His Father's Name

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 10

His Father's Name

MR. MASSEY NOT TRADING ON IT COUNTRY OVERTURES The Reform candidate in Franklin, Mr. J. N. Massey, finds that when a man steps into politics his character disappears. “I used to think I possessed a good character," he said at Manurewa last evening, “but I find now that a man who steps into the political arena loses his character immediately." Mr. Massey assured his audience that he wished in no way to trade for political votes upon the family name or upon the reputation of his father, the late Prime Minister. On the other hand, he inferred that others were endeavouring to make capital of this fact. Mr. Massey referred to a statement in “Farming First." the official newspaper of the Country Party, to the effect that the name of Massey was being used in Franklin for vote-scoring purposes, and revealed to his audience that Mr. Mellsop, his present opponent, had approached him earlier on behalf of the Country Party. In a speech on Saturday Mr. Mellsop had offered an explanation of this by saying that the idea was to secure a number of possible candidates only. Mr. Mellsop had added that he did not think Mr. Massey would have stood much chance of being selected. “Now what did Mr. Mellsop want to do?” he asked. “Did he want to tie me up or to make use of the name of the late leader?" “I stand exactly where I did,” said the candidate. “I am not tied, but Mr. Mellsop has to sign a pledge—the Country Party’s constitution requires it. I have pledged myself to support the Government on a no-confidence motion, but otherwise I retain a full right to use my own discretion." A vote of thanks and confidence was carried amid much dissention from hecklers, who made themselves heard at frequent intervals throughout the address.