ELECTIONEERING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 September 1914, Page 4

ELECTIONEERING.

BAY OF ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

WILKINSON EXPLAINS MATTERS

AND GIVES THE SHOW AWAY,

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Reed Would Retire In la Months !

WILKINSON NOT SO GREEN AS

CABBAGE,

The inner history of the Ohaeawai Conference and subsequent efforts to compose the Reform Party's differences was laid 1 bare at Mr Wilkinson's meeting at Kawakawa last week. All was not told. The speaker said he could say a good deal more about the pressure brought to bear, but it would be betraying confidence. Mr Wilkinson, after reviewing the position at last election, said : " Last summer the Reform organiser came through the electorate. I met him and had several hours conversation with him. He me that my chance of winning the election was the better as far as the Reform candidates were concerned, but that Mr Reed was determined to come out in the Reform interest, and it would be disastrous to the party if we both stood. He advised me to accept a seat in the Upper Housa, which I certainly would be offered. I said that I left the matter ia the hands of my supporters. A meeting of the Reform League was then called at Ohaeawai to select the Reform candidate for the Bay of Islands seat. Mr Reed and I attended. The President of the Reform League asked if we were prepared to abide by. the decision of the League? Mr Reed said he would not do so. I told them not to consider the individual, but to view it from the party point of view. If Mr Reed had a better chance of winning, select him : and if I had, select me. I would abide by their decision whichever way it went. I understand a ballot wa§ taken, with the result that Mr Reed got 5 votes and I got 13. Mr Massey was there. He put the question; Suppqsing Mr Wilkinson did not exist, could Mr Reed win the election? If Mr Reed did not exist, could Mr Wilkinson do so? The delegates' answer was almost unanimous in my favour. He then asked the Conference not to make any announcement for two or three weeks, and he would endeavour to effect a compromise. He called me aside and asked me : ' Which would you prefer, a seat in the Upper House or oontest the Bay of Islands electorate?' My reply was that I had unconditionally placed myself in the hands of my friends, and I could not accept the offer. Several weeks later I received a wire from Mr J. C. Johnson asking me to meet him at Mangonui. I met him. He said he had come with Cabinet pledges to make certain offers The first offer was : Would I accept a seat in the Upper House ? I gave the same answer as I gave the Prime Minister. Secondly he "asked if I would stand down and give Mr Reed a fair show, that Mr Reed would give his word of honour that in 12 ninths he would retire in "my favour. I' told him I would not entrain that, proposal for one moment, for the, rgasgn that Mr I|eed might ngt be returned,' and then I would lqok like an ass.. "I felt the offer of a seat in the Upper House was in the nature of bribe, and I prefer honourable defeat at the hands of this electorate rather than accept a dishonourable seat."—Luminary.