A PASSAGE-AT-ARMS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 58, 3 July 1896, Page 3

A PASSAGE-AT-ARMS.

4» BETWEEN MR PIRANI AND THE PREMIER. FLAT CONTRADICTIONS. (By Telegraph.) Special to Standard. Wellington, This clay. By his independent attitude Mr Pi rani seems to have incurred the displeasure of the Cabinet. It was the Premier he fell foul of last night. After an angry passage of arms Mr Pirani challenged Mr Seddon te personally contest the Palmerston seat with him. The Premier retorted that Mr Pirani had three years ago come to him on his knees begging his assistance in the campaign. As to the challenge he declined to put himself on the same level as Mr Pirani. The latter absolutely denied asking the Premier's assistance to get into Parliament. As a matter of fact, Mr Seddon asked him by word of mouth and telegram to give him a written pledge to support the Government, which he refused, saying in writing that an Elective Executive and Referendum were his platform, and if Ministers supported those^principies,

he wa'i willing to give them his support. The Premier contradicted the assertion that lie bad telegraphed to M* Tirani asking for liis support, but he would prove that, in the presence of friends, Mr Pi rani pledged himself'to support the Government. In the course of a heated discussion, Mr Seddon said he had already shipped Mr Pirani into the lobby, and Government would continue to do so.