GILBERTIAN NIGHT AT EDEN CAUCUS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3289, 8 March 1926, Page 9

GILBERTIAN NIGHT AT EDEN CAUCUS

Lacked up Alright Says Miss Melville WITHOUT POSSIBLE PROBABLE DOUBT The manner of selecting the Reform candidates, with one exception has been of a Gllbertian nature, says the Auckland correspondent of the “Evening Post,” but it does not appear that it in any way affected the choice of the delegates who decided the question. The rejected candidates, with one exception, have loudly protested aganlst being locked in a room while the conference was proceeing; but against that it Is asserted that it was the delegates who were looked in, and that the wouldbe candidates were granted the luxury of occupying the draaa circle of the theatre In which the meeting was held. It is asserted that there was open communication between the dress circle and the street. The only Irregularity about the proceedings, which, however, does not seem to have the slightest difference was the fact that Sir James Gunson, who arrived late, was not honoured with a dress circle seat, but was permitted to sit in his motor oar. It was a nipo cool evening outside the building while he awaited his turn for exam* ination before the tribunal. “Locked up all Right.” Miss Melville, in reptort to the Reform organser’s statement, declares: “We were locked up all right. We were locked in a room leading off the landing at the top of the stairs. It is true that this room opened Into the dress circle, and we took seats at the back of the circle. We were not going to chance breaking our nocks by jumping from a second storey window into the street, and we were not sufficiently athletic to leap frpm the dress circle down into the lower auditorium in an endeavour to discover an exit. Mr Davey knew that we were safely confined, else why did ho need to lock the door on ueT There is no question about it, wo were safely locked in, and he knew it.” ' Miss Melville now states that her pledge to abide by the decision of the conference w T as conducted on the rules of the Reform League being observed, and declared her intention of contesting the seat. It Is possible that she may reconsider her decision in view of the obvious fact that such ns action would play Into the hands of the Labour Party. No Sign of Effect on Voting. If Sir James Gunson had not been selected, it is unlikely that anything would have been heard about the lock and key business. Not a single vote was affected, so far as can be gathered, by the fact that seven candidates for nomination waited in the dress circle and that the eighth waited outside and cooled his heels in his car. It has been asserted that Sir J Gunson ban an opportunity of hearing the speeches made by the other candidates before the tribunal but he denies that he heard any* thing and those who know him would not think of doubting his word on the point. Par From Easy Win. Another ridiculous suggestion that has been made is that the meeting of delegates was "packed” for Sir James Gunson. The absurdity of this statement is shown by the fact that ho had far from an easy win. The actual figures have not been disclosed, but it is known that two ballots wore necessary. Sir James Gunson headed the voting in each case. In the first ho was a few votes short of an absolute majority, and the second ballot gave him only a narrow absolute majority. Miss Melville, who was second on th® list I* l eaon case, received substantial support, Mr Oldfield, the only other candidate in the running, received moderate sup. port in the first ballot, hut In tns second ballot he fell back slightly. Miss Melville as well as Sir James Gunson received an increased number of votes. None of the other candidates got into double figures. Mr Fleming, one of -the “dress circle candidates," dissociates himself from the outcry of the others. Ho says he Is quite' -satisfied with Sir James Gunson's statement that the fact that he was not with tho Pthoi candidates was unintentional.