the election than could be managed on behalf of other candidates.