ON CORRUPT PRACTICES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 July 1915, Page 2

ON CORRUPT PRACTICES

A WRITER in a late issue of the Dargaville " Bell," referring to the recent appointment of a Parliamentary reject, in the person of Mr V. H. Reed, to the position of a member of the Auckland Land Board, says : —

" The Auckland ' Herald ' says that Mr Vernon Reed has been appointed a member of the Auckland Land Board. The paper says jusst this and nothing more. To my mind such an appointment is a pjross political scandal, one

of those things for which the present Government is becoming famous, or rather, infamous. Here is a man undergoing a sentence of banishment from the parliament of the country for a high political offence, a sentence inflicted by the Court of two Supreme Court judges. Hardly is the sentence issued, when the Premier, who has still, in the eyes of the.pountry, to clear himself from his part in the offence, lifts up the man under sentence and places him in a position of special :avour. To me this may be lookupon as a glaring instance of contempt of Court. Mr Reed had no special qualifications that made him specially fitted for the position, and yet this man is selected. It is quite certain that had Mr Reed not ratted from his party a short time ago, and thus helped Mr Massey to power, his appointment would not have been dreamed of. Mr Massey's action is all the more "reprehensible seeing that he has declared that during the" time of the war he will enter upon no cententious natters. He knows full well that such an appointment during ordinary times would provoke the strongest party discussion. Only ast session an appointment to ;he North Canterbury Board roused strong opposition, led by he Member for Hurunui."