NOT ACCEPTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 6

NOT ACCEPTED.

FARMER'S CHALLENGE.

MR. SCRIMGEOUR'S BROADCASTS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON", Tuesday

The Prime Minister hae just been complaining bitterly about tlie unfair attack to whuth he has been subjected, , ' said Mr. J. J. Maher, in a statement issued to-day. But if he wants the sympathy of the New Zealand public he should "eee tliat the fair play he wants for himself i* extended to other people. "He can show he believes in the principle of fair play by seeing that the controller of commercial broadcasting lives up to the challenge which he made and which I accepted. lam still willing to do my part. What lias Mr. Savajre to say to this?"

Arising out of public protest* by various branches of the Farmers' Union concerning attacks which the controller of commercial broadcasting. Mr. C. t.i. Scrimgeour, is said to have made against the farmers of New Zealand, a challenge was issued by Mr. Serimgeour on November 26, offering, if it be proved that lit: used the words complaine.l of, to resign hi*, position and not speak over the radio again.

Mr. Maher, a farmer of Mutigarun, took up the challenge. In a tetter to Mr. Scrimgeour ha wrote: "In order that New Zealand may be forever rid of your methods of propaganda and the calm of our Sabbath evenings inav lie restored. I hereby accept your challenge, and undertake, to prove that two Sunday nights ago your voice was heard over tinradio referring to the Fiinmrs' Union a,o 'Public Enemy No. 3.'" 1 No reply was received by Mr. Maher.