BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 3

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT.

THE REFORM CANDIDATES.

MR. WILFORD'S ALLEGATION

[BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wkllincton-, Thursday. I The statement made by Mr. Wilford] (Hutt) on Tuesday evening regarding something which lie said had appeared in a Bay of Islands paper during the " truce'' perioa, above the signature of Mr. E. A. James, general secretary to the Reform Party, advocating the claims of Mr. Reed, is replied to by Mr. James. la a letter to the press, Mr. James says:— "Mr. Wilford would have the public believe that I have broken the political truce by contributing an article to a newspaper' in advocacy to Mr. Vernon Reed's claims upon the Bay of Islands seat, but this so-called 'article' is really in editorial I comment upon a letter addressed by me' on August 3 last, to the secretary of the Hukerenui branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League, in reply to a communication of his, dated July 29. I was asked by that gentleman -which of j the two Reform candidates who have announced themselves for the Bay of Islands seat is the selected Government candidate. My reply was evidently handed to the editor of the paper, who quoted it in full, and at the close, made his own com-. ments upon the position. I am in no way responsible for the publication of the letter. '