PARNELL AND PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15132, 24 October 1912, Page 9

PARNELL AND PARLIAMENT

AN ELECTION STORY.

TOLD BY BOARD MEMBERS.

. Wellington, Wednesday. An amusing interlude occurred in to-day's proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee. After creating a good deal of disturbance in Parliamentary circles, the committee quietly resumed its inquiry regarding' the administration of the State'-guaran-' teed advances system. It had under examination all the morning the; former chairman of the Remuera Road Board (Mr. C. A. Cawkwcll), and obtained from him an explanation of the reported warning of a. workman because ho was a supporter of Mr.' Dickson: The man, Mr. Cawkwell said, was Cromwell, who was employed by the Remuera Board at a scoria pit. He was Mr. Dickson's leading man,. and got paid on election day " for running about." Witness continued that he spoke to Cromwell about the election, but did hot discuss the man's position as an employee of the Board. A member of the; Board named Bond, a strong temperance, advocate, came to him to complain about Cromwell. Bond came to witness " frothing at the mouth," and said: " This is a nice staid of affairs. Here is Cromwell going round for ' Sam.': (that is Mr. Dickson, explained witness). I want ■ you to sack him." ■ ....;;.

'M said (to Bond), I: will tell him that he is not wise," added witness. Cromwell, he remarked, was one of his adherents in local matters. '

; Another member of the Board also spoke to him about Cromwell. Witness said to Cromwell: "What you do in political matters has absolutely nothing to do with me. Do what you like, but you are up against old Bond, and be careful what you do." He told Cromwell not to take offence, and that he did not want him to stop canvassing, y;-'. Hon. James Allen Would not that employee of the Board think twice before he would go electioneering again ? He-did go electioneering again., ; He took no notice of. your warning? I: think he dropped the temperanco ticket for" Mr. Dickson. Continuing, witness said he did not interfere with Cromwell, but advised him as a friend. The evidence on the point by Mr. Dickson, M.P.! for Parnell, was to the effect that Cromwell; fold witness that he had .; been advised by the chairman that he had better not support witness's candidature. He resigned from Mr. 'Dickson's committee, and did. not work for witness after that.