P.P.A.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160795, 1 November 1920, Page 3

P.P.A.

■ CHALLENGE TO POLITICIANS. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL. The following resolution was carried at a meeting of the Wanganui Executive of the Protestant Political Association, held! on Saturday evening: “That whereas the Press reports of the debate in Parliament on tne Marriage Amendment Rill indicate that Mr Holland and Mr McCallum, M’s.P., made grave charges against the Rev. Howard Elliott, which if uttered outside Parliament would have provided grounds for a libel action, we regret that there are members of Parliament in this country who, from the security of their Parliamentary positions, will publicly defame their opponents outside the House, and not at the same time permit them the opportunity which every British subject should be entitled to to defend himself.. The statements in question are untrue iu every particular,- and defamatory,: and we challenge those concerned to repeat them outside of the House We further challenge Mr Holland to prove that the agitation against, the iniquitous Nc Temere decree ‘was the work of one man,’ or that his statement concerning the Lev. Howard Elliott is not -wholly unfounded. If Mr Holland can prove either of these statements we will pay to the Wanganui Hospital the sum of, £IOO, provided that gentleman will do the same should he fail. Similarly, on the same terms, we challenge Mr McCallum to prove his unwarranted and offensive statements concerning the Her. Mr Elliott.”'