ASKED TO STAND DOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17338, 9 December 1919, Page 10

ASKED TO STAND DOWN.

THE ASHBURTON INCIDENT. STATEMENT BY ME. ELLIOTT. [BT TELEGEAPH. —PEESS ASSOCIATION'.! WELLINGTON, Monday. Regarding the offer which he was alleged to hare mads to a candidate in Ashburton if he would withdraw from the contest, the Rev. Howard Elliott states that on behalf of the Protestant PoliticAssociation he interviewed Mr. H. M. Jones with reference to his candidature, as it was considered locally that Mr. Jones might divide the Protestant vote. He urged Mr. Jones on this account to withdraw from the contest, and under took that the Protestant Political Association would meet any expense incurred up to that date. Mr. Jones requested a week to eon aider the request, and pledged himself to treat it confidentially. He declined to stand down, intimating that he believed it to be_a matter of religious duty to stand Mr. Elliott says the suggestion of a seat in the Legislative Council "is so nonsensical that it is unworthy of notice Neither Mr. - Massey nor Mr. wosworth v was consulted, nor were they aware of my intention to approach Mr. Jones." STATEMENT BY MR. NOSWORTHY. [ET TEL2GEAPH. —PEBSS ASSOCIATION.] ASHBOBTON. Monday. ..Interviewed this afternoon in regard to "the alleged offer by the Rev. Howard Elliott to Mi - . Jones, the Hon. W. Newsworthy stated that as far as he was concerned he denied absolutely having any thing to do with the matter. Mr. No?worthy added that he had no interest whatever in any of the candidates, and was fighting the election entirely on his own merits. The Government with which he was associated would in no sense countenance any such more. Any statements to the contrary were absolutely false.