WAIKATO LIBERALS

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14241, 16 December 1919, Page 5

WAIKATO LIBERALS

PLEDGE TO MR WATTS. SUPPORT FOR HIS CANDIDATURE. A UNANIMOUS DECISION. Divided opinion on the question ot the Liberal'canAdature for Waikato was expressed at a mass meeting oi Liberals, held at the Oddfellows' Hail, Hamilton, last night (prior to Mr Lafferty : s meeting at the Theatre Koyal).' The meeting was well-attended, and presided over by Mr J. H. Luxford, who said it was unfortunate that there should be .two candidates standing against the present Government member. It was also unfortunate that there should have been so much misrepresentation, though not by either of the candidates.

Mr J. B. Teasdale (Te Awamutu) regarded it as useless to try and win the seat with two Liberal candidates in the field. In his district there was a large Liberal vote, bat there was no chance for either if both candidates stood. He had nothing against Mr Lafferty, but thought the strongest man should be chosen, and that Mr Lafferty should be recouped for any expense he had incurred. He asked his hearers to take the advice of an old campaigner, and do all they could to get Mr Lafferty to stand down. Mr J. H. Gatenby (Te Awamutu), a supporter of Mr Lafferty, declared that Mr Watts was not a Liberal, and had never declared himself one. Mr Lafferty had definitely come out as a Liberal-Labour candidate, and, had stated openly that he would support Sir Joseph Ward's party. If Mr Lafferty stood down now he would be damned for ever as a politician. If "ne did this, and attempted to stand again at a later date, then he (the speaker) would do his utmost to put him out. (A voice: Then you are not a true Liberal). Personally he thought Mr Lafferty would not stand down, and that neither Mr Watts nor Mr Lafferty would win because . the district had not been organised. He did not believe Mr Watts was a Liberal, and said he would certainly not get the workers' vote;-"

Voices: he will; he will get the railway workers' <yote, Mr J. McKinnbn said the meeting was called principally to clear away a good deal of misrepresentation. A great deal had''beW'said in favour ot Mr Lafferty, because 1 he was the first Liberal to announce .himself. That argument was absurd..,for the Liberals of the district had a right to select the candidate they "considered best fitted for the position. , The speaker mentioned that no member of Mr.Watts' committee had received authority to Approach Mr Lafferty with a view to him standing, down. The only offer authorised by Mr Watts', committee was to ask him to submit the question of candidature to some such representative " meeting, as that. -Had Mr Laflerty been sincere in his offer to Mr Byrne (Liberal" organiser for the .Dominion) to submit himself to a meeting of Liberals, why did he recuse the Offer of Mr Watts.'-'committee a fortnight ago? Some weeks ago a telegram was sent to a prominent Liberal in Hamilton by Sir J. Ward, asTcing him .to approach Mr Lafferty and suggest, in the interests of liberalism. sat be should withdraw his candidature in favour of Mr W.dtts. That was a direct request from "Sir J. Ward; Mr Watts was a champion of the policy handed down by the Hon. R. Seddon. In that he was a true Liberal. A gentleman who said he was identified with the Labour uu-vciment, while not speaking iJhVja-lly,. gave it as his opinion that uo im-tle* .which candidate withdrew the Labour people would vote against : Mr Young,: and in favour of the remaining candidate. Mr McKinrxon said it was useless to ask Mr Lafferty-to withdraw, and then addressing Mr Lafferty (who was in the hall) said, "Is not that so, Mr Lafferty?" Mr Lafferty replied that he would make his announcement at. the theatre. Mr J. H. Wemham'moved, "That this representative meeting of Waikato Liberals, recognising that a split vote will jeopardise the chances of the Liberal party, pledge itself to support the candidature/of Mr P. 1L Watts. An' amendment was moved, and seconded, asking Mr Lafferty to withdraw i his candidature. Both were submitted to the meetin cr, and the motion was eventually declared carried unanimously, though Mr Lifferty and others, had by this time left to attend the theatre meeting.