MR. MASSEY ON MR. ATMORE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1449, 25 May 1912, Page 4

MR. MASSEY ON MR. ATMORE.

"I LEAVE THE PEOPLE OF NELSON | TO JUDGE HIM." -.By Tcleerapli—i'reea AbHo'.laMon.i Auckland, May 21 In reply to a speech delivered at Nelson by Mr. Atmore, AI.P., the Lender of tho Opposition, has mudo the tallowing communication io tho press:—"Mr. Atmore has evidently attempted jo justify his position, and he evidently finds difficulty in so doing. lie btood as an independent, but 1 have no hesitation in saying that he made stronger anti-Govern-ment speeches than a great many straightout Oppositionists. At l!io second ballot he had tho Opposition support, and ho was elected. Ho told our organiser that his vote would depend upon the wording | of tho no-confidenco amendment. Ho j came to my room and discussed it, and ex- j pressed himself as perfectly satisfied, | though ho said that ho hod reasons for j not declaring himself one way or the other. At another interview in the same room he told us of the requirements of Nelson, tho difficulties about tho recreation ground, railway extension to Murchison, etc., and then wound up by asking me to again visit Nelson. I had spoken to a huge gathering in Nelson before tfco 'election. I accepted the invitation,■ and again he expressed himself as satisfied with tho wording of the amendment, but, when tlie division bell rang, Mr. Atmoro voted the other way. The Nelson papers have discussed the suggested reason for [ lib change of front, and I leave it at that. "I have had a pretty long Parliamentary experience, but no one has treated me or my party so shamefully as the member for Nelson, and now he follows up his previous action (judging from Press Association reports) by political übuse. I leavo the people of Nelson to judge him."