MISS MELVILLE FIRM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19280, 19 March 1926, Page 12

MISS MELVILLE FIRM.

NO WITHDRAWAL FROM EDEN.

WOMEN'S REQUEST REFUSED. REPRESENTATIVE DEPUTATION. ASKED TO HONOUR PLEDGE. A request from a largo deputation of women that she reconsider her decision to stand as an Independent Reform candidate for the Eden seat met with an unqualified refusal from Miss Melville yesterday morn-

ln rv The deputation was headed by Mrs. E. A. Ividd, and consisted of leaders in women's movements in Auckland as well as delegates from tho Eden electorate itself. Tho members of the deputation were Msdames L. Graves, A. J. Routley, 11. A. Darrow, Marshall Laing, T. E. Michaels. Murdoch McLean, Jones, Rotherham, Neale, Turner, Mcßridc, Jenlcin, Bruce Harbutt, Cadoux.. White, M. J. Avery, E. James, A. Slaney, L. A. Ividd, Dr. Hilda Northcroft, Major Annie Gordon, blisses E. Laurie, Robertson and Basten. Miss Melville was supported by Messrs. L. E. Rhodes and W. J. Tate, two of the unsuccessful aspirants for tho Reform Party's nomination in Eden. Tho report of tho proceedings, as published below, was supplied by a member of tho deputation. Hot Concerned With Party. In introducing tho deputation Mrs. Kidd said: " We arc here as women who, cither as electors or members of various women's organisations, know the opinions of the majority of the members, and who deploro your decision to stand as an Independent candidate, having regard to. your pledge not to stand in opposition to thff selected candidate.

" This deputation is not concerned with the party aspect except in so far as it prejudices the prospects of representation of the interests of women and children directly by a woman in Parliament by losing iis tho confidence of the present Government, and of all thinking men and women. Snmo of us have worked for your candidature in tho past and are quits "willing to work for you in tho futuro as we arc quite unanimously in favour of our interests being represented by women in Parliament.

" Tho delegation includes some of tho women delegates present on the night of the selection and from several sections of the Eden electorate. Had time permitted all sections would have been represented. We are also strengthened by the good wishes of a great body of women outside the electorate, who earnestly join with na in desiring that your candidature _ for Parliamentary honours should be disassociated from any action likely to lose us the prestige for which we, as well as yourself, have put up so many fights in the past." Stress Laid on the Pledge. Mrs. Turner supported Mrs. Kidd, appealing to Miss Melville as a woman to honour her pledge. Mrs. Routley, as a supporter of the Reform Party, asked Miss Melville to stand cte\?n'in the interests of the party, pointing out the danger of splitting the party s vote. Mrs. Jones (Edendale) emphasised the fact that she had been a delegate at the selection conference, and though she m common with other women delegates had voted for Miss Melville she had no course open to her now but to oppose Miss Melville as she had broken her word. : Mrs. Annie White thought it in the interests of the women's movements gen- © rally that Miss Melville should abide by terms of her given word. .'•Mrs. .Marshall Laing, another delegate to the selection committee, expressed her opinion that Miss Melville should stand down.

.Mrs. Michaels appealed to Miss Melville in the name of old friendship and as a past staunch supporter to reconsider her decision.

Major Gordon said that she could say that the women among whom she moved took quite a serious view of the fact that .a woman in public life should give her word and not keep it and she hoped Miss Melville would think better of it; she was hot at all concerned with the matter from the political point of view. Miss Melville Replies,

Miss Melville, in reply, gave it clearly to be understood that she had not the least intention of withdrawing from her position. She had not in fact given any pledge. "What she had given was an undertaking. It was a contract between two parties and when broken by one side was not binding on the other. Tho Reform Party in the first place had not kept faith with her. She believed everything that transpired in the delegates' room on the night of the selection was in order but she alleged there were grave irregularities preceding that 'date. She intended to make these irregularities public at her approaching meetfog.

. *Miss Melville further claimed that she Jcnew the inside of politics and the workings of the Reform executive and had knowledge of many things of which the delegation wero ignorant. She quoted from a number of letters encouraging her in her candidature but, when requested to name the: writers declined to do so. Matters at this stage rather got away from the, point which was the purpose cf tfio deputation, namely the question of th.o- pledge. , Miss Melville then asked Messrs. Tait and Rhodes to support her statements. The members of tho deputation, who had been surprised at the presence of these gentlemen, were distinctly not pleased when Miss Melville asked them to address the meeting and a great many did not wait to hear what they had to say. The meeting closed very shortly afterwards, Mrs. Kidd thanking Miss Melvillo for having received the deputation. The Deputation's Decision.

Tho members of the deputation held a meeting afterwards and expressed the opinion that if Miss Melville persisted in her. present attitude, they could not be associated with her in any way in future, and further thought it oii'lv right to make public the subject matter of their decision.

ACTIVITIES 111 ELECTOKATE.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETINGS.

candidate for tho Ed on \ lr James Gunson, will deliwi- !■;- opening address in the Hall on Wednesday evening next Hie campaign will be continued m other centres on succeeding evenings. . well-attended and enthusiastic meeting of ladies was held in the Green l£v Mission Hall yesterday afternoon. \ co 'J b)it-tee was formed, Mrs. Kealy being an" pointed chairwoman and Mesdames Don caster, Chaplin and Holden, joint *ecre taries A motion that this committee pledges itself to do all in its power to h-ssist the present Government and the Government candidate, Sir James Gunson to win the Eden seat, was carried unanimously. Sir James and Lady Gunson ivero present by invitation, and were tordiaity welcomed by the meeting The Labour Party is actively organising In the kden electorate in support of Mr. H. G. R. Mason's candidature. A meeting of friends and supporters will be held in the Henderson Town Hall this evening tnd at Avondale on Monday evening. Miss Melville is announced to speak in llxo Avondale Town Hall this evening, ivh'eii . she will give her version of the hrococdings leading up to the selection-of hie* Reform, Party'&-candidate«