Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,800 Copies Daily WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1911. "TWO RICHMONDS."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9625, 27 September 1911, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,800 Copies Daily WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1911. "TWO RICHMONDS."

Tiikke lias been forwarded to this office a leaflet with the heading, "The true story of the last North Dunedin election and the mystery of the two Richmonds," which deals with a controversy between the Hon. James Millar, and Mr A. It. Barclay as to the lattcr's relations with the Government when lie (Mr Barclay) stood as a candidate for North Dunedin at the 1908 election. The leaflet would be of 110 interest outside North Dunedin electorate only for its sidelights on the electioneering methods of the Government and the measures taken to dispose of candidates who are not blind and dumb followers of the Party. When Mr Barclay was elected to the House at the 1905 election lie was labelled "Government supporter," and for a considerable time showed no dis-

position to kick over the traces, but towards the .close of'the last session of the 1905 Parliament his relations with Ministers had become strained and apparently his presence was not desired in the fold. Mr. Barclay, iu giving his version of what occurred,

says:— "I have often wondered why the Government developed a desire to shunt) me, and I think I have discovered the real bacillus that caused the wnole mischief in an, even that took place in the House a few nights before the last session o last Parliament ended. On that night there was a battle royal over the Arbitration Act. Ihe 1 rentier and Mr Millar were on one side, I was on the other. I wanted amendments made; they would not agree. So wo fought long, we struggled—ab least, I struggled hard. Sometimes 1 won but generally I lost. Still, I plugged doggedly on, and held on to my fifty amendments to the bitter end. My two opponents wore very wild that night. I am afraid their dignity was considerably ruffled. I fear that from that moment they resolved to shunt me if they could. But nevei a sign of the change did they give to me."

Mr Barclay appears to have commenced the 1908 election in the belief that he was still permitted to wear the brand "Government candidate," and had a. severe shock when.he discovered that it had been attached to another candidate named Mr Isaac. Green. Mr Barclay says he made the discovery through the chairman of his committee. At first he laughed, declaring that the rumours "were invented by the enemy"; that he "showed sheaves of telegrams from Ministers wishing him luck, told liim of caucuses," etc. We have Mr Barclay's assurance that he believed matters were once more working smoothly and that everything was satisfactory, but a staggering blow was dealt him by Mr Isaac Green calmly announcing at his first meeting that he was the Government candidate and not Mr, Barclay! We are told by Mr Barclay that he "fairly gasped at what he considered the man's 'infernal impudence,' but he found that Mr Green at that moment had stated what was correct, and he (Mr Barclay) was completely and utterly in the wrong." Mr Barclay gives his assurance that lie was then a "faithful member of the Government party," but the Government, lie says, did not want to see him elected. The £x-member for North Dunedin must have - been a Triton among minnows in the political world in view of the following declaration by him

"The fact is that the Government did not care for me—may I even go so far as to say that they feared me? They never knew, they thought, when I might break out and turn and rend them. I would bo much pleasanter and quieter, they thought, if I was out of the way. I think they. thought that if i were beaten I would sink into oblivion and be heard of no more. I think they now know that in thinking so they made the most amazing mistake in their lives. I have always been a strong party man. I would have gone on faithfully supporting the Government had I been returned for at least sonic 15 or 18 months, when, of course, when Mr Hogg left, I would have had no alternative but to give notice of my intention to support the Government no longer."

Mr Barclay's loyalty to the Government would not stand a severe strain apparently, since he informs the public in the leaflet that he would have supported the Ministry for at least 18 months when lie' would have left in company with Mr Hogg. Mr Barclay reached the top of the poll in the first ballot, but his satisfaction was short-lived. He charges the Government supporters with th§n issuing cards recommending their friends to vote for the Opposition candidate, but whether that was done or not, the fact remains that Mr Thomson was. elected' at the second ballot. The electors of North Dunedin had accepted the Opposition policy as being more desirable than that propounded by the Government and the Opposition candidate 'was elected. Mr Millar's statement is quite as interesting as Mr Barclay's. The Minister 6ays:—' "Mr Barclay, after tiie second meeting of his campaign in 1908, knew exactly where he stood so far as the Ward Government were concerned. He was then told very plainly that the Government neither wanted him nor his services. After ho discovered this he began to qualify his speeches. Desperate efforts were made to secure the Government label for him, and a well-known member of his coinmit- : tee gsive Mr Millar no peace in the hope of securing that result, but all efforts, in that direction were unsuccessful. On the very eve of the election Mr Barclay himself tried to induce the Minister to go on the public platform and endorse his candidature, butMr Miliar absolutely . refused on that occasion. ... It .was quite obvious ,that as a Duncdin representative lie (Mr Millar) individually preferred to 6ee Mr Barclay triumph over an Oppositionist, but that was merely an expression of individual opinion."

Since his rejection as a Government candidate Mr Barclay has labelled himself Socialist," and lie will fight Labour's cause at the General Election, having been selected as its candidate for North Duncdin. If .Mr Barclay's action in- opposing the Government on the Arbitration Bill was risky from the Party (standpoint, the action taken by the electors of North Dunedin was commendable from a Dominion point of view, inasmuch as it disclosed a spirit of independence that is very desirable in politics to--1 a ;' an eua Wed a sound and able politician to sit i n the House as the representative of the constituency.