"DISCREDITABLE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 433, 15 August 1928, Page 1

"DISCREDITABLE”

HOT REPLY TO MR. LEE CANDIDATES IN AUCKLAND (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. If Mr. J. A. Lee was looking for a “bite” from the Prime Minister to-day, he certainly got it. The Prime Minister showed unusual acerbity in replying to a question in which Mr. Lee undoubtedly referred, if only by inference, to the Prime Minister’s activities among the host of Auckland Reform candidates oVer the week-end. In reply, the Prime Minister said Mr. Lee’s question did him no credit. Mr. Lee’s question was: Has the Prime Minister noticed the inquiry held recently in Australia in respect of inducements allegedly held out to induce a candidate to vacate a seat for another; and, having regard to the statement made during the contest by a candidate at the Eden by-election in 1926, that she was offered consideration amounting to a considerable sum, has he considered the holding of a similar inquiry in New Zealand. Lastly, were any official inducements offered during the week-end to candidates in Roskill and Eden? To this the Prime Minister replied: I know of no inducements offered to any candidates in New Zealand, and there is no occasion for me to deny any such charge. There is no need for me to say anything further, except to regret that a member of Mr. Lee’s standing should have expressed such an innuendo in his question. It is discreditable not only to the hon. member, but also the party to which he belongs.

Loud “Hear, hears” on the Reform aide of the House brought the Incident to a close.