THE MEMBER FOR NELSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15002, 25 May 1912, Page 8

THE MEMBER FOR NELSON.

— ♦ -7 VOTE ON, NO. CONFIDENCE MOTION, . ... XV: reply' to the speech delivered at Nel- '.' son by Mr. H. Atmore, M.P., on Thursday night, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. F. Massey) has made the following communication to the press:—" •• , "Atmofg, has'evidently attempted to justify ;7 his.position,,and he evidently, finds adiffieulty in so doing. He stood as an Independent-, but I have no hesitation in saying he made stronger anti-Government speeches than a great many straight out Oppositionists. " ,At the -second ballot he had the Opposition support, and he was elected. Ho told our organiser his vote would depend upon the wording of their no-confidence amendment. He came to my room and discussed it and expressed, himself' as perfectly satisfied, though he said he hud reasons for not declaring himself one way or the other. - At another: inters iew in the same room he" told, me of the. requirements of Nelson, the difficulties about the recreation ground, the railway; extension to Murchiaon, etc., and then wound up- by asking me to again visit] ..Nelson. Iliad spoken to a huge gather-.I ing in Nelson before the election, I ac- ; -• etipted the invitation and again he expressed himself as satisfied with the wording of the amendment. But when the division bell rang, Mr. Atmore voted the other way. The Nelson papers have discussed the suggested reason for his change of front, and I leave it at that. I have had a pretty long Parliamentary experience, but no one, and I except no one in this, has treated mo or my party so shamefully as the member for Nelson, and now .he follows up his previous action, judging from the Press Association report, by v political abuse. I leave tho people of Nelson to judge him."