WAIPAWA SEAT

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 25 November 1935, Page 8

WAIPAWA SEAT

MR. COATES’S LETTER.

STATEMENT BY MR. ORMOND

“I received a personal letter from Mr. Coates on November 13th at 1.45 p.m., some twenty-six hours after nominations for my candidature had closed.

“In one paragraph Mr. Coates states that friends of his’had accused him of supporting Mr. Jull, the official Government candidate, and personally supporting me, and goes on to ask me to put the matter right with the electors. “I may say that I had myself already heard this rumour and had already denied it from the public platform (ref. Onga Onga meeting, November 6th). Mr. Jull, in a pamphlet which is in circulation insinuates that I have committed a breach of faith in not publishing Mr Coates’s letter. Since when has it become necessary to publish personal correspondence? Beyond making the request above-mentioned Mr. Coates has on no occasion asked me to publish this, or any of the correspondence I have had from him. “With regard to its contents I am told that my opponents are making great use of the word ‘again.’ I state definitely that this is the only occasion on which he has asked me to stand down during this particular election.

“It seems to me an extraordinary thing that Mr. Coates should write me a personal letter and not mention that he was sending a copy to Mr Jull. It is also worthy of note that I received my letter on November, 13th, and that Mr. Jull did not receive his until the 19th.

“Aly supporters insist on my standing, knowing Mr. Coates’s attitude right from the start. As an indication of this insistence and support an open statement signed by over one hundred supporters of the National Government has been forwarded to

me. Those who signed are representative of all parts of the electorate. and it is convincing proof of my justification to continue the contest. “It is enough to show that if I did Withdraw, Mr. Jull would not get the necessary support to retain his seat.

“Whether I received! Mr. Coates’s letter before or after the closing of nominations, I could not withdraw from the contest without breaking faith with my numerous supporters, who though Nationalists in principle would under no circumstances support Air. Jull.” (Signed) JOHN ORMOND*