THE ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2329, 10 December 1914, Page 6

THE ALLIANCE

MR, WILFORD & A LETTER "THE GAME THAT IS BEING PLAYED" \ ~ A letter pertaining to Mr. Wilford and tlio Red Feds, was referred to by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher at the Town Hall last night. "I .hope," said Mr. Fisher, "that by to-morrow night we shall see that in the adjoining electorate of Hutt the soft, soft pedal will have broken—(applause)—and that Mr. Wilford will have threo years of leisure from political life. (Applause.) Now I notice to-night that there are signs of what is called the Social Democracy present in.the hall (noise). Now let me read to the meeting A voice: You'are going out I . • ■ Mr. Fisher: You are going out if you don't keep quiet. (Laughter.) Let me read to tho meeting, and more especially to the members of the Sooial Democratic Party a telegram, which I have this evening sent to the ex-mem-ber for Hutt,: and when 'you have heard this you will'realise that perhaps it is better to work with the devil you know than the devil you don't know. I have sent the following telegram: T. M.. Wilford, Petone—l have ' had placed in ray hands to-day a

letter written by you from Parliamentary Library with references to approaching election contest.- (.Letter begins.) . . .• : , Dear Mr. So-and-ao.—l heard to- . day -that you were against me in the coming election- It is difficult for me to believe this, for you helped me so in' the past. I am wondering whether- you have been led away from me bytho RedFed, cry, which is just a political , catch-cry, and has no foundation in fact. lam against Red Fed. methods in every shape and form, and living as I do in Wellington North have helped to get Mr. Turnbull to come out in this dis- ■ trict in order to put Holland (the "Red Fed.) out of the running. I hope you will believe me' when I say that I never will support any man who tries revolutionary methods, and I certainly stand that law and order shall prevail. Hop-, ing the report is untrue about you, I remain, yours truly (sgd. Thomas M. Wilford). (Letter ends.) I propose to deal with this letter at my Town Hall meeting to-night, and also furnish Mr. Holland with a copy. ' In fairness to you I telGgraph this message, so you shall have an opportunity of dealing with tho matter before your electors. lf> you have any explanation to make ,' and care to let mo have telegraphed reply, I shall be glad to read it to my meeting. I think you should if you so desire communicate with Mr Holland direct, as' lie will no doubt bo interested to have your' explanation.—(Sgd.) F. ' At; B. Fisher. ' "I want to make it perfectly plain," naid Mr- Fisher, "that the alliance- so called is an alliance brought about by two parties who have no regard for each other, who have nothing in 'com 1 mon, but who are united in one thing only—a desire to put the present Government out. And I want to make it perfectly plain, because it has riot been made public before, that while tho Liboral Party is glad to have Rod Fed candidates stand down, and to get their votes, it is as well to know what sort of a game is being played by members of the Liberal Party. I havo placed that letter on record so that we shall know exactly where they stand." About half nn hour later a telegram was placed in Mr. Fisher's hands. "This is the reply from Petone,". said Mr. Fisher:—"Mr. Wilford says: 'Your telegram handed to me at 8 p.m.'—l sent it at about 6 o'clock, and I sent it urgent. (Cries of "Oh.") Mr. Wilford goes on: 'No chance to reply. Did you so arrange it?' Well, I didn't," said Mr. Fisher, (Cries of "Oh.") "Well, now, I want to be perfectly failabout it. You have hoard the letter read, I ask you to suspend your judgment until you see in to-morrow's papers what, Mr. Wilford has said about An intorjector: Why didn't you fetch it up last night? ■ ■■ , . Mr. Fisher: I didn't fetch ib up last night because it wns liaudod to me only at 5 o'clock this evening,