USE OF A NAME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19099, 21 August 1936, Page 12

USE OF A NAME

NO AUTHORITY GIVEN Mjt. holdsworth objects VIEWS NOT SUPPORTED : Disclaiming any association with the views expressed by the Rev. A. «>• Greenwood after the meeting held iMtn the Minister of Finance, and objecting to the use of his name at that meeting Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the Auckland Electric-Power Board, criticised the manner in which his name had been affixed to an open letter to the Government. Mr. Holdsworth said he signed a -piece of paper which was to be attached to a letter in order to assist a .vqung man whom he knew. Later he •signed another paper, again without knowing the contents of the letter, and he immediately protested when he learned that the character of the second letter was not what he had been given to understand it was. *.* Mr. Greenwood, ’ ’ said Mr. Holdsworth, “is reported to have said that as a request had been made to the Prime Minister for private discussion, the request had to be honoured. Liidently it was immediately honoured by Mr. Greenwood giving a lengthy report of the meeting to the press. In his statement he said “we have representative men among us, whose names stand for something in the community,” and he included mine among several he mentioned. From this'it would be concluded that I was - presiding at the meeting or supported the - proposals placed before the Minister. 1 wish to state publicly that I was not present at the meeting, and do not support the representations ‘inade to Mr. Nash. “NO AUTHORITY”

' “Mr. Greenwood had no authority to use mv name oil that occasion,” said Mr." Holdsworth, “as several 'days before I went to some length to explain to him the reasons why I could not be associated with him or take part in the meeting.” Mr. Holdsworth said he strongly resented having his name used to advocate something in which he had no faith. Several months ago he had been urged to link up with a social credit organisation and refused, lie had been assured'that last Saturday’s meeting was not to be a social credit one, but. that it would be composed of citizens of every political belief. He definitely decided not to take part for two reasons. "“An opportunity had been afforded me of. hearing a discussion by those who were taking part in presenting the proposals to the Minister,” said Mr. Holdsworth. “It consisted largely of a verbal duel between two members on their particular beliefs, and during the debate challenges were freely issued to take the platform to decide the question. Whaf I heard and witnessed confirmed my decision not to take part.” V SIGNING OF LETTERS -- The other reason arose from two letters which he had been asked to sign. An Auckland man in whom he had every confidence had told him that Mr. Brian Dunningham had returned from abroad with strong credentials from the London Chamber of Commerce, a committee of International Botary and many other large organisations. Mr. Dunningham was leaving for-Wellington that afternoon in order to convey certain information to the Prime Minister, and it was explained to - Mr. Holdsworth that some Auckland business men were having a letter signed in order to assist Mr. Dunningham. The letter had not been prepared, but a slip of paper with the names of some well-known men upon it was. produced. Mr. Holdsworth said he signed in a private capacity Ed order to assist Mr. Duniiinghnm. £ater he saw Mr. Dunningham and was told that the latter had not been able to see the Prime Minister, but had taken the matter up with Mr. Nash, who had said that what Mr. Dunningham had proposed was not in keeping with the Government’s policy. f r “A few days afterwards,” said Mr. Holdsworth, “I was stopped in Queen street by the gentleman who had first approached me, and he said they were going to redraft the letter. Bearing in mind what Mr. Dunningham had said about the first not conforming with the Government’s policy I again signed the paper bearing the names of some well-known Auckland men. No mention was made of an open letter, but some days later I learned that it had been circulated and contained a lot of Douglas Credit propaganda. I immediately raised a strong protest and endeavoured to have my name removed'. I gave no authority for -my name to be introduced in connection with the deputation to the Hon. W. Nash. No matter wnat merits a cause may have it will not get very far if methods of this kind are adopted. ’ ’