ALLEGATIONS REFUTED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 19 December 1914, Page 4

ALLEGATIONS REFUTED.

IT is interesting; in view cf the fact (hat the Opposition, d'liring the recent campaign, made special use of allegations in connection with the Public Trust Office, Huntly disaster, ostrich farm, and the action of Mr Parr's secretary, to observe how the electors on the s2 Dofc who, of- course, knew more about the actual facts than people at a distance, treated the Government candidates. One of tlie party papers has looked into the figures, and they are certainly significant. The electorate which includes Huntly may be taken first: The figures show that the people nearest to the seat, of the disaster thought so little of the allegations against the Government, that they gave the Government member, Mr R. F. Bollard, a majority of no less than 1420, as against a majority of 919 in 1911. These figures are significant, in view of continued where the facts are not so -clearly understood. Another charge was that the Government had tampered with the Public Trust Office, a charge, made despite the fact that the institution had had the two best years in its history. Mr Herdman was the alleged culprit, and the electors of Wellington North thought So little of it that they gave Mr Herdman a majoirty of 2543 over his nearest opponent, and a clear majority of 906 over both put together. Then in regard to the agitation against Mr. Parr over the action of one of his supporters in, it is alleged, offering one of the opposing candidates £IOO to go to the poll, it is interesting also to observe the verdict of the electors. The incident was seized upon and worked against Government candidates in other electorates, as if they had anything to do with it. The electors of Eden gave Mr Parr a majority of 2372 votes. And lastly, the Waiuku railway allegation was worked for all it was worth throughout the Dominion. It did not seem to matter that the facts of the ; case clearly proved Mr Massey to be in the right. Tt was considered to bo something that would "catch-on" with the electors, and so the wretched slanders were made. The matter was fully j thrashed out in the constituency, for it was raised by Mr Massey's opponent, Mr Glass. The electors, who knew the actual facts, thought so little of the 1 allegations that they gave Mr Massey ;i majority of 2925, the largest majority .scored by any candidate at the recent elections. Tlie figures show how necessary it is for electors in other parts to bo on their guard lest they-be led astray by electioneering fabrications, which people on the spot, and with knowledge of the facts, regard as beneath consider- j ation.