THE NEW PLYMOUTH INCIDENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15987, 2 December 1919, Page 6

THE NEW PLYMOUTH INCIDENT.

To the Editor. Sir,—l have no wish to be drawn into a controversy, but your version of the “New Plymouth Incident” given in Saturday’s paper unintentionally casts a reflection on me, and calls for correction. The details of the incident have never been given to the public. Di 1911 Mr Yeitch and I were nearly equal on the first ballot—only about 75 votes separating us. Mr Hutchison scored about 1600 votes, and Mr Yeitch secured the bulk of these votes at tbe second ballot on his pledges to the Masseyites to drive Sir Jospeh AVard out of office. We find the following in a newspaper of that time:—“Mr Hutchison’s committee resolves unanimously tii urge on all electors desirous of reform to vote on Thursday for Mr Yeitch.” The committee (Masseyites) proceeded in a body to Mr- Yeitch’s committee room, where they were enthusisastically welcomed.” Sir, tbe Massey party, on the strength of Mr Yeitch’s promises and pledges, gave him the majority at the second ballot, and nob the people's endorsement of the New Plymouth incident. Surely you have not forgotten. Sir, how the motorcars of the wealthy farmers from Palmer Hon to Wanganui and from AVanganui to Hawcra came to Mr Yeitch’s aid (in the interests of Labour?) on the second ballot. So much for your overwhelming majority. Sir. Now with regard to the New Plymouth incident. After Mr Yeitch bad made a public statement regarding it, I endeavoured to get his permission to say what I knew of it, but to this day the public have never had the details, for, as you must remember, Mr Yeiteh and I met at ten o’clock on the Lyceum balcony the night before the second ballot. Mr Mackay acted as chairman, and allotted me twenty minutes to open, Mr Yeitch 25 minutes to follow, and me a further five initiates to reply. I used my twenty minutes in giving my side, and Mr Yeitch replied with mere assertions and incorrect statements, which I expected to disprove in tbe five minutes for reply; but, strange to say, I got no reply, for the Masseyites and Mr Yeitch’s supporters prevented me, and the following morning (the day) the Chronicle came out with glorious, big headlines, “Mr Hogan Howled Down.” And the Masseyites put Mr Yeitch in to drive Sir Joseph out and to battle against “Belted Knights and Sham Democracy,” and aa far as I was concerned the incident closed.—l am, etc,, JAS. T. HOGAN.