POLITICAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15976, 19 November 1919, Page 12

POLITICAL.

MR CUTTLE AT GONVILLE.

Mr-,W. J. Cuttle addressed the electors at Gonville last evening; when there was a large attendance in the Town Hall, Mr N. P. Svenson presiding. In opening his address Mr Cuttle said that he was delighted on entering the hall, after being blackened by newspapers, to see the sign of “Welcome” hung over the stage, .He hoped none would think they were going to get any apples. The profits were not being distributed that evening: they would be distributed later on. He must ask the audience to hear his defence of th e slanderous attack which had been made upon him by the “Herald.” At his meeting at Aramoho a question had been put to him which was one of many. At a time like that a man had to be careful how he answered questions because he did not know whether they would be taken in the wrong light. The question submitted to him about the fruit farm he treated more or less as a joke, though the “Herald” said he had no sense of humour. The “Herald” had told *the people of New Zealand that he was a briber and a corrupt person unfit to represent any constituency in New Zealand. The “Herald” had deliberately culled a few words from his’ answer to the question without noting the spirit in which the question was asked and answered. In order that the slander should not miss fire it had been given special prominence in a scare-headed article, which he (Mr Cuttle) challenged the Herald to repeat. Was it a fair thing, he asked, for an editor to sit in the security of his arm-chair and attack a novice in the political arena as he' had been attacked. He had consulted his solicitor about the matter and had been advised that even if he had stated that he would give the surplus profits from his fruit farm to the Orphanage without any qualifying statements it would not have been a bribe, because the inmates of the institution had no votes to give in return. Mr Cuttle complained that the “Herald” had not complied with his request to publish his letter in Monday’s issue in the same prominent position in which the article to which he took exception had been inserted. He went on to say that since he had come to Wanganui he had endeavoured to work for philanthropic objects. His aims had been high, and what were the electors to think of the attempt to cast a slur on his character and make it appear that he was corrupt and unfit to represent them in Parliament. He was not there to ask the electors to vote for him.

“What are you on the platform for?” queried an elector, to which Mr Cuttle retorted; “I am on the platform to bring fools like you to hear me. ” Proceeding, Mr Cuttle appealed to those present to assist him to clear his honour and hhve the stigma removed. He would ask them to show their condemnation of the attitude of the “Herald” by standing. “Give us the explanation first,” remarked a member of the audience, to which Mr Cuttle replied: “There are some people in this audience who are so dense they cannot see anything.” “What was the question?” asked another elector. Mr Cuttle explained that he had been asked whether, if elected he would promise not to spend too much of his time on his fruit farm, and would he share the profits of hii farm with the workers ? Evidently the question was inspired. He explained that he had watted a long time for returns from his farm and was quite prepared to give the profits away. He had treated the question as a joke, but the “Herald” had regarded him as a grim reality. Mr Cuttle then appealed to the audience to stand if they thought he had been unfairly treated, and in response about half of those present rose to their feet-

Mr Cuttle expressed liimself gratified at the response and then proceeded to refer to what he termed an attack made upon him by “St. George.” a correspondent in the “Herald.” after his first address in the Opera House. The writer had charged him with saying what he did net say. but had afterwards sent him a most manly apology and retract ion. Why was it, he asked, that sinc ; he had entered the campaign the “Herald” had never given him one bi' of credit for being in sympathy with Labour, but called him a Reformer.

“What are you?” queried an inter jector. What is Mr Veitch? asked Mr Cuttle in reply. He proceeded to say that the “Herald” never credited Mr Veitch Avith being a Liberal. -

A Voice; “Neither is he a Liberal. He is a Labour member.” Mr Cuttle; The “Herald” never gives me credit for being in sympathy Avith Labour. I take my hat off to the N.Z. Labour Party for the clean fight they are.putting up. I’ll tell you where I am in politics. The “Herald” says I was the chosen nominee of the Reform Party, and that it could a tale unfold.” He had been informed that this had reference to an interview he had with Mr Massey at the Imperial Hotel. He had visited the Prime Minister there, with the view of putting a feAV plain questions to him concerning the disabilities of public servants, hud had talked over political matters Avith Mr Massey. He had told Mr Massey that he wanted to represent Labour, and had complained that aspirants to politics if employed in the railway service had to give up their positions. He appealed for Mr Mcllvride and himself, and had asked Mr Massey if he was prepared to have the restrictions removed next Parliament. Mr Massey was impressed with what he said, and saw no reason,, why the law should not be amended in the direction indicated.

Mr Cuttle then proceeded to contrast the position to-day in the railway service with what it was when Sir Joseph Ward was Minister of Railways, and allgeed that then men in the railway service dare not have a political view ijnless it was Liberal, and when all the nice “cushy” jobs were held by friends of Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Cuttle then proceeded to deal with questions on similar lines to his previous speeches. In answer to a question at the close of his address Mr Cuttle accused Sir Joseph Ward of scattering money broadcast, and quoted an

excerpt from the Maoriland Worker, dubbing Sir Joseph a jakir and charlatan and charging him with robbing Peter to pay Paul. In answer to another question about the price of fruit, Mr Cuttle said he had always cursed the day he had taken a fruit farm until Saturday night, and he how believed it would, turn out to be the very best thing he had done in his life. After several other questions had been answered, a vote of thanks was accorded the candidate.