Mayoral Candidates at Grips

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 113, 14 May 1941, Page 8

Mayoral Candidates at Grips

Mr. Mansford’s Reply To Mr. Tennent FURTHER SALLIES IN CAMPAIGN A reply to statements mado by Mr. W. B. Tennent when addressing electors at Central School on Monday night w&a mado by Mr. A. E. Mansford in an election speech at the same place last night. “Mr. Tennent started off by saying he had hoped that the election would be fought in keeping with the dignity of the Mayoral office and the canons of good taste,*' said Mr. Mansford. ‘'Let me toll Mr. Tennent I have nothing to learn from him. Let him look at Mr. Grant’s statements and his own publicity. If he thought he could get away with that, and because I was Mayor I would not hit back well, ho does not know me. “I made no reflection on Mr. Grant’s public life whatsoever. He is a returned soldier and no one has a greater respect for the returned soldier than I have, but that does not give him or anyone else the right to make statements such as Mr. Grant did about me. I do not bear him any- malice, but I am bound publicly to defend myself. It is no good Mr. Tennent dragging in Mr. Grant’s private life; we all know it is exemplary. But because I am Mayor that does not give any man the right to make statements containing innuendoes regarding my integrity, my ability and my work for this city. I do not attack people till they attack me. • “His reply as to the reason why he

was not at council meetings may be correct, but he cannot get away from f the fact thae he was absent from the j meetings I stated. He is convicted on his own reasoning, for he compares his 75 per cent, with my 86 per cent., and 1 I was absent on all occasions on council ‘ or city business, except once when I was laid up with influenza. I was not away on private business. Mr. Tennent can’t have it both ways. “Mr. Tennent states, 'when any' special matter requiring the co-opera- „ tion of the citizens arises, it is left to * the Mayor to organise the meeting and I invite the citizens, for which service I amongst others he receives an honor- { arium of £450 per annum.’ My patriotic | I efforts are not prompted by any £450 a year. Neither aro my services for the city prompted by any mercenary i : payments. “Mr. Tennent’s advertisement stated i ■ that his election as Mayor would I secure a more united and harmonious < war effort. I set out to show what his war effort had been up to the present ■ and I think successfully. “I am sorry indeed that Mr. Tennent « has introduced sectarianism. I have . too much respect for my friends and enemies (if I have any) even to think < of such a thing. Mr. Tennent can introduce all the sectarianism he likes, ; but I will not have anything to do with it. I am sorry for him if that is all he can see in my reference to the triple trap. Perhaps when he cools down and gets a little more political experience, he will know better than to even introduce religion. “Mr. Tennent introduces politics and . calmlv tells you what I am going to do. Well, I think I am capable of minding my own business and looking after the interest of the people of this city. He need have no fears of a general election or of what I am going to do.’’ Mr. C. Taylor, who was in the chair, said Mr. Mansford had carried out the j

duties of Mayor with marked ability and distinction, and the state of the city’s finances was an indication of th 9 work he had done. (Citizens could ro gard the period of Mr. Hansford’s Mayoralty with a g'reat measure of satisfaction.

The meeting, which numbered between 30 and 40, accorded Mr. Mansford a vote of thanks and confidence.