THE PATEA SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1922, Page 5

THE PATEA SEAT.

THE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE, • MR. DIXON CHOSEN. The following letter appeared in yesterday’s Haw era Star:— In view of the letter written by Mr. G. V. Pearce to the Hawera Star, and appearing in the issue of that paper on Wednesday, the 26th inst., the executive of the Reform League of the Patea electorate met on Friday last, the 28th inst., and, after a review of the whole position, the following motion was submitted and passed unanimously:— That the executive of the Reform League of the Patea electorate hereby declares Mr. .Dixon to be the official Reform candidate for the Patea epnst’ituency, with* the full concurrence and approval of Mr. Massey. At the same meeting the president of the league was authorised to make a statement as follows: With regard to Mr. Pearce’s statement in his letter that he voluntarily retired from the Patea contest at the last election, the fact is that Mr. Pearce did not voluntarily retire, but his retirement was forced • upon him. The reasons that called for his retirement in 1919 are still operative. Mr. Pearce says that he has received a requisition signed by 1100 electors from all over the dist/iet on about 25 lists, signed by leading Reformers. It is common knowledge that the requisition has been largely signed by opponents of the Reform Party, who naturally would be pleased to see a threecornered contest. With regard to Mr. Pearce’s statement that the requisitions were not taken round by paid canvassers, one of the canvassers was such a stranger to tlie district, and so far from being a prominent Reformer, that he actually called upon the sitting member and invited him to sign the requisition for Mr. Pearce’s candidature. The same canvasser called upon one of the chief officials of the Liberal Party with the game requisition, and, further, he himself volunteered the statement that he was paid to do the work. With regard to Mr. Pearce’s statement that Mr. Massey assured him last week that he (Mr. Massey) would like to see Mr. Pearce back in the Hoaee, the letter set out below will speak for itself. In fairness to the sitting member, it is thought desirable to make a further statement, namely, that when it became knowA that Mr. Pearce was considering contesting the seat as an Independent Reform candidate, and that his supporters were out with requisitions for signature, Mr. Dixon, being more concerned about the return of Mr. Massey to power than about his own seat in the House, and with a view to avoiding anything like a split in the Reform vote, immediately placed himself in the hands of the executive for the electorate, stipulating only that Mr. Pearce should do the like, and that whichever candidate should be choeen by the party should be declared the official candidate, and that the other one should stand down. Mr. Pearce was given a fortnight in which to consider this very generous offer. A verbal reply was received through one of Mr. Pearce’s I supporters that he would not accept the suggestion. When the fortnight was ■ up Mr. Dixon was requested by his supporters to withdraw the offer and declare himself as out against all comers. He, however, refused to do this until Mr. Pearce should, have had a further chance to consider and accept the offer, and a fortnight’s extension was accordingly given for the acceptance of the offer. No reply having been received within the fortnight, the executive for the electorate took the matter up, and requested that both the candidates should place themselves in the hands of the executive, who would refer the matter to the Prime Minister for hie advice, and, if necessary, his decision. This resolution was communicated by the secretary of the league to Mr. Pearce, who replied as follows: July 1, 1922. W. McFarlane, Esq. Dear Sir, —Tn reply to your conversation on the ’phone last night, in which you quoted a resolution passed by some meeting at Waverley, I have no objection to meeting Mr. Muaey to discuss any question.—l remain yours truly, G. V. Pearce. The insult contained in this letter was passed over by the executive, who were making every effort to avoid the splitting of the vote, and the executive then requested Mr. Pearce and Mr. Dixon, with four representatives on each side, to meet Mr. Massey in Wellington and to discuss the whole question. This leqiAest tvas ignored; Mr. Pearce proceeded to Wellington on his <swn account, an<l what passed there is best known to himself. Tn conclusion, there should be no doubt in the mind of the electorate as to where Mr. Massey, as leader of the party, stands. The following is taken from a letter from Mr. Massey to the president of the Reform Party in the Patea electorate: I desire to inform you and our friends in the electorate that, as leader of the party, and in justice to the sitting member, I must support 3lr. Dixon, who, I am glad to gay, has proved himself a thoroughly capable and reliable representative, and one who, during his Parliamentary term, has been always mindful of the interests of his electors. Holding strongly as I do this opinion. I recommend Mr. Dixon accordingly, and trust that, with the solid and hearty support of all of our friends and supporters in the electorate, he will be successful iu retaining the seat for the district.—With all good wishes, etc. (signed) W. F. Massey. —I am, etc., A. E. SYMES. President Patea Political Reform League.