EDEN BYE-ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1926, Page 1

EDEN BYE-ELECTION

SENSATIONAL STATEMENT BY

ATTSS MELVILLE,

AUCKLAND, March 30.

A sensational allegation that she had !x>en. offered a pecuniary inducement to retire from the Eden contest was made by Miss Ellen Melville, the Independent Reformer, speaking at Henderson last evening. Aliss Melville frankly described the offer as a bribe, and said it had been made in her office by a member of the Reform League in Auckland and contingent on her retime. She was offered, according to her account, £l5O a year for three years and then a safe seat. Another extraordinary feature of the meeting was that Air V. IT. Potter, Reform member for Iloskill. took tlio platform in support of Aliss Melville. Air Potter, of course, remembers that Sir .Tames Gunson opposed him in Roskill as an Independent Progressive in the general election of 1919. but that hardly explains ATr Potter’s present support of Aliss Afclville. as sho herself stood against him as an Independent Reformer in 1922. The fact oT the matter is (however ridiculous it may sound) that Air Pol ter Tins Cabinet aspirations, and he believes that they are jeopardised by Sir .Tames Gunson’s Candida tun' l . If Sir .Tames is elected. ATr Potter’s chances of Aiinistorial rank dwindle (if it is possible that ho possesses any chances to dwindle). Tt is stated that tho same attitude is taken bv two other Reform members, ATr ,T. S. Dickson (Parnell) and Afr A. Harris (Waitemntn), both of whom cherish fond bones of being included in the Cabinet. Neither Air Harris nor ATr Dickson has so far shown by overt act that their sympathies are with Aliss ATolville, or, to be exact., against Sir James, but it is stated that they, with ATr Potter, have offered her support.

PR LAID Al IN 1 STEP’S COALM EN! WELLINGTON. .March 31.

In reference to tlio statement reported to have been made to the effect that Aliss ATelville. the Independent Reform Candidate for Eden, has been offered £l5O a year for three years, and then a safe seal in Parliament, if she will withdraw from ilio present contest. Air Coates stated to-day that lie knew nothing whatever about this matter. Tlio Reform Part.v, he said, would deprecate any such practices. At no time had anybody l>oeii authorised, directly or indirectly, by the Executive of the Reform Party to approach any of the candidates with the object of inducing them to retire from any contest, Anything in the nature of a financial inducement to alFect a candidate’s action was adhorront to the Party. The selection of the candidates in the electorates, lie said, was left- entirely to the electors, and once a candidate was chosen by delegates assembled the Party Executive took no further action.