POLITICAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 1 December 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL

MR. MASSEY AT GREY LYNN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland l , Last Night. The Leader of the Opposition addressed a large meeting at Grey Lynn to-night, about 800 being present. He received a most attentive and sympathetic hearing, and a rote of thanks and confidence was carried on a show of hands without «. single dissentient, followed by cheers for Mr. Massey and the Reform Party's candidate. A small section gave cheers for Mr. Fowldis. Mr. Massey was again cheered when leaving the hall.

THE MASSEY-TAYLOR EPISODE. Palmerston, November 30. ilr. Leonard M. Isitt, who succeeded to the lute Mr. T. E. Taylor's seat., writes to the Mauawatu Daily Times in reference 'to Mr. Massey's denunciation at Palmerston as a "contemptible cur and coward" the questioner who asked why he did not clear Mr. Taylor in his lifetime or unreservedly withdraw the statement he had made in reference to him. - In the course of the letter Mr. Isitt first refers to the statement that "Massey drove Taylor to his grave." He says: It is a pity that the question was reopened, but Mr. Massey's bluster about "a cur and a coward and a traitor" is thoroughly characteristic of the man. Mr. Massey's unworthy silence did not even embitter Mr. Taylor's dying hours. The man was great enough to 1 forgive, but I personally knew that that unworthy silence did embitter the grief of his widow and daughters, and jvhen at the last retraction was made by Mr. Massey it was sueli a partial and ungenerous retraction that to-day Mr. Taylor's relatives are troubled by the fact that his enemies are still saying "Mr. Massey could have proved his charges, but the man's dead." I now learn that Mr. Massey had said that when he last visited Christchurch he shook hands with Mr. Taylor, and it only needed five minutes to come to an understanding. Mr. Taylor may have shaken hands with Mr. Massey, but no understanding was arrived' at, and both Mr. Cole (Mr. Taylor's partner) and myself can witness that Mr. Taylor was as resolved as evei* that Mr. Massey must withdraw nls charges and admit that he had been misled. If Mr. Massey's statement is true and the two men were close to an understanding it means that Mr. Massey was prepared to make such withdrawal and admission. I ask why then does not Mr. Massey make the withdrawal and admission now the man is dead, and end the unhappy episode? He will not possess the respect of those who love and honor Mr. Taylor's memory until he does.