CORRUPT POLITICAL PRACTICES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 3

CORRUPT POLITICAL PRACTICES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—ln characteristic prohibitionist style Mr Poison is now trying to draw me away from the main issue of mv accusation against prohibition organisations. He begins by saying that I have admitted wrongly accusing prohibitionists of forcing secret pledges from parliamentary candidates. Permit me to tell him that I have done nothing of the kind What I said was : “ Secrecy .is not the main issue, and it is enough for me that he (Mr Poison) admits that the pledges are extracted.” Mr Poison then goes on to accuse another organisation of following the maleficient example of the prohibitionists in extracting pledges frflm candidates. I am indeed sorry to hear this. It goes to show that the corruption is extending even beyond the ranks of prohibitionists If true, it is deplorable, but it has nothing to do with my original accusation, and I absolutely decline to b e drawn into any new argument with Mr Poison, In order to ascertain whether he is cap able of answering a plain ■“ yes ” or “ no ” to a straightforward question, I now ask Mr Poison whether or not he considers if a corrupt action to extract pledges from parliamentary candidates regardless of their conscientious convictions. If he can not answer straightforwardly this originA accusation I am done with him, and wi” not ask von to waste further space in reiterating what 1 have now said to him no fewer than three times without meet intr with the semblance of a refutation.I am, etc., Anti-Coercion.