THE EDEN SENSATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 294, 10 December 1914, Page 2

THE EDEN SENSATION.

MR PARR EXPLAINS. Per Press Association. Auckland,' December 9. A somewhat remarkable development has taken place in connection with 'Eden election. During the whole oi yesterday Air C. J. Parr, the Ch vernment candidate for this seat, was sent in Waikato, attending his sister’s funeral. About midday yesterday, * the result of a communication he received, C. W. Harris, who has been acting as secretary of Mr Parr’s committee, met Mr Wesley Richards, the Social Democratic candidate, and another, and as the result of a conversation, Air Harris signed a fyaper and gave it to Richards, stating that if Richards went to the poll he (Harris) would pay him one hundred pounds. Later in the afternoon, in consequence of something -he heard, Harris made frantic efforts to recover possession of the paper bearing his signature, but was unable to do so.

and in the evening it became known that the Social Democrat and Opposition Party, the latter of whom is forwarding the candidature of Mr-Tuck, intended to make use of Harris’ letter.

This morning the letter was printed and distributed broadcast. Mr Pair did not return to the city until noon to-day. He has made the following statement: —

“I left town on Monday evening for Cambridge, to attend the funeral of my sister, and did not , 'return until this morning. Then I learned that Mr Harris had been induced to make some offer to Mr Richards, whereby that gentleman was to remain as a candidate. I immediately saw Mr Harris, and he informed me of how certain gentlemen had come to him, and of all that had taken place in my absence. I need hardly say that I was absolutely astounded at what Harris told me. I hope that there will be an opportunity in the law courts of bringing out all the facts in connection with Mr Harris' interviews with Mr Richards. Further, I need hardly add that I was surprised at the worse than foolishness of Mr Harris in making any offer at all.. Mr Harris apparently acted off his own bat, and made the offer to Mr Richards in his own name. I want, in the most emphatic fashion posable, to assure the public and the electors of Eden in particular, that I knew absolutely nothing of what had taken place between Mr Harris and M r Richaids until 10 o'clock this morning, when I returned from the Waikato. Mr Harris’ letter was written without my knowledge, consent or authority in any shape or form, and 1 utterly repudiate any knowledge of or connection with the interviews and offer of yesterday. I may say Vhat my committee disbanded on Monday, and Mr Harris is not my secretary. Ho had been acting as organising secretary of my committee up till Monday last, but with the dispersal of my committee his position as organiser ceased. I regret to learn that my opponent is making serious political capital out of this incident, but I am sure the public will accept my assurance that I am entirely innocent of any knowledge of what was done.”

A vigorous repudiation of all knowledge of, or consent to the alleged negotiations between his late election secretary, Mr C. W. Harris, and Mr Wesley Richards, the Social Democratic candidate for Eden, was a prominent feature of two speeches delivered to-night by Mr C. J. Parr at Avondale and Kingsland. In both places the Government candidate during his explanation of the position received an enthusiastic hearing from the great majority of those present, though insignificant minorities attempted now and then to strike a discordant now by interjecting insinuations that Mr Parr had knowledge that the offer of £IOO was to be made to Richards to ensure the latter going to the poll. Speaking at the Jubilee Hall, Kingsland, where there was an attendance of some 600 persons, Mr Parr said that before dealing with political questions ho wished to refer to the dastardly eleventh hour attempt that had been made to stab him in the back when he was 100 miles a\vay (Prolonged applause) “I left Auckland on Monday by express, and was away all day on Tuesday at Cambridge, where I had to attend the funeral ol my sister. Whilst 1 was in the Waikato on this sad mission 1. was utterly oblivious of the fact that my political enemies had done this thing. T say that to get a letter of this kind and circulate it in the form of dodgers without giving me a chance to simultaneously give my explanation of it was cowardly and un-British. (Loud cheers and applause). Continuing, Mr Parr said these sort of tactics had been in use during the past fortnight, as instance of which he referred to the mob's who have been following np the Prime Minister and trying to prevent him from obtaining a hearing. (Cheers). “Believe me,” he went on, “It is the same gang that is trying to smash me now. As regards this £IOO offer, I learned for the first time on my return .from Cambridge this morning that Mr tHarris, who had been my election secretary, was approached.* Continuing, Mr Parr said, “Harris is preparjed to go to court, and will go to court, 'and swear that ho was approached in this matter. (Renewed cheers). He met certain men twice by appointment, and 1 am gointr to get to the bottom of it. fApplause). I hope to get out every word that, passed between those men at that interview, j (Uproar and cheers). They, got from Harris this precious letter, but what I I want to know, and what the electors I would like to know, is what wove these other men prepared to dor* (Cheers). We have not heard yet, hut we shall hear. (Renewed applause). Having

