THE PATEA SEAT.

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

THE PATEA SEAT.

IN REPLY TO MR HUNTER,

(Published by Arrangement.) _ Sir, —Mr >f A. Hunter's letter in Friday's Chi onidle is so maccurateand misleading that, poor hand with a pen as I am, I cannot let it pass without an emphatic denial. In the first place I can assure Mr Hunter that I have never made, still less reiterated, any statement that Mr Powdrell has foden actuated by personal spite. The personalities introduced into this contest (some of them quite putrid) have come from Mr Hunter's side.

Now, as to the Hawera meeting. I did not see the advertisements, and was asked to go up } )y Mr Parsons, who is a persomvl friend. Our car contained five persons, two from Maxwelltown and Mr Parsons, Mr Handley, and myself, the latter three lieing neighbours, and I am quite sure that we made no claim to represent -anyone on earth but our three solves. Tins party, so far as 1 know, were the sole representatives of the southern end of this electorate. It was stated (1 think by Mr Dickie) at the Hawera meeting, that the original meeting of malcontents took place sui>sequent to n. shareholders' meeting of the Pnte.i Freezing Co.. und that both Mr Hawken and Mr Powdrell were to have attended. I nany case both names were freely mentioned in connection with the Patea seat and the Egmont seat. If I am right, what becomes of Mr Hunter's statement that Mr Powdiell's came was not mentioned until subsequent- to the Hawera meeting? Finailly, the only vote that I know of recorded at the Hawera meeting tvas the on.j in favour of Mr Hawken. I sitleast did not vote to elect any commiitee to interview Mr Pearce or Mr Hawken or Mr Powdrell. I ask Mr Hunter who, if «ny, did elect such committees. I am quite willing to be corrected if Mr Hunter will produce the minutes, and can only say that owin£ to the weak chairmanship of Mr Hunter himself, the meeting degenerated into a confused wranjrto between two small cliques. NoWj sir. this meeting which I have described to the best of my knowledge, ia tho only evidence produced by M> Pearce's opponents that he cannot win. I personally, and I believe the bulk of the Reform Party in this electorate, continue to believe that he can win.— I am, etc., lAN JOHNSTON,. Waitotara. December sth, 1919.