EDEN ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1926, Page 1

EDEN ELECTION.

MISS MELVILLE’S HARD FIGHT. MORE ABOUT GRIEVANCES. AUCKLAND, April 11. Electors who attended Atiss Alelville’s meeting at Point Chevalier on Friday evening had a good evening’s entertainment. The candidate spoke at length of her treatment at the ballot for the selection of the Reform candidate. She termed the whole affair as “a piece of gratuitous impertinence.” Tired of hearing her grievances one of the audience remarked that this Eden must really bo a garden of corruption. “I certainly think it wants clearing,” retorted the candidate. A. voice: If you laid been chosen would you have brought all this up? “No, certainly not. There would have been no necessity,” said Aliss Melville. Asked what, difference there was between herself and Sir James Gunson, the candidate said she. was a true Reformer, and always had been. Sir ■ fames bail boon converted, apparently from March Ist. “I get- 5000 votes in Grey Lynn at last election, and if I got. as many (his time, I will he well ’pleased.” she said. A voice; You are not carrying the Reform banner this time. Afiss Melville: That is a matter of opinion. The leaders of nartie,- are coming to Auckland. Yon are going lo have a wonderful feast in Eden next week. A voice: Strawberries and cream? Aliss Melville went on to speak of the good women might do in Parliament. There were many matters they could attend to which could not Vie understood by men. A voice: The trouble is we cannot trust women. Mr V. IT. Potter. Member for Boxkill, briefly addrssed the meeting. He characterised Afiss Melville as a. staunch Reform supporter, who would do much good in Die interests of women, in Parliament. “IS THIS TRUE REFORM?” A new participant in the campaign appeared on Friday evening in Mr J. S. Dickson, senior Government Whip, who delivered hi nisei l of a spirited ieply to Mr V. TT. Potter. ALF. “An. attempt is being made to split our party vote by those whose aim it is to lose Eden to Labour.” stated AH Dickson. “I resent the insult levelled at my loader. Air Contes, by Air A . IT. Potter, ALP. Air Potter made this statement from the public platform That if Air Alnssey had been alive today. the whole trow Me would have been settled in 48 hours in Aliss Alelville’s favour.’ ” , Alt - Dickson added that the I nine Minister had investigated the charges made by Aliss Melville, and had given hih decision that Sir James Gunson was constitutionally chosen. AH Conies had then endorsed Sir James Gunson s candidature. AH Dickson expressed resentment at Mr Potter’s action m questioning Unit decision, and attempting to upset it by working and speaking in the interests of a vote-splitter.

Aliss Arelville says she is a true Reformer,” said Air Dickson. “Hero is her record: In 1919, nominated and supported by the Party; in 1922, a vote-splitter in Roskill; in 1925, nominated and supported bv the Party; in 1920, a vote-splitter. Is this' true Reform ?” NEARLY A SPLIT. AVhat might have been a serious split in the Labour Party was averted last niglit at AH H. E. Holland’s Aloiint Albert election meeting by good humour and tact. The Labour candidate for Eden, criticising the Auckland City Council, unwittingly attacked the chairman of the meeting. Air Tom Bloodworth, who is a member of the Council. Air Bloodwortli acknowledged his share of the blame, and did not retaliate. AH Mason, who entered the hall late in AH Holland’s speech, contented himself with giving an instance of the need for an active opposition. The Bill authorising construction of Waterfront road to Orngei. he said, authorised the local bodies concerned to raise unlimited loans by special order, without consulting their ratepayers. That this extraordinary provision had been included was- due to the fact that there lmd been no opposition in the City Council, which had functioned as an autocracy and a mutual admiration society. A small group of men had been able to work tlie whole thing behind the people’s hacks. Tt was ail autocracy imposing its will on the people. “1 feel somewhat nervous,” remarked AH Bloodwortli. rising- when Air Mason had sal down. “I happen to he Hi member of tlie AUitim! Admiration Society, and so .1 am one of the guilty. However, the Act Air Alason lias mentioned was ns much the work of Sir .Tames Guusim’s Drain as of anyone else’s.” AH Bloodwortli added that, as a Citv Councillor, lie knew and liked both Miss Alelville and Sir James Gunsou personally. He had worked with them for six years, and in that time lie had never known of any disagreement between them. There would ho none now but for the fact that they could not both sit on one seat. (Laugher.) “If there is one tiling worse in the world than a Conservative mail.” said Air Bloodworth, “it is a Conservative woman, and I know this particular lady to be a Conservative woman.”