“Mean Tactics”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 507, 9 November 1928, Page 7

“Mean Tactics”

“INNOCENT” LETTER ANNOYS MR. MASON HARBOUR BRIDGE SCHEME “I would like to say something about an anonymous letter written to the newspaper by a simple gentleman, who said he was glad to see that the United | and Reform candidates or this electorate supported the harbour bridge scheme. That innocent letter is not as innocent as it looks.” This declaration was made by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Labour candidate for Auckland Suburbs, at his meeting at Birkenhead last evening. “I have been long enough in politics to know it was probably written in the newspaper office by a Government supporter,” said the ;andidate. ‘‘Every time the bridge scheme has come up before the House I have supported it,” said Mr. Mason. “In - every case I backed up the member for the district, as you can see if you care to look up Hansard. It was due to me, in part at least, that the proposition received such solid backing from all the Auckland members, and it was because of that solid backing that the Prime Minister said he would investigate the scheme.” This was proof that he had definitely committed himself to the bridge scheme, said Mr. Mason. “You will note that the Government candidate treats the >ridge as so unimportant that he leaves it till the end of his platform,” said the candidate. ‘Tie expressed himself as in favour of an investigation of the scheme, and that is as far as he goes. In a report of his meeting at Avondale, the Reform candidate favours an investigation of the Whau Canal scheme, thus putting that ildly Impossible scheme on the same level as the harbour bridge. “I am in favour of .he harbour bridge, and I have worked hard for it,” concluded the candidate. “I greatly resent the meanness of the tactics that would put that letter in the paper.”