PUBLIC PATRONAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13540, 18 November 1914, Page 9

PUBLIC PATRONAGE.

REFORM PARTY'S METHODS. " Tho Vv r .^nrrr,K-cu Korald'Etat-or'- — cppbl*>mg; m tho" Opera House, yix -vV." A. veitch related an interostir-': episode, m connection vrith tho Bav^ ci I.^lsnds .sosiv vrhiefc throvrc .aorao light on- the methods, of the "Reform*- Earti"- Mr Veitch said w have"'l>een told thaftho:Massey QQVernment (is .a. pure Government. In this coniectiqin. ho mentioned that Mr M!assey had always condemned political patronage,., yet he had • offered Mr Wilkinson a seat m the Legislative Council iif ho -would consent not to contest the Bay of Island seat T»'ith Mr Vernon Reed. Mi- Reed had received the official support of the Reform, party. M* Wilkinson '-was another Reform candidate, and there was an embarrassing situation. A conference of the Reform party -vrao hold, and other efforts made to compose the party's differences m connection "with its ivro candidates. At a meeting at Rawakiawa recently Mr Wilkinson i^iiid bare some of the inner history of that conference and the pressure . brought to> bear upon Jaim to .Stand down m Mr Reed's interests. Mr Wilkinson, <\ sifter reviewing the position at last elec- j tion, said: — "Last summer theR efrom j organiser*- came through the ■ electorate. ; I met b:m, and. had several' hours' conversation withhim. He t6ld me thatniy chance of .winning the election was the .better as far as the Reform candidates were. concerned, but that Mr. Reed was determined to come out ih the -Reforih (Interest, and it would be disastrous to the party if we both stood. ' He advised me to accept a seat in^ the' Upper House, wliich I certainly would he offered. I said that I left the matter m the hands bf my supporters- A meeting 'of the Reform League was* then called at Ohaeawai to select the Reform candidate for'-'the Bay of 'Island Vseat. Mr Reed and I attended. The .president of the Reform League asked if we were-prep^r-ed to abide by the ' "dedision of the League?; Mr Reed said he would not'! do* so. I told them. hot to consider the; individual, but to vie^ir it 'from the 1 party point of view. If Mr Reed had a better chance df winning, select him; and'iif I had, select me. I would abide - by their decision whicheVei* way it went. ; r - I understa,nd that a ballot "was taken, j with the result that 1 Mr Reed got fiVe '. votes and I. got 13. Mr Massey was] there. He piit the question: Supposing Mr Wilkinso'h7'didJncit exist, could Mr Reed win? -If Mr Reed dud not exist, could Mr Wilkinson dp sol The delegates' answer, was almost nnanimous m my favor; ■ 'He then asked the conference not to make any announcement for two or 'three weeks; and he would deavox: to effect ft compromise. He called me aside and asked me, -WhL-h woiild ;. you prefer^ a seat m. the'.l'pp'r House; or contest the Bay of* Islands elector. .J ate?' Mr reply wasHhat t had. uncon. ■ ditionally placed .. myself; *n the hands | of my friends, and yl could not accept! the offer. . Several ?|reeks. later L receiv- j fed a! wire ' from IMr C. J. Johnson, ask- 1 ing me to meet himafc-Alanganui. >He said he. had cpme.'-vnth Cabinet pledges to mai» certain offers. : The* offer wa_s: Would I accept a seat m the Upper House? I .gave the same answer as I = gave*;the>Pri|ne Mitiijster. ■'■"■'• Secondly, -he - asked me if I •'would 'stand down andgive Mr Reed' a fair show, that iir Reed would give i 'his word, of .honor that an Uvelve month's- he'"- Wotild retire m Aiy favor. I told him I would not entbrta.in_that .proposal . forgone moment, for the reason that Mr Reed might not be returned, and then I would look an ajss. I felt the Offer of 7a seat House was m theV^ature ' of a ; bribe; and* I prefer honorable defeat atthe-'handeiofi this /electorate rather than accept a dishonorable : (ieat there.'*