PARTY OR PLEDGE?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 891, 10 August 1910, Page 7

PARTY OR PLEDGE?

LIBERALS ARRAIGN MR. DILLON. THE FREEHOLD ISSUE. EXPLANATION NOT ACCEPTED. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Napier, August 9. Iu response to an advertisement calling a meeting of Liberals somo GO persons assembled in the Hastings Borough Council Chambers last evening to consider the action of Mr. A. Dillon, M.P., in voting against the Government on the recent no-conlidenco motion. Mr. Dillon was present, and, amongst those in the room, wero Mr. Eustace Lane, provincial president of the I''armors' Union, and others whose sympathies were not supposed to bo with the Government. . .' , Mr. T. Donovan strongly . protested against their presence'; stating that tho meeting was confined to Liberals. No aotion, however, was taken. Mr. E. Stoveuson said that, when it became understood that . Mr. Dillon had voted with the Opposition, there was a feeling of indignation and regret amongst the Liberals in the district. They had-viewed his action with astonishment and dismay. A no-conlideuce motion was the only dividing line between tho Government and tho Opposition, and it was their .duty to get Mr. Dillon to deline his position. He moved:—"That this meeting. expresses, its dismay and regret at the action of the member for Hawke's Bay in voting with the Opposition on a no-confidence motion, and further calls on Mr. Dillon 'to immediately meet- the electors and justify his action, or hand in his resignation a,? member for Hawke's Bay." This (said the mover) was a fair resolution, which gave Mr. Dillon an opportunity of explaining his action, but ho (the speaker) could not see how be could satisfactorily do so. ' Voted V/rong at a Crisis. ", . ' Mr. T. Donovan, in. seconding the resolution, said that no man had worked harder to return Mr. Dillon than ho had. The Government organiser caino to Hastings, met members of the Liberal organisation (himself amongst them), and impressed Upon them that Sir Joseph Ward desired that Mr. Dillon should bo again 'chosen as Liberal candidate, and, if Sir Joseph had not so stated his wishes, : they would not have picked Mr. Dillon, but would have gone in favour of.Mr.'.Ju.ll, who would have got" in.' The meeting on that ocsa-.ion had be.m at sixes and sevens, but, in view of Sir Joseph "Ward's 'messiigo, it wsfs decided to stick to Mr. Dillon or, as bo. was called, "Honest John Dillon." Yet, in face of tho fact that Sir Joseph Ward had placed him in his seat, Mr. Dillon had voted against him at a crisis. It made , no matter if Mr. Dillon were a freeholder; it was his duty to support his party on a non-confidence motion. Alleged Words with Sir Wm. Russell.

The Liberal Government had its faults —what Government had not ?—but,taken as a whole'/the .Government of Mr. Seddon and Sir, Joseph Ward was the best Government in. the world'for workers-.' He would' ask Mr. Dillon oug question: Sir William Kussell (who was in England at ■ present, , but who'would substantiate it when ho came back) had told him (tho speaker) that he would tell him something which he did not know. Sir' William had said: "'When I returned from England the first man I met on tho \vharf l -,waE.'Jlr. Dillon, iniid/. ho reached out liis hand'.'to me." 'Wo' shook hands, and I said: ' I believe wo are .going to bo opponents. , ,Mr.' Dillon replied: 'Yes; but. it's going to bp a fair fight. The reason why I am, standing is to keep out some of those democrats.' "' Ho was sure Sir William Russell would not speak an untruth, Mr. Dillon: I mot Sir William and Lady Kussell outside the Houses of Parliament.,, Sir William said': "I hear they are going to ran you." I .replied: "I'm going to put my. hand to the plough and turn the furrow." Lady Russell reuiarkod .that. she. hoped 'that there would , bo no dirty'water thrown, and T replied, that I had too much respect for. myself and for Sir William and Lady Russell to employ any. unworthy tactics. t ;. ' . ', . ■ Mr. Donovan:'l want , "yes" or ''no." Did you use the expression about democrats? ■ , ' Pledge Before Party. Mr. Dillon: "I most certainly did not say it. - I am surprised that Sir Willianl Russell should have inadesuch a statement, even allowing fqr tho soreness which.he felt over the* election." Continuing, Mr. Dillon said that, in 1905, he stood alone unaided without tho Prime Minister's, support (A voice: ."You had his support") and without calling for help, lie stood because no one else was standing, and was returned by 3000 votes. Ho stood a second time, and no man in his part}' had been mpro loyal to Sir Joseph Ward. Ho had been asked ■ several times at Hastings, if. he . would : support the freehold in the 'ovent of a iio-coiifidence motion, and had replied that .lie would support tho freehold against all-comers: , Whatever might Up said of him, it .could never he said that ho went'back on his word. (Applause.) He was loyal to the Liberal party, but they all knew that he was a freeholder. .' .; : .

Mr. Donovan asked Mr. Dillon if it was not his duty, to vote with the Government on a no-cohfidence motion, and sink his differences. ' ' ' .- . Mr. Dillon: A' member has not tho spirit of manhood .who allows himself to be led like a dog into the lobby. (Applause.) For five years I have followed my chief faithfully, and surely I had the right to exercise my voice for onco? •■'■•,' ■ . Hostile Resolution Carried. . ' Mr. Eustace Lano said that the rtction of the. Goveniment in sheltering, behind a no-confidence motion was "sheer funk." When they feared defeat thoy mado tho motidii ono of no-confidence. Mr. Forgjieon moved as an amendment, and Mr, T. Stewart seconded: "Thai; this "ih'ee'iiug accept the explanation raado by Mr. Dillon as satisfactory." •:'■ .-. '• •'■■■ Air. A. L. D. Fraser said that thoy were at present dealing with tho most sacred debt that one man owed to another—a debt of honour —and Mr. Dillon's honour was attacked. Mr. Dillon was in a position at that moment that he (tho speaker) would bo proud to be in, because ho had kept hi-s word of honour and redeemed it in tho face of multitudes. (Applause.) Timo after timo ho had stated publicly that, if the-question of the freehold carao up, ho would bo compelled to ■ vote against his party, and, instead of being condemned, ho should bo applauded. Tho one mistake ho had made was in 'pledging himself to do anything. They did not hear any hysteria from Taumarunui, Otaki, or Pahiatua, becauso Messrs. Jennings, Field, and.Ross had voted against tho Governmont, for tho reason that they had pledged themselves to their constituents to do so. The amendment was lost by 13 votes to 17, and tho motion was then put and carried, 20 voting for it, thero being no show of hands acainst it. Mr. Dillon left-foMVolliiiEton by the express this morning." Mr. Dillon's Intention. Mr. Dillon, who was questioned about this matter by a Dominion representative .last evening, said he certainly did not intend to resign. He had been elected by ovor 3000 voters, and this was a meeting of about 50 persons, nt which many of .his friends had not voted. He thought that the proceeding was a burlesque. ■ . ,