LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9367, 25 November 1893, Page 5

LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

MR. SEDDON AND THE WANGANUI ELECTION.

INTERESTING DISCLOSURES.

" [BY. TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wangandi, Friday. k The following correspondence is published fc in this morning's Chronicle and speaks for s itself :— s Ladies and Gentlemen,— placing 11 my withdrawal notice in the hands of the » Returning Officer, which notice I now find does not absolve me from submitting myself e to the ballot-box, I have, with the advice of r my friends, reconsidered my position, and j decided to leave you to judge whether I . have irretrievably dishonoured or comi promised myself or not. With this object i in view I will now place before you the true . facts which have led up to my action. Ira--3 mediately prior to the Hon. Mr. Seddon's 1 address at Marton I received a letter from a him requesting me to meet him at that . place. I did so, but unfortunately for me I r cannot disclose the overtures and induce- ! merits held out to me by tho Premier, and 5 which I declined to accept. The following , telegraphic correspondence, however, sub- , sequently took place : — 18th November, 1893. A. J. Parsons, Esq., Waugauui. Private and confidential.— am > very pleased to see by papers that Aitken * and Mason have retired from the contest. i Now I know lam asking a very great favour from you in requesting you to make a selfsacrifice by retiring from the present con- ' test, but after having made careful inquiry I have come to the conclusion that if you and Willis both stand it is a dead certainty Carson willget in. You have already very great claims on the party for the sacrifice made formerly, and I am putting a very heavy strain on party allegiance by asking you again to give place. My great anxiety is, that 1 would not like the other side, so soon after my late chief's death, to get the seat. Best wishes.—K. J. Seddon, Hokitika. The reply to tho above was to the following effect:—" I have agreed to submit myself to a committee of Liberals mutually chosen." To this Mr. Seddon replied :— IStli November, 189,1. A. J. Parsons, Esq., Wanganui.—Your telegram received. I am very pleased, indeed, to find that, in the interests of the party, some arrangement is likely to be accomplished. Accept my thanks and best wishes.—R. J. Shddon, Koss. Tho next telegram received by me is the , following : — Memo., confidential. 20th November, IS93.—Regret to hear understanding could not be arrived at. Willis being sitting membet", and having pronounced himself, I anticipate his friends claim priority. Under these trying circumstances I feel the difficulty of the position in which you are placed, and would strongly advise you to take a generous and self-sacrificing course, because, should accident happen and Carson he returned, the whole brunt would militate against your chance for ever afterwards. You have asked my advice, and I have given it as an old friend, and one who is only anxious for the good cause you and I have so long fought for, and I feel sure that if your old chief was here to advise you, that this is the course he would wish you to follow under the circumstances. Best wishes.—R. J. Seddon. Kumara, 9 a.m. The late Mr. Ballance, in his life timo, on two occasions offered mo a seat in the Legislative Council, bub on each occasion I declined. Mr. Ballance assured me that at any future time should I feel disposed to consider the matter I would be one of the first to be considered. I therefore felt justified as a candidate, in again sacrificing myself in the interests of the Liberal party in sending the following telegram prior to nomination :— 20th November, 1593. ConfidenUl. R. J. Seddon, Esq.—lf I stand down caD I rely upon Ballance's promise for seat in Council being kept.—A. J. ARSONS. The following reply was received by me about six p.m., after nominations had closed :— 20th November, 1893. Memo., private and confidential. A. J. Parsons, Esq., Wanganui.—l cannot give a reply to your question, seeing I would require the decision of the Cabinet upon the matter. I was not aware that our old chief had made a promise. Probably some of my colleagues may know of it. —R. J. Skddon, Darficld. Yesterday the two last telegrams, which are marked confidential, were public property in Wanganui, and were used to my detriment by Mr. Willis at his Moss town meeting. The inference is that a breach of a most unpardonable nature has been committed, and it was this breach alone which forced me into the position which I yesterday took up. * Ladies and gentlemen, having therefore decided to contest the election, I would ask you to carefully consider the action of the Premier of New Zealand and myself in this matter.—A. J. Parsons.