LABOUR INNUENDO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3833, 18 August 1928, Page 1

LABOUR INNUENDO.

j PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES | “NO INDUCEMENTS OFFERED.” ! I An innuendo alleging party trickery was crushingly dealt with by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, in the House of Representative's'this , week. I The Labour member for Auckland | East, Mr. J. A. Lee, gave notice of «his intention to ask the Prime Minister whether he had noticed the inquiry held recently in Australia in respect to an alleged inducement being offered a candidate to vacate a seat for another, and whether, having regard to a statement made during the contest by a candidate nt the Eden by-election in 192 G, that she was offered a consideration amounting to a considerable sum, he had considered holding a similar inquiry in New Zealand. lie also asked whether any official inducements were offered during the week-end to candidates in Roskill and Eden.

Although the question was in the form of a notice to be answered later, the Prime Minister was on his feet in an instant. “I know of no inducements offered to any candidate in New Zealand,” he declared with warmth. “I refute and deny any such suggestion. There is no occasion for me to reply further ihan to express regret that any member of the standing of the lion, member for Auckland East should risk a question in the form of innuendo, which does discredit to himself and members of Parliament in New Zealand.” The Prime Minister’s rejoinder was greeted with loud “hear hears.’’