WHO IS CORRECT-MASSEY OR PEARCE?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17735, 8 December 1919, Page 6

WHO IS CORRECT-MASSEY OR PEARCE?

(Published by arrangement.)

In Mr Pearce's speech at Mokoia, published in the Hawera Star and Wanganui Chronicle by arrangement, Mr Pearce says:—Mr Wilkinson suggested that Mr Pearce should come to Hawera with his assessor, Mr Grainger, to discuss the position with Powdrell's assessor. He (Mr Pearce) was not asked to bring witnesses, but when Mr Grainger arrived (at the Arbitration Court) he found Mr Powdrell already there with a number of other men (witnesses, as arranged with Mr Massey). See Mr Massey's wire to Mr Buckeridge, Mr Powdrell's secretary, as follows:: — "Pearce consents to arbitration, ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS SUGGESTED BY CONFERENCE. I have therefore appointed Wjlkinson as arbitrator, subject to his consent, and suggested that Hunter and Grainger act as assessors with him. CANDIDATES TO GIVE EVIDENCE, and order of reference to include questions as to which candidate most likely to win, and which has strongest claims, on electors. ! "W.P. MASSEY."

Mr Powdrell not being clear whether candidates only were to give evidence, wired Mr Massey, re ceiving the following reply, through Mr Buckeridge:—

"Your telegram received. Glad to hear Powdrell also accepts conditions. Candidates will be allowed to give and present evidence, and wide discretion will be of course, extended to arbitrator.- —

W. F

Massey."

Mi* Powdrell's witnesses, with evidence, then turned up at the Arbitration Court at the time and place appointed by Mr Wilkinson.

But Mr Pearce, who went to Eltham to see Mr Wilkinson, the arbitrator, prior to the Court, did not turn up at the' Arbitration Court. Did he learn Mr Wilkinson's mind beforehand, hence his desire to take evidence all over the electorate, and to impose impossible terms? Mr Grainger, Mr Pearce's assessor, then inserted the following paragraph, with Mr Pearce's consent, in the Star: —

"That the question of whether Mr Pearce or Mr Powdrell should stand -in the Reform interest for the Patea seat, which had been referred to Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., and two assessors, was to have beeen CONSIDERED ON SATURDAY NIGHT, but as both parties desired to submit further evidence (which was absolutely untrue, as Mr Powdrell had all evidence in form at time appointed, as arranged with Mr Massey), "Mr Wilkinson intimated that he

would have to withdraw."

This was not through any failure on Mr Powdrell's or Mr Wilkinson's part, but through Mr Pearce or his witnesses failure to attend and Mr Pearce's variation of the terms which he himself had made with Mr Massey.