MR. McNAB CHALLENGES MR. MASSEY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13275, 28 November 1911, Page 3

MR. McNAB CHALLENGES MR. MASSEY.

Palmerston North, Nov. 27. Mr. Robert llcNab addressed a packed meeting at the Opera House to-niulit in reply to Mr. Massey. Aftrr speaking for over two hours, and aiLswoiiiiu a number of questions, he was accorded a vote of confidence. .Dealing with the statement made bjj Mr, ;\iass;\v here that he had entered into the J\lokan Company in January, and the Order-iii-Couneil was not isMuv.l till March, IJr. McNab said this was apparent.y an innuendo that lie Lad entered the Company and then v.--.'.m.1 his iniluence with the Ministry In secure the Order-in-Council. JUr. Ma;:sey did not tell them that the (.'(/■UTiimeiit decided to grant tlie Or-(lcr-iii-C'ouucil on December 9th, six weeks before he (Air. -McNab) was approached about the Company. If Mr. Mas,«ey intended to convey this innuendo, and if the innuendo was true he (.Mr. McNab) was a scoundrel, unlit io represent any person. He chalk'M;,ed Mr. Massey to appear before any ('■■l'.rt to prove this innuendo. If .Mr. yavhvy proved it, he (Mr. Me-S-.i'n . ;iiiid retire from public life for ever. I.i Mr. -Massey failed to prove it Jet him retire at once from public, hill, ii-t it by "sudden death." The stiuemetit was received with applause ;■:•! f-!i-ors. -Mr. McNab set out a i! ;i::i:e programme which included p':rj).'i ■ io:ia. representatives in tiio. \';>iiv\- I:,.u.<e elected by the Lower J-!"'i;:-e ; in!! rights to all persons in tli,- Dominion "to employ .and a systematic classification; an increase in i\w graduated land tax between £30,OO'.l liud ,L'IJU,U(J!) on unimproved value-: io such a liguro as will render holding of higher value unprofitable.