POLITICIANS DIFFER

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1930, Page 5

POLITICIANS DIFFER

S.l. A! AIN TRUNK

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.)

BLKNII KIM, June 4

The following statement was made by Mr K. K. Mealy, M.P., to a representative of the ••Express.” in reply to Mr W. •). Gilding’s remit references to the pre-election attitude of Mr J. G. Coates in respect to the pi eject of completing the South Island Alain Trunk Railway.

"In reply to Mi- Gilding’s attitude regarding the mysterious telegram from Mr Coates to himself as to the. completion of the Main Trunk Line, and his deieiice ol Mr Coates in alate issue of the ‘Express’ i feel bound to observe that his statement will, no doubt, make the electors wonder where Mr Girling himself stands in the matter of the construction and finishing of this great national undertaking. Air Girling states that at no time during the last election campaign did he receive a message from Air Coates that lie would complete the South Alain Trunk Railday, nor did he make such a statement during the campaign. A copy of the ‘Express’ with Air Gilding’s Soring Creek speech was produced in the House, and Sir Joseph Ward read, word for word, what Mr Girling said there, and this was that, on the comp'etion of the Westport-Tnangn-hua Line, he (Air Contes) would immediately proceed with the completion of the Main South Trunk Line. Further than that, Air Girling, in his last Blenheim address, actually waved a telegram, or a sunposed telegram, on the platform, and repeated what he said at Spring Creek regarding Mr Coates’s promise. I myself, later in the Session, together with Air Id. E. Holland and Air D. 0. Sullivan, read the reference made to this railway by Air Girling in his Spring Creek speech, as also did the Hon. Air Atinore. This has all gone unchallenged, till now, after, an interval of eighteen months. Mr Girling’s Election Secretary actually told Air TClaek the Member for Hotueka, and myself in company, that lie read the telegram to defend Air C.irling’s election statement in the House, as he was not there to defend himse'if. 1,.0n one visit to Blenheim during the Session, asked Air Girling if he could let me use this telegram to protect his word in the House, but Ah Girling advised me that the telegram was of such minor importance in its reference to the railway that be had torn it up, and had burned it. Vow •he advises all New Zealand where lie stands. “Air Coates is of more importance +o him than is our railway, and he lias never received any wire! All that I can say is that this is political effrontery. Air H. E. Holland, Leader of tlie Labour Party, made his reference in Christchurch to the railway in all good faith as to Ah Gilding’s references at Spring • Creek being correctly reported'. Ido not like coming into this controversy with political opponent, but one cannot leave this remarkable departure from facts and home truths, as they have been understood all along to go unchallenged, •especially as it affects one of our largest and most necessary undertakings in the Dominion. Besides, especially as Mr Gilding’s statements have b»en broadcasted throughout New Zealand. I 'feel strongly that I owe it tn Ah H. E. Holland, Mr D. 0. Sullivan. the Hon. Mr Atmore, and other friends of the undertaking to protect their integrity.”

A BELATED DENIAL

BLENFTEIAr, June 4

RopV'ng to the comments by Mr E. F. Henley, M. P., in regard to his explanation relating to the now famous Coates telegram referring to the South Island main trunk railway, Mr W. J. Girling made the following 'Statement: “1 am surprised at Mr Healey’s persistency in stating that I had received a 'wire from Mr Coates on the eve of the election in to the effect that M,- ("nates would complete the South Island main trunk, and that I had waved the telegram in the air at my final meeting in Blenheim. This is incorrect. My reference to Mr Coates as stated previously, was that upon the cnmnletion of the ’Westport Tnangahua line, he would turn his attention to the South Island main trunk : this latter statement having been made in -‘■he House in reply to an interjection from nivsolf. T certninlv interpreted ’■■'fn.to mean that lie would proceed ~-.•+l, the line at the date when West-poit-Tnangabua line was completed. Hoit liim having preference in hfs ‘■•efipinp of rnilwnv construction. After 1-1(0 Coates Covernment bad been de- | informed Mr Healey that T Uad not received a wire from Mr Hnntes that bp would go on with the l ; nn »to which reference liad been made in the House during that short session. Air TTr.iVv i>i repfv. sa'd : worry about it? ATr Coates did not donv it!” Again during the session ’o 1020. reference to a wire from AT- Poatoß to me that be would on on with the line was made. A "a in T ivwn‘i.uied the matter to ATr Healey n„d the i-eferen'-e f o the wire made on the floor of Ihe House. T w-m expectinrv AT,, f'nnirx! to refer to the matter l-iit on’T'-ont’v. he did Pot do so Vow tUof the statement Ims been made on e on 1 -”-. ,-.1 o - form T foB : t PIV d”tv to ren’v thereto. T ueH-ninlv received co-T-ornl M-’ros from Afr Coofpß on nolilical matters prior to last election, liri in onlv one was there reference to roil wav matters .end in that one Afr Coates certainly did not commit him-