MR ATMORE'S STATEMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 6 March 1912, Page 6

MR ATMORE'S STATEMENT.

A COMPLETE DENIAL

Yesterday afternoon Mi' At more forwarded a letter to this otlice regarding h \\ eliington message "üblished m Thursday's issue. Mr Atmore gives a complete denial to the message. As we have already pointed out to .Mr Atmore, we are not prepared to publish the whole of his letter-. But so far as the actual denial is cwiic»>l'llpllj Mi' Atnlo're is. of c'nut'Se, ill coinrrioil entitled to make his statement, and opportunity for this is fully afforded liitn. I'fiie correspondent, who, by the ivaV, (lcted unasktd by us «ivi at the time without our knowledge, has since wired stating that he did not interid to give the IrripressioH that Mr Atrriorfe was rtwav frrtih the Hbuse whilst It was sitting; but thftt he enlivened the time whilst it was not sitting, which, of course, we may add, he had a perfect right to do. We have already expressed the opinion that we do not believe that Mr Atmore allowed anything to influence him in the slightest degree ; and, further, we are also of opinion that he gave full attention to i:,.. Parliamentary duties. In the course of his letter Mr. Atmore writes : —I was greatly surprised oil Saturday last upon receiving a copy of Thursday's "Mail" to find a whole tissue of lies concerning my actions in Wellington. I immediately telegraphed a disclaimer, part only of which you published. I propose to deal witli the matter -at greater Jength than is possible with the brevity of the telegraphic medium, but before doing so permit me to say that consider'ng the eulogjisfcic Articles -concerning my speech, self-control, etc., which appeared in every paper published in Wellington—in the cosmopolitan "Truth," Opposition journal "Dominion," Independent paper ".cost," Government organ "N.Z. Times," that is to say in -th e leading papers of Wellington, it was somewhat surprising to find that the papers of one's own constituency were not- prepax-ed to accord some* recognition. Your correspondent starts out in his statement by paying :"Mr. Atmore alone seemed unconcerned and nonchalant with motoring excursions and social calls. He was not listening to the floods of oratory poured out for his benefit. The best part of Tuesday itself he was rumoured to have spent out at the golf links. Many tongues in fact were Bet wagging when at halfpast nine on Tuesday morning the wellknown motor from Awarua House, con taining Lady Ward and Miss Eileen Ward, spun up to the door of Parliament House, picked up Mr. Atmore, and departed for a day's outing. Mr. Atmore, the gossiptrs had noticed, had been more than once a. visitor to Awa rua House, and was apparently by way oi becoming quite a social lion. . , . The supper adjournment was spent by Nelson's member in company with Ladj Ward and Miss Ward." Dealing witu tho foregoing let me say that I give the lie direct to every statement it contains. I met Lady and Miss Eiietn Ward in the Provincial Hall about six years ago, when I was a member of the City Council and was on the reception committee arranged to give them a welcome to Nelson on behalf of the citizens. Since then until after the division I had not seen Lady Ward sufficiently close to speak to. Re Awarua House, although in common with other members 011 both sides of the Hous e I had received an invitation to dine there, I have never at any tinie been inside Awarua Houst'. Further, I did not spend tho supper adjournment with. Lady and Miss Ward ox any other ladies, but in talking witiother members of Parliament in the member's supper room, where ladies are not admitted. Further, I listened to every member who spoke, and was not absent for a single second from any sitting of the House. My interest in politics is too intense to allow me to neglect attending every sitting. Oil the Tuesday 1 was not out cf Wei lington bev-f.nd Island Kay, where 1 went for one hour with two other bnche lor members, 011 the .invitation of a mem ber. Lady Ward was not a member 01 the party, and if there were any ladies, that is entirely the business of the party and cf no one etae. One meets the daughters and wives of members of both sides of the House, and it is unnecessary t< 6av party lines do not. exist 011 such occasions. If it is any offence to motor with ladies when on-o is not neglecting one's duties, let me say that it is 1 very pleasant offence, and bn« that I air willing' to commit 011 every possible occasion. Re making social calls, 1' d:d not make a single call whilst in Wellington, and 011 the particular Tuesday I went to the House at 9 a.m. and wrotr in the Library for some time, then showed a well-known Nelsonian and his daughter through th-: ; House until ncar'.j 11, then conversed with the gentleman with whom I sit in the House, until tin third member referred to invited' us to motor to the- Bay. After dinner I wai at the House at 1.40, although it did no; sit until ,2.30, and from that time on J did not leave with the exception of th<_ journey to my hotel for dinner, until 7. o'clock 011 Wednesday morning. Mc6t Nelsonians know that my interest in politics has always been too keen for m« to neglect anything pertaining to them and although I mav have neglected tc join in the great dollar chase, and may have neglected my own business becausof my absorption in politics, it is alto gether too unlikelv that I would be away from the Hou6e for a second. Let the Nelson people read the outside comments on my Parliamentary debut, and then they will .realise tho littleness, and pettiness of your correspondent. 1 received sixty-four telegrams of congratulation on mv efforts, and I am not worrying over your petty correspondent at present—he will probably do the worrying shortly. I tried to do the best for the peojjle. I voted con.scient'ously and absolutely 011 the merits of the case, and those who listened to the debate from the non-nartv standpoint will agree with me. I must insist on an absolute apology from your correspondent. I shall deal with the recent division and the present state of Parliamentary affairs in a further letter or not improbably from the public platform, but I hope- to receive an apology before that time. Mr. Atmore this morning received replv telegram from Sir Joseph Ward confirming Mr. Atmore's statement that lie had never been to Awarua- House.