MR, FLETCHER AND THE OPPOSITION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 6

MR, FLETCHER AND THE OPPOSITION.

STATEifENT BY MR. MARTIN. Mr. Fisher was asked at his meeting last evening whether it was true that Mr. Fletcher had been asked to stand as an Opposition caudidate. Ho leplied that he believed it was not true. He had a letter from Mr. Massey stating that Mr. Fletcher had not been officially approached.. However, the Opposition organiser (Mr. Martin) was present, and ho would ask- him to make a statement. Mr. Martin, who was received with cheers, explained that his absence from town had prevented him attending earlier to this niiitter. Since Mr. Fisher had joined the Reform party, ho (Mr. Martin) had never approached any man with a request that he should contest Wellington Central. No man in Now Zealand would have been accepted to contest the feat, as an oliicial candidate, against Mr. Fisher. (Cheers.) Mr. Fletcher had spoken of a proposal made "since last ejection." Whother Mr.'Fletcher's memory had played him false, he could not say. but he had never approached anybody with- tho object mentioned by Mr. Fletcher, and desired to givo the statement referred to a most unqualified denial. Answering a question, Mr. Martin stated th.it of tho four gentlemen associated with tho matter ho had as yet seen only Mr J. •!. M'Grath. Meeting him ho had t-.'.Vcn the first opportunity of. asking whether his statement applied to him (Mr. Martin). Mj\ M'Grath had replied \v the prcsenco of several people that ho had not referred to Mr. Martin.! Mr. Martin ndded that it was entirely out of consideration for Mr. Fletcher that ho had not stated the wholo of tho circumbtiinr.es exactly as they existed. Ho was p.-'-pa-ed to givo a full explanation on tho day lifter the election or within tho next £''hours, if Mr. Fletcher.asked him to. (Chcora.) ijlinprs vicro given also for Mr. Fisher. Mr. Fisher said he hoped his opponent would give Mr. Martin an opportunity of going on to his platform and clearing tho matter u».