sent this foolish man Harris away, tricked and trapped, these other men at once set to work and got out their precious dodgers and spread them through the whole district. Am I, whom you have all known for 20 years, in Auckland, and who have never done an underhand trick, to be condemned and hounded down by a number of men like this, because of the action of an indiscreet young man, done absolutely without my knowledge or consent, and in my absence 100 piles away? (Loud cries of “No,” and continuous cheering). 1 knew nothing of this offer of £IOO to Air Richards. As soon as 1 heard of it I gave Harris one minute to get out of my office. I feel, however, that he was foolish, and no worse. Then 1 went to the newspapers and repudiated his action, afterwards issuing a circular myself, in which I explained that Harris’ oiler had been made without my knowledge. The other side had the start of me, and it is difficult for the truth to overtake a slander in such circumstances, so my circulars may not have reached every elector, but do your best tomorrow.” (Voices: “We will, and cheers). Mr Parr added that be knew the people who were paying the cost of dodgers circulated containing Hairis’ letter. These people, he alleged, held high positions. They were actuated by a desire to du him harm, and the Reform party harm. Later he would have something to say to those people. (Cheers). A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by an overw helming majority (only two hands being held up against it. The vote was followed by three cheers for Air Parr, and three for Mr Massey. Many of those present then made their way to the platform and showered congratulations and assurances of support upon the candu date.

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. INFLUENCE ON THE ELECTION. Wellington, December 9. In to-morrow’s election there will be a new factor which may possibly alter or modify the results as announced on the night of the election. This is the vote of the members of the expeditionary forces at present on active service. Under the special legislation ot last session every member was entitled to vote as an elector in the district where ho resided before enlisting.. As these votes number some ten thousand, and will be counted as absentee votes after the day of the election, when the ofiiclal scrutiny takes place, to-morrow’s results cannot be accepted as final, especially in cases where contests- are close. It will probably ic two or three days before the actual results are known. THE FINAL MEETINGS. Mr J. B. Hino gave his final address before the election last night in His Majesty’s Theatre, the building being crowded to overflowing, *-n-. many people were unable to gam ad. mission. < Mr Hiuo dealt with tne political questions of the day, and strongly urged the claims of the Reform piirtv to a continuance of office, maintaining that their administration had been honest, upright, and in the true interests of the Dominion. Votes of thanks and confidence, and cheers and counter cheers were given at the conclusion of the speech, when the large audience turned out to sw r ell the crowd which had already gathered to listen to the Opposition candidate’s address.

Mr Hawkins gave an address outside the fire station. He attracted a very large crowd. He dealt first with the Town Hall dispute, which he magnified into a case of violent political corruption engineered in high places. He also charged the “Stratford Evening Post” with having failed to publish matter that ho desired inserted and afterwards dealt with a number of political questions from his party’s standpoint on similar lines to those of the speech delivered in the Town Hall at the opening of the campaign, when Mr Hawkins was very fully ami freely reported in these columns. The meeting concluded with the usual cheers and countercheers for Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. W. F. Massey, and Messrs Hine and Hawkins. The procedings wore lively, being punctuated by ironical laughter and interjections, hut were, on the whole, exceedingly good humored and orderly,