A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 5, 6 July 1906, Page 5

A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

♦ NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTION CONTEST. MR. NORTON v. MR. HOLMAN. [rRESS ASSOCIATION.] SYDNEY, sth July. This afternoon in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Holman, a, prominent Labour member, rose to make a personal txpluuntion in reply to charges which Mr. Norton made against him on Tues.'rlay night. The charges, Mr. Holman eaid, included that of being a convicted felon in connection with thfc failure of ia Labour paper eleven years ago. He explained that he had occupied an honorary position on the board of the paper, Iwbich was unfortunate, and- badly managed from the start. When the paper failed, he and three others were technically convicted of conspiring to defraud, but the conviction was quashed. His own savings went in the smash, and from tho beginning to the end he never got a farthing out of the venture. Mr. Norton's other charges were of writing leading articles to Cootamundra papers about Mr. Holman accepting bribes from brewers, and corruption. All of these charges he warmly denied, and invited the fullest enquiry respecting them. Mr, Holman dramatically concluded by accepting Mr. Norton's challenge to resign and contest the Cootamundra seat. Mr. Norton at the time of the challenge had handed his resignation to another member of the House. On Mr. Holman'a acceptance, the resignations of both members wore handed to the Speaker, and the respective seats were declared vacant. (Roceived July 6, 9.48 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr. Holman was cheered as he left the House. Mr. Norton's departure was watched in silence.