EDEN CONTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19601, 28 June 1926, Page 10

EDEN CONTEST

MR POTTER’S STAND TBUE TO REFORM PARTY'S PRINCIPLES A VIGOROUS JUSTIFICATION (Special to “Chronicle”) WELLINGTON, June 25. Though he said he was loyal to the I principles of the Reform Party, the Re Llorm member lor Roskill, Mr V. N. ! Potter, made no apology at the outset lof his address in the House to-day for i taking up the cudgels on behalf of I Miss Melville in the Eden by-election campaign. ‘‘l unhesitatingly say,’’ he declared, “that the Kight Hon. Prime Minister and party in Wellington have nothing to do with the mix-up in Eden. ” Mr. Potter said he would have let the matter drop had it not been for the fact that the Reform Party ’s paper had said clearly ami decisively that one member of the party (himself) lor per sonal reasons had entered into the campaign. 11c had no means of repudiating that statement except on the floor of the House. The party’s paper circulated all over the Dominion, and he gave the statement it contained a most emphatic denial. He did not enter the campaign for personal reasons. Had it not been lor the cool indifference of the Prime Minister and the organisations at headquarters the whole matter could have been settled within the party ranks. Considering the wonderful fight which Miss Melville had put up against Mr. Bartram in Grey Lynn at the general election, Mr. Potter said, he felt it to be his bounden duty to uphold the principles of Reform, not the principles of the party controlling form. The principles of Reform had been laid down by the late chief, Mr. Massey, namely, “a square deal.” Miss Melville had never received fair play or the justice she deserved at the hand* of the Reform Party in Auckland. Sh-i had been promised that the Reform Party would be behind her if she stood for Grey Lynn at Ihe general election as it was desired to show that the Reform Party was in favour of women entering the political arena. Hundreds and thousands of votes had been gained I for the Reform Party thorugh Miss Melville standing for Grey Lynn at. the general election. I “1 can hardly he accused, even through our own paper, of being disloyal to my party,’’ continued Mr. Potter. “I am loyal to the principles of my party, but if my party or any section of that party forsakes the principles of the party, then they cannot call me a disloyalist.” Mr. Potter went on to say that the official candidate, Sir/ James Gunson, had rover previously assisted the Reform Party and his selection was not carried out according to the constitution of the party. He was convinced that the public, of Auckland applauded the action of Miss Melville in coming out against vote-splitters. Mr. Potter also said he was not th? only Reformer in Auckland who did not want to see Sir James Gunson nominated for the Reform Party. Sir James Gunson’s attitude in 1919 showed that he was absolutely opposed to the principles of Mr. Massey, and that he was against the Reform Party. His con- ‘ version must have been sudden when he decided to.stand for Eden. "Mr. Potter declared that he was absolutely loyal to the principles of the I party and to the party itself if conI ducted along the lines laid down by the ! Reform Party, but he did take very I strong exception to a certain clique «»r I body of men known in Auckland ns “The Kelly Gang” or “The Forty Thieves” doing the things they had ’ done.