A FLAT CONTRADICTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17734, 6 December 1919, Page 6

A FLAT CONTRADICTION

Sir,—We notice, in an extract from Mr G. V. Pearce's Mokoia speech, published in your issue of Thursday, 4th inst., that he made a statement that "Messrs Dickie Bros., of Waverley, had described a telegram from the Prime Minister to Mr Hemingway as a forgery." This statement we emphatically deny. The wire referred to was read by Mr Hemingway at a meeting of Reform electors held in Hawera on October 9th. At this meeting a ballot was taken between Mr Pearce and Mr O. Hawken as to which of them would have the best chance of winning the seat, and Mr Hawken wias selected by a majority of eight votes. Three . weeks later Mr Hemingway asked us if 'it were true that we had expressed doubts as to the authenticity of the telegram, and we scouted the idea, treating the matter as a silly election rumour. Several reliable witnesses were present who will b«ar out this statement. Mr Pearce goes on to say that "Mr Lisle (the Reform League's organiser) toad told him that after a canvass of this district we had only been able to get 30 names on a requisition asking Mr Powdrell to stand." The names on the requisition were obtained in Waverley in under two hours, and no canvass of the district was made, and we challenge Mr Pearce or any of his friends to disprove this statement. Mr Pearce must be very short of ammunition when he uses these Iflle rumoura in out of the way places, where no one knows the facts, and where they are not likely to be challenged. Everyone knows Mr Lisle's opinion of the situation in this electorate, and it was after having a conference with that gentleman that Mr Pearce's Waverley committee went to Waitotara to request him to place himself in his committees' hands, with a view to ending the deadlock which had arisen between the two sections of the Reform Party here. Trusting that you will give us space to contradict the above misstatements, and thanking you in anticipation Wo are, etc.,

DICKIE BROS