POLITICAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1925, Page 4

POLITICAL.

[-BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Sept. !). Mr T. Lament, Mayor oi Devonport lias consented to contest \\ aitemata in the interests of the Naional Baity. .1. nea has agreed to again contest the Franklin seat. WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. “Some of our later Liberal opponents are making desperate efforts to get on side with the electors by imputing the blame of the breakdown of the fusion negotiations entirely to certain unnamed ‘die-hards’ in the Reform Party, ’’ said the Minister of

Lands, the Hon A. I). M I-eod. addressing the electors of Hawera oil Saturday night. “I say here, as I said at l’ahiatiiu recently, that, at least as far as three out of four of that party's negotiations were concerned, it was a game of bluff, the stake being portfolios and immunity from the opposition at the next election. even in those electorates where extreme I.about* had no eliam o under any set of circumstances. The leader of the Opposition. Mr Fori cs. i ommciitiiig on the above statement said that the allegation that three or four of the delegates from the Liberal Party had been playing a game of blulf with portfolios and immunity from opposition at the next election as the stakes was most unfair. and he felt sure that, the Reform delegates would not hear ollt the Minister's assertion. Referring to the statement that the chief discussion of the first two conferences centred around portfolios and election candidates. Mr Forbes said he was surprised to learn that that was the form in which confereme dismis-

sion was mnvoyed to the Reform can ens by the delgation from that side

It "as news to hint, and it was absolutely incorrect. The two matters referred to occupied quite a minor part ill the discussion, and the conferences Here almost concluded before any reference was made to the question of candidates.