ASHBURTON CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 64, 9 December 1919, Page 7

ASHBURTON CONTEST

ALLEGED OFFER TO A CANDIDATE The Rev. Howard Elliott, when interviewed, made the following statement:— "On bohalf of tho P.P.A., I interviewed Mr. H. Mi. Jones with reference to his candidature.. As a Protestant, and lately acting-secretary of the Ashburton Group, it was considered locally that Mr. Jones ■might divide the Protestant vote. I urged Mr. Jones' on this account to withdraw from the contest, nnd understood that the P.P.A. would meet any expense lie had incurred up to that date. Mr. Jones requested a week to consider tho request, and pledged himself to treat it confidentially. He declined to stand down, intimating that he believed it to bo a matter of religious duty to stand. Now, however, for 6ome reason known to , himself, he has committed a breach of confidence, and seeks to place a construction upon my Tequest that is entirely unwarranted. The suggestion of a seat in tho legislative Council is so' nonsensical that it is unworthy of notice. Neither Mr. Massey nor Mr. Nosworthy . was consulted, nor were they aware of our intention fo approach Mr. Jones. Our suggestion was mado to Mr. Jones solely in tho interests of a solid Protestant vote,' and 1 regret that he a» a Protcstnnt did not place hie Protestant- •■ ism before his political ambitions, and (I that he should attempt to make political capital through a 'breach of confidence." ' . ■•

FURTHER STATEMENT BY MR. JONES. ' By Telegraph—Press Association. Ashburton, December 8. Mr. H. M. Jones, interviewed by a "Guardian' , reporter to-day, reaffirmed his statement of an offer made by the Rev. Howard Elliott. Mr. Jones said he did not know Mr. Elliott's reason for asking him to withdraw, although ho did say that the request was made in the interests of Protestantism. Mr. EU liott added.that he had 'been instrumental in getting a candidate to withdraw from a North Island constituency. Referring to Mr. Massey's statement that His (Mr. Jones's) withdrawal was not likely to benefit the Reform candidate, Mr. Jones explained that tho'official support of tho Ashburton branch of the P.P.A. was being given to Mr. Kosworthy, for whose election Mr. Elliott ha:l made a strong appeal at the recent public meeting in Ashburton. At (ho eaino meeting Mr. Elliott staled that ho had asked Mr. Jones to withdraw, and had been refused. Mr. Jones said- today that as he had been interim secretary of the P.P.A. it was likely he would receive sonio P.P.A. support which other.wise would have gone to Mr. Nosworthy if he (Mr". Jones) withdrew. "They are afraid I'll, take votes from Mr. Nosworthy," added Mr. Jones.

Ghristchurch, December 8.

Interviewed with regard to tho alleged offer madotlo Mr. H. M. Jones, of Ashburton, to stand down in the electoral contest, Mr. G. B. Franklyn, chairman of the Christchurch centro of tho PP.A., said he had not been consulted, nor had the matter been discussed when the Rev, Howard Elliott was recently in Christclnireh.

MR, NOSWORTHY INTERVIEWED. Br Telccranh-Prres AionciaMau. Ashburton, December S. Interviewed this afternoon in regard to the alleged offer to Mr. Jones, tho Hon. W. Nosworthy stated that as far as ho was concerned he denied absolutely having anything to do with tho alleged offer, as stated by Mr. Jones to have been made to him, and purporting to state that ho had been offered a seat in the Legislative Council if he would retire in favour of Mr. Nosworthy. Mr. Nosworthy added that ho Jiad no interest whatever in any of tho candidates, and whs fighting the election entirely on his own merits, and, further, the Government with which he was associated would in no sense countenance any such move. Any statements to the contrary were absolutely false. . ,