A REMARKABLE POSITION
IN EDEN ELECTORATE
AN OFFER TO A SOCIAL DEMOCRAT REPUDIATION BY MR. PARR (By Teleerapli.-I'iese Association.) Auokland. December 9. A somewhat remarkable development has taken place in conneotion with the Eden election. During the whole of yesterday Mr. C. J. Parr, the Government candidate for this seat, was absent in the Waikato, attending his sister's funeral. About midday yesterday, as the result of a communication he received, Mr. C. W. Harris (who has been aoting as secretary of Mr. Parr's committee), with Mr. Wesley Richards, Social Democrat candidate, and another met, and as a result of a conversatiin Mr. Harris signed a paper and gave it to Mi-. Richards, stating that if Mr. Richards wont to the poll he (Mr. Harris) would pay him l£loo. Later in the afternoon, m consequence-of something he heard,, Mr. Harris made frantic efforts to recover possession of the p*per bearing his signature, but was unable to do so, and in the evening it became known that the Social Democrat and Opposition Party (the latter of whom is forwarding the candidature of Mr. Tuck) intended to make use of Mr. Harris's letter. This morning the letter was printed and distributed broadcast. Mr. Parr did not return to the city until to-day. He has made the following statement: — "I left town 1 on Monday evening for Cambridge, to_ attend the funeral of my sister, and did not return mntil this morning. ' Then-1 learned ■ that Mr. Harris had been induced to make eome offer to Mr. Richards whereby that gentleman was to remain as a candidate. 1 immediately saw Mr. Harris, and he informed me of how certain gentlemen had come to him, and of all that had taken place in my absence. I need hardly say that I was absolutely astounded'at what Mr. Harris told me. I hope- that there will be an opportunity in the Law Courts of bringing out all the facts in connection with Mr. Harris's interviews with Mr. Richards. Further, I need hardly add that I was surprised at the worse than foolishness of Mr. Harris in making any offer at all. ■ Mr. Harris apparently acted off his own bat and made ' the offer to Mr. Richards in. his own name. I want, in the most emphatio fashion possible, to assure the public and the electors of Edan in particular, that I knew absolutely nothing of iVhat had taken place between Mr. Harris and Mr. Richards until 10 o'clock this morning, when I returned from the Waikato. Mr. Harris's letter was written without my knowledge, consent, or authority in any shape or form, and I utterly repudiate any knowledge of or connection with the interviews and the offer of yesterday. I may. say that my committee disbanded on Monday, and Mr. Harris is not secretary. He had been acting as organising secretary of the committee up till Monday last, but with the dispersal of the committee his position as organiser ceased. I regret to learn that my opponent is making serious political capital out of this incident, but I am sure the public will accept my assurance, that I am entirely innocentKof any konwledge of what was-done." ■
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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2329, 10 December 1914, Page 7
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528A REMARKABLE POSITION Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2329, 10 December 1914, Page 7
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