“GIVE MASSEY A TURN.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1449, 9 May 1905, Page 3

“GIVE MASSEY A TURN.”

PREMIER’S EXPLANATION.

Wellington, Saturday. Apropos to the tolegram incident at Mr Massey’s Christchurch epeeoh, the' following letter from the Premier appears in the Post: —

“ Sir, —It ie seldom I trouble you with any reference to what appears in your columns, but the grossly unfair inference and statements made in your issue of yesterday, under the heading ‘ A Tarn that Failed,’ in respect to a question submitted to Mr Massey at his Christchurch meeting on the back of a telegram sene by me, signed Mr Aplin, demands that the facts should be placed before your readers. In my telegram to Mr Aplin there is nothing to warrant the assertion or inference that I had telegraphed, or would telegraph, words of warning in reference to Mr Massey’s Christchurch or Pahiatua meetings. You state, further, that my * unfortunate experience of Christchurch may make him (I, the Premier) a little mora chary in sending telegrams.’ For your edification, and the information of your readers, I forward you copies of a telegram received by me from Mr Aplin, and a copy of my reply thereto, as follows :— ‘ Christchurch, 2nd May, 1905. Tho Premier, Wellington, Received no telegram. Do you wish me hand copies correspondence to Massey ? Kindly reply.—(Signed) Aplin.’ To this communication I replied as follows: ‘ Wellington, 2nd May, 1905. Aplin, Esq., Christohurch. Yes, by all means give Mr Massey a turn. —(Signed) R. J. Seddon,’The facts are that this Mr Aplin pestered the late Governor, and ha 3 been pestering the Government, with a grievance fancied or real. Life is too short to be troubled with this sort of thing, especially after inquiry and justice has been done, and when Mr Aplin threatened to hand tho correspondence to Mr Massey, I replied, * Yes, by all moans. Give Mr Massey a turn.’ Probably when Mr Massey is goiog through this batch of correspondence I shall get a rest. You will see now, and I hope make it clear to your readers, that the telegram I sent had nothing whatever to do with Mr Massey or his mooting. I should say in justice to Mr Aplin that yesterday I received a letter from him, in which he regrets inadvertently having written his question on the back of tho telegram 1 had sent him, which ignorance of the facts has been misconstrued by others as well as yourself. Now that you are in possession of tho details, 1 hope tho wrong inference you have formed, and impressed .upon your roadors, may be removed. —I am, yours faithfully, R. J. Seddon, Prime Minister’s Office, Wellington, sth May, 1905.’* To this tho Post has attached the following footnote : “The Premier, wo must admit, offers a fair reply, and one that appears unanswerable. On this occasion his pres 3 censors have done him an injustice in regard to this particular incident, but it looked so natural,”