ALLEGED BRIBE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 1 April 1926, Page 7

ALLEGED BRIBE.

DISCLAIMER BY PRIME MINISTER By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 31. With reference to a statement reported to have been made to the effect that Miss jUelville, Independent Reform candidate for Eden, had been offered £lqO a year for three years, and then a Aife seat if she withdrew from the present contest, Air Coates stated to-day that he knew nothing whatever about the matter. The Reform Party would deprecate any such practices. At no time h\d anyone been authorised, directly or indirectly, by tlie executive of the Reform Party to approach any candidate with the object of inducing them to retire from any contest. Anything in the nature of financial inducement to affect a candidate’s actions was abhorrent to the Party. The selection of candidates in the electorates was left entirely to the electors, and once a candidate was chosen by the de'eeates assembled, the Party executive took no further action. THE BRIBERY STORY". By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 30. A sensational allegation that she had been offered a pecuniary inducement to retire from the Eden contest was made by Miss Ellen Melville, the Independent Reformer, speaking at Henderson on Monday evening. Miss Melville frankly described the offer as a bribe, and said it bad been made in her office by a member of the Reform League in Auckland and contingent on her retiring. She was offered, according ta her account, £l5O a year for three years and then a safe seat. Another extraordinary feature of the meeting, says an Auckland correspondent, was that Air V. H. Porter, Reform member for Roskill, took the plaform in. support of Miss Alelvillo Mr Potter, of course, remembers that Sir James Gunson opposed him in Roskill as an Independent Progressive in the general election of 1919, hut that hardly explains Air Potter’s presentsupport of ASss Alelville, as slie herself stood against him as an Independent Reformer in 1922. The fact of the matter is (however ridiculous it may sound) that Air Potter has Cabinet aspirations, and he believes that they are jeopardised by Sir James Gunson’s candidature. If Sir James Gunson is elected, Air Potter’s chances of Alinisterial rank dwindle (if it is possible that he possesses any chances to dwindle). It rp stated that' the same attitude is taken by two other Reform members, Air j. S, Dickson (Parnelll and IMr A. Harris (Waitemata), both of whom cherish fond hopes of being included in tlie Cabinet. Neither Air Harris nor Air Dickson lias so far rhown by over tact that fcheir sympathies arc with Afiss Alelvillo. or, to be exact, against Sir James, but it is stated that they, with Air Potter, have offered her support-.