OPPOSITION DIVIDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15768, 17 November 1914, Page 4

OPPOSITION DIVIDED.

POSITION AT PARNELL. A LIVELY GATHERING. MR, SULLIVAN AND MR. GLEESON. " I have a rather extraordinary announcement to make," declared the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. D. Teed, when presiding at a moeting assembled in the local Town Hall last night to hear the political views of Mr. J. J. Sullivan, a candidate in the Opposition interests for the Parnell seat. "Owing to the Liberal Party being divided, and more than one candidate coming out, Mr. Sullivan has asked me to announce that he has retired so as not to split the vote in favour of Mr. J. C. Gleeson." Voices: No; he should resign. A Voice: Let ue have them both and pick the proper man. (Applause.) Addressing the meeting, Mr. Sullivan declared that they must give way to human prejudices. Ho was a comparatively unknown man in this district, while Mr. Gleeson's name was a household word. Voices: We don't want Gleeson! The Candidate: I believe my time will come.

A Voice: Not if you turn it down this time.

The candidate declared that when Mr. Bnggs retired he found himself in the field, and until that afternoon he considered be was the only Opposition candidate. But at a conference of the supporters of the Opposition Party in Parnell thai day ho had been told that there were to be two candidates, and as a matter of coramonsonso and prudence ho pledged his word that he would retire. A motion was proposed to the effect that Mr. Sullivan be thanked for retiring from the contest, and an amendment was moved that Mr. Sullivan be requested to withdraw his decision to retire until such time as the audience, which was in his fayour, had an opportunity of hearing his political views. A Voice : Gleeson wasn't going to stand last week. Let him stick to bis word now. Mr. Gleeson Appears. , £* this stage Mr. Gleeson entered the nail. After a consultation with the chairman and erstwhile- candidate, he took the platform. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "1 am in a most peculiar position hero to-night Voices : Well, get out of it! Another Voice: Put it to the vote! (Applause.) . '7, ha « not th * intention of standing for the Parnell seat, or any other seat, in this election before yesterday afternoon at half-past four o'clock," said Mr Gleeson. Conference Suggested. "At seven o'clock to-night," he continued ' I was told that I was the selected candidate. 1 didn't seek this position. Deputations waited on me even on the Sabbath. Mr. Lriggs, the former candidate had retired, owing to the war, or the pressure of public life." v Finally, Mr. Gleeson declared that there were the surrounding circumstances which had induced him to take the field He was not going to creep into Parliament through the back door, and would withdraw if it would help the Opposition. the crowd then called for Mr Sullivan. A Voire : Let the truth come out Mr Gleeson : Did I do a dirty turn to you, Mr. Sullivan? Mr. Sullivan: I am not aware of it .Mr. Sullivan: There are onlv two people who can release rre-the Liberal Tarty and Mr. Gleeson. The chairman considered that it would be unjust to Mr. Gleeson to take. a. vote of the meeting as to who should contest he election lie suggested "a little co* ference at the back of the stage" between the interested parties. i A Voice: l think we could do nothing better in the interests of another candi date who is standine—Mr. Dickson. Another Voice: There has been some hole-and-corner business. Who are the 'Liberal Party?" " Done Nothing Underhand." The platform was next taken by Mr T Rogers, secretary of the Liberal-Labour League, Parnell branch. " There has bee n no hole-and-corner business," he announced. "Mr. Sullivan was a stranger to the league. Give us credit fo r real Liberalism. We've done nothing underhand. We had Mr. Sullivan's full consent and support." Mr Sullivan suggested that it would be grossly unfair to take a vote of the meeting to decide whether he or Mr. Gleeson should contest the election. " Give me till to-morrow night/' he asked, "to consider tho position, and I will address a public meeting here that evening, and will lav before you my views on the matter."' (Applause.) A Voice : Take Mr. ' Sullivan at his word, and adopt Mr. Gleeson once and for all. (Cries of " No!"). Another Voice : If Mr. Gleeson had not gone back on hie word, without seeing the party, there would have been no need for this. Mr. Gleeson : That suggestion should be withdrawn ! There was a misunderstanding oyer the telephone. Voices : Oh ! Mr. Gieeson : I will ask Mr. Sullivan if he did not state that my explanation was most satisfactory. I will leave the matter in his hands, and feel sure he will teli the truth. " Pelt He Hadn't a Friend." Mr. Sullivan : I was undoubtedly quite satisfied. I felt when I was at that conference that I hadn't a friend in Parnell. A Voice : You've got some now ! The chairman announced that the proposed meeting would be held in the Newmarket Town Hall at eight o'clock this evening, and the meeting closed amidst cheers for Mr. Sullivan and hoots for Mr. Gleeson, with a few counter demonstrations. AUCKLAND WEST. ADDRESS BY MR. BRADNEY. An attentive hearing was given to Mr. J. H. Bradney, M.P. for Auckland West, by a meeting of employees of Messrs. Cashmoro Bros.' sawmill, which he addressed during the lunch hour yesterday. The member explained that when he entered Parliament he was not a strong party man, but he had found excellent reasons for associating himself definitely with the supporters of tho Government. In support of his claim that the present Government is genuinely Liberal in its policy and its administration, Mr. Bradney drew attention to the development of the workers' homes scheme, comparing the expenditure by the previous Administration from the inception of the scheme in 1905, with that during the Reform Party's term oi office. He declared that he regarded the nationalisation of industries with dis. favour, the experience of tho State coalmines and depots having shown the difficulty of carrying into practice the popular theories regarding such State enterprises. An address to ladies only will be given by Mr, Bradney in the Windsor Hall at 3 p.m. to-morrow.