THE ASHBURTON SENSATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3358, 10 December 1919, Page 3

THE ASHBURTON SENSATION.

STATEMENT BY HOWA R 1) ELLIOTT.

WELLINGON, Dec. 8. Regarding the alleged offer to :1 candidate in the Ashburton contest, Rev. Howard ‘Elliott states, on behalf of the P.P.A., that he interviewed Mr Jones with reference to his candidature, -as it was considered locally that Mr Jones might divide the Protestant Vote. He urged. Mr Jones on this account to withdraw from the contest, and said he understood the P.P.A. would meet any expenses incurred up to that date. Mr Jones requested a week to consider the request, and pledged himself to treat it confidentii ally.- He declined to stand down, intimating that he believed it to be a. nl«:l.tter of I'e'lig'ious duty to stand Rev. Eniott, says the suggestion of a seat in the Legislative Council is so nonsensical that it is unworthy of notice.‘ Neither Mr Massey nor Mr NOS\N'Ol‘tll}'l was consulted, nor were they «aware! of the intention to approach Mr Jones. ~ ASHBURTON, Dec. 3. I

Mr«- H. M. Jones, intel'viewed by a Guardian reporter to-day, I'o afl’il*lned the stateinent of the offer made by the Rev. Howard Eliott. Mr Jones said he did not know Mr Elii-ott"s reason for asking him to withdl'.-1-w, although 11-». did say that the request was being mafia in the interests. of I’.votest:mtism. The Rev. Eliott added that he had been instrumental in getting a candidate to svithéhaw from '3. North Island constituency. Referl'illg to Mr Massey’.s statement. that his (Mr Jones’) withdrawal was not likely to benefit the Reform candid-arte, Mr Jones ex pl,a‘Zned that the offic'l'a.l su‘pport -of the Ashburton brhanch of the P.P.A. hm! been given to Mr Noswm-thy. 1"» whose election Ml‘ Eliott. mtxde -:

“strong appeal at a recent public xn-.\<~.t-ing at Ashburton. At the same Ineet—ing Ml‘ Eliott stated that he had :1~:~.ke<l Mr Jones ‘ro witlld.l'aw, and had been refused. Mr Jenes said t0—(l:_1y that, as he had" been the illtC‘.'llll sn-el'efa:'_V of the P.P.A. it was likely that he would receive some P.P.A. support, which otherwise would have gone‘ to Mr Nos-‘wo-rthy if he (§\'lr Jones) \\'i’rlldl'ew. I “They are afr-aid I’ll ‘fake votes from Noswol‘th'y.” ‘added Mr Jones.

DENIAL BY HON. NOSWORTHY. ' ASHBURTON, Dec. 8. Interviewed thig' afternoon in regard to the alleged offer to Ml‘ Jones] the Hon. VV. Nosworthy stated that. as far as he was concerned, he denied absolutely having anything to do with the alleged ofi‘t’er, as stated by Mr Jones to have been made to him. and purporting to state that’ he had been offcl‘ed a seat in the Legislative Council if he would refute in favour -of Hon. Noswolxthy. Hon. Nosworthy added that he had no inferest wh.a.te.vel' in any of the c'alldidates., and was fighting the election‘ entirely on his own merits; "a.nd further the Govel'nlnent with which he was asso<:i:.ll‘ed would in no Sense countenance any such move. Any statements to the contrary were absolutely fa.-lse.