REPLY BY MR. HOLLAND

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 305, 20 September 1943, Page 6

REPLY BY MR. HOLLAND

Mr. Drummond’s Broadcast

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 18. Strong exception to statements made bv -Air. Clive Drummond (Independent Group, AVellington AVest) in his recent broadcast, was taken by Dlr. S. G. Holland, in an address in bis own electorate last evening. He claimed that his character had been impugned, and Ms protest was applauded by an audience of over 600. n . * , “The public do not want a dirty election, and e'o far, with one unfortunate exception, the campaign has been conducted on a decent plane.” said Mr. Holland. “Three nights ago people had to listen to Mr. Drummond, speaking on behalf of the People’s Movement. I don't, propose to deviate from the course I have taken, but when my character is impugned and my integrity questioned, no one will blame me for defending myself. In this instance the speech was delivered not from a public meeting, but from a broadcasting studio. It was a, speech that was obviously read,, and I don’t believe the person who delivered it ever wrote it. I know the gentleman, and I think he is made of better stuff. Someone else wrote that speech.” . Air. Holland gave an emphatic denial to some of the statements made concerning him. “I am accused of having organized cheer brigades to conic to my meetings and cheer me at certain points,” he said. “It is alleged that I organized people ns Dr. Goebbels in Germany organizes people to come to his meetings. At my big meeting in Christchurch there were' exactly three tickets issued. I <nive my father one. and gave one to my wife; the third ticket was for a lady with a broken leg that was not complete!'’ mended.” Mr. Holland added that he did not think it was cricket or good for polities that such allegations should be made against lenders- of parties. ‘lf I was guilty of such practices as those mentioned I would deserve to be obliterated from the public life of New Zealand.”