NOT PLAYING CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 14

NOT PLAYING CRICKET.

MR. SAVAGE'S ALLEGATIONS.

PRIME MINISTER'S REPROOF. EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS. A further development has transpired regarding the allegation made by Mr. M. J. Savage that Sir James Parr had obtained information from the State Advances Department and used it in circulars sent to certain electors in possession of Government loans. The following telegram has been sent to Mr. Savage by the Prime Minister, to whom he telegraphed his complaint:— "Sir James Parr informs me that all the persons circularised are constituents of his who have personally written to him at various times in regard to their application for advances. As a Parliamentarian you are -surely aware how many such letters are received by members of the Legislature. He also gives an emphatic denial to your statement as to obtaining information from the department regarding the private business of applicants. Such unfounded statements are, to say the least, not playing cricket. In view of the fact that you have handed a copy of your telegram to me to the press, 1 hope you will, in fairness, publish this reply." The following reply is being sent by Mr. Savage this morning:—"Your telegram received. My telegram to you was the outcome of representations to me on behalf of borrowers from the State Advances Department who resented Sir James Parr's attempt to misrepresent Labour's position to them, and this because he was in possession of facts concerning their private affairs which were not available to others. Fuller information as to their source will be telegraphed later.'' CHOICE FOR WAITEMATA. MR. COATES' PREFERENCE. A REPORT CONTRADICTED. Mr. A. Harris, Government candidate for Waitemata, addressed a largelyattended meeting at Dominion Hall, Stanley Bay, last evening. Mr. Harris dealt at length with the question of naval defence, which, he considered, was more important than land defence, since the trade routes must be kept open for the despatch of Dominion produce. A change of Government would be nothing less than a national calamity. With a large majority behind him, Mr. Coates would make good and do credit to the Dominion. A question was asked whether canvassers for the National candidate, Mr. T. Lamont, were correct in saying that the Prime Minister had advised that it would be just as acceptable to him, in view of the possible future of the party, that Mr. Lamont should be successful as that Mr. Harris should be re-elected. Mr. Harris replied that he could emphatically say that his candidature was endorsed by Mr. Coates and that it was Mr. Coates' expressed wish that the people should return those pledged to full spport of his policy rather than elect half-hearted sympathisers. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed to Mr. Harris, with enthusiastic support, at the end of the meeting. PLATFORMS COMPARED. BORER IN LABOUR PLANKS. MR. OLDFIELD AND CRITICS. Labour interjectors were prominent at the meeting addressed by Mr. S. Oldfield, Government candidate for Auckland West, in the Leys Institute last evening. When the candidate intimated that he would analyse some of the planks of the Labour platform, there were cries of "give us your own platform." "If you do not want to listen, you can get out," retorted the candidate. "I have every right to attack the Labour policy. Whenever the word Labour is mentioned, there is a howl from its supporters, It gets them on edge, as they know perfectly well their days are numbered. A Voice: Sing us a song. The Candidate: I am going to run this campaign as I choose. This electorate has been represented by Labour for six years, and has derived no benefit. That is why I will criticise Labour at every meeting I address. You may howl when Labour is mentioned, but I am going to give it to you. (Applause.) The interjectors observed silence for a creditable period, which was broken by one of them taking exception to the candidate's description of the Reform platform as "a structure of sound planks—all heart of kauri." The objection drew the reply from the candidate: "The planks of the Labour platform are riddled with borer, the Bolshevik borer." (Laughter.) One of the audience proposed a vote of no-confidence. An amendment of confidence was then put and declared carried on the voices.