A GREEK GIFT ?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 8

A GREEK GIFT ?

CHALLENGE TO DEBATE

MR. WARD NOT DISPOSED

(By Tclograph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") INVEKCABGILL, This Day. A suggestion that the United and Het'ovm candidates should meet in a public debate on the taxation and unemployment questions was mootod at Mr. Hargost's mooting on Friday evoriing. . When question time arrived the chairman read tho following question which had boon handed in to the meeting: "Would the- candidates bo prepared to debate on tho public platform with Mr, V, Ward tho taxation and unemployment; questions?" A footnote to tho question stated that tlio same question would bo asked the Government candidate at his mooting in the Town Hall that evening. Mr. Hargost was not at all hesitant in roplying, "This; is a 'staggerer'," ho said, "but certainly I will meet Mr. Wnrd in dobato on these- questions. I am prepared to moot him on the public platform at any time, preferably beforo Wednesday." This reply was greeted with, vociferous applause. It is not known whether a similar question was handed in to Mr. WaTd at his meeting on Friday evening, but no mention was made of it. However, Mr. Ward made the following statement in an interview to-day: "I have no intention of meeting Mr, Hargost on the platform iv debate. The suggestion reminds one of tho passage from the classics, of whiuh the Anglicised version is, (I fear the Greeks whoa they bring gifts.' I cannot imagine that the idea was conceived for the purpose of assisting my candidature. This is not a tost of oratory: it is a political election, and I feel that with my mod ost qualifications and a good cause to uphold, I may bo of some use to the coniitrv. That is why I consented to stand tot tho Invei-eargill seat."