THAT CHALLENGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9257, 23 April 1912, Page 5

THAT CHALLENGE.

(To the Editob.) Sir,—After <a lapse of fourteen days Mr Nathan lias thought .fit to reply to the challenge to produce, the name of his informant ill connection with his statement from the public platform that the Mayor's relations had insultingly referred to his nationality. The name lie has.given is Mrs Pycroft. She' states in a letter to Mr Nathan that J. made improper .references to Mr Nathan and Mr Cohort when, I called to see her husband about some work. t give her statement a. most emphatic denial. Mr Pycroft is a bricklayer and in carrying out some work for me at Kairanga the allegation against me was referred to, but Mrs Pycroft's name was not mentioned. I informed Mr Pycroft that I liad made no such statement, If lie thought I was guilty of the contemptible thing charged against me why did he not then, in a manly way, state that his wife had made an accusation against me and give me the opportunity of meeting the charge, instead of doing that ho was silent as to her part in the matter, Now her name is imported into' the controversy, practically on the eve of the polling" day, leaving no time for a full and complete investigation -which-1 would welcome. The public will, ,I am sure, take special note of this fact, and I am not afraid of their verdict, I have lived practically all my life in this town, and I challenge any _ man or woman to show any flaw or dishonourable action in my recbrd. As to the alleged remark concerning Mr Cohen, which I have also denied, I desire to state that I worked very hard for that gentleman the last time he stood for the position of Mayor, and if I held the opinion of him attributed to 'me it is hardly likely that I would have endeavoured to secure his return. The whole business is transparent, and to my mind it is very bad taste to bring a " lady into election matters. Let me say in conclusion that Mrs Pycroft is one of Mr Nathan's nominators and her husband is a member of his .committee. Mr Pycroft was also chairman of Mr Nathan's Foxton line meeting,_ and carries out the whole of the brick work in connection with Mr Nathan's factories. Tlie electors can draw their own conclusions.—l am, etc., Ei-J. NASH.