"GROSSLY UNFAIR."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 24, 18 June 1914, Page 7

" GROSSLY UNFAIR."

DR. MoNAB ATTACKED.

MR. CAMPBELL HECKLED BY MB CuNbTITUENTS.

Mr. I!. M. Campbell, M.P. for Hawkc's Bay, addressed his constituents at Havelock North on Wednesday evening. Mr. Mason Chambers, who is spoken of as a probable "Reform" candidate for the scat, presided. The main" parts of the address were occupied with personal attacks on Dr. McNab, firstly, accusing him of sympathy with the "Red Feds," because of his telegram to Mr. P. Webb, wishing him good luck at the Grey election, ond, sceon.Uy. regarding his connection with .the M(',kau estate.

At the e<illusion of the speech, Mv Davi I "Vhytc regarding Mr Campbell's statement "thai Dr McNab was a "Re-i Fed" because he had sent a telegram to Mr Webb, asked if the candidate was aware of the fact that -Mr Maseey, at the last election, sent a telegra.ni to Mr Robertson, a 'Red Fed" representative, at Otaki, and entered into a compact with Mr. Payne, the "Red Fed" representative for Gn y Lynn, to secure theii support in order to out-vote Sir Joseph Ward?

M,r Campbell replied that he was not aware that Mi Massey had sent a telegram to Mr Robertson.

THE MEMBER SIDETRACKS. Mr Whyif. "Are you, asi a politician, aware that it is accepted as being quite fair dr.n pnper in politics, all the world over for one political party to join hands with another for the purpose of defeating a third party?" ■Mr. Campbell then side-tracked to avoid answering the question, and it was repeated several times, in order to show that the actions of neither Mr Massey nor Dr MeNab, in the case quoted, cculd be held to identify them with the "Red Feds" and that the actions of both were right and proper political tactics.

Mr Campbell finally confessed that he was not aware of the rules governing these matters.

Mr. Whyte asked if Mr. Campbell was prepared to repeat what lie said at Mangatcrerere, that Dr MeNab liad used his influence with Sir Joseph Ward and Sir James Carroll to get an Order-vn-Council passed to secured the freehold of 80,000 acres forming the Mokau block. Mr Campbell sidetracked again. Mr Whyte put the question again in this form: "Are you aware that in your speech, by associating Dr _ MeNab's name with the granting of an Order-in-Council to Bwure the freehold of the Mokau block, you arc implying a charge that he used his influence with the Government?"

Mr Campbell said he knew nothing at all about Dr McNab in connection with the purchase of the Mokau freehold. Mr C. Anderson asked if a liberal went down to Wellington as «, special constable to assist in putting down the strike, would Mr Campbell cull thatLiberal a "Red Fed"?

Mr Campbell said he was aware that many Liberals had assisted in quelling the strike.

Mr Whyte: "Are you aware that Liberals all t-ver New Zealand assisted personally, and contributed money to put down the strike, and if so, why do you say the Liberal party are Tied Feds'?"

Mr Campbel. said he knew that many Liberals had assisted in quelling the strike. "INCORRECT AND UNFAIR."

At the conclusion of the meeting, the chairman (Mr. Mason Chambers) stated that \\4iilst it was recognised as being improper on the part of a chairman, to engage in discussions at meetings over wliKii lie is lue.-iii.Liig, he felt it to be hh duty to point out that the statements made by Mr. Campbell at the present mooting though no doubt made unwittingly, were, incorrect and unfair to Dr McNab. He could assure the meeting, and he was personally acquainted with, the whole of Dr McNab's association with the Mokau business, that ho had no more to do with the securing of the freehold than had Mr Campbell himself. He trusted this question of Dr McNab and the Mokau estate would never again be raised during the present campaign because thare was absolutely no justification lor the statements made. Mr Whyte it oved a vote of thanks to Mr Campbell, and in doing so said he was proposing the resolution to show that he had rot been acting because of personal animosity against Mr Campbell. He thought it the duty of all electors to record their thanks to the politician who placed his views before thein.

This was seconded -by Mr. Mossnian and carried unanimously.