A CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 7

A CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENT.

_ SIR J. G. WARD AND A REFORM ORGANISER, Sir Joseph Ward directed attention, in the House of Representatives yesterday to a paragraph published in tho "Lyttelton Times,", which stated that at a meeting of ' tho Cbristchurch branch of the' Women's Political Reform League, Mr., David Josics, a Reform party organiser, said "that the Government bad discovered things about Sir Joseph Ward that they did not care to repeat." Sir Joseph Ward said that lie wanted to ask tho Prime Minister if the statement was, in His knowledge, true. Tho statement was a very extraordinary ono to make. Ho knew of nothing throughout his administration that an honourable man should not have done. The Prime Minister said that'until his attention was called to the paragraph a few minutes previously, by the Leader of file Opposition, .ho had not seen it, Ho did not think that Mr. Jones would say anything of the sortMr. Webb: He would say anything.

The-Prime Minister said that Mr. Jones was a particularly careful and level-headed man. Ho proposed, within the next few minutes, to telegraph to Mr. Jones and ask him if the statement made in tho "Lvltclton Times" was correct. If Mr. Jones bad made tho statement, be (Air. Massey) . would havo something to say about it. Kir Joseph Ward (to the Prime Minister) : Do you know anything to warrant the statement? _ The Prime .Minister: My reply is that I don't, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Mnssey telegraphed to Mr, Jones, anil l to his inquiry bo received from Mr. Jones the following reply:— "Statement false aud libellous.. Did not noticn it until your wire came. Meting was called to 'Hear on undress b'v Mr. Braadhead on 'Arbitration ami Strikes.' At close I was asked to say a few words about my southern visit. Sole reference made to Sir Joseph Ward was lin regard to his attitude in the House during the present session. I made absolutely no reicroneo to bis past or present political career. Although no reporters present, aeciv-'acy of the above has been vouched ■ (or hv 'persons who were present.