GENERAL GODLEY'S SWORD OF HONOUR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16988, 10 November 1920, Page 9

GENERAL GODLEY'S SWORD OF HONOUR.

« . MAYOR'S ALLEGATIONS REFUTED. Recently Dr. Thacker, Mayor of Christchurch, made a statement in the House that the cost of the Sword of Honour presented to General Godley was defrayed by the City Mayors from municipal funds. Mr H. Holland, who was Mayor of Christchurch when the alleged transaction took place, forthwith interviewed Dr. Thacker and asked that gentleman to retract his statement so far, in any event, as it related to Christchurch. Mr Holland pointed out that the accusation involved a serious charge not only against himself but against the Town Clerk also. There was no truth in the allegation, for, as far as this city was concerned, tho contribution was collected from citizens and not one penny came out of city funds. Mr" Holland, who gave the above statement to a "Press ' representative last night, added that Dr. Thacker had promised he would in the House withdraw tho statement so far as it related to Christchurch, but had not done so. "I feel the accusation keenly," said Mr Holland. "There is no truth whatever in it so far as I and the Town Clerk are concerned, and I take this opportunity of emphatically denying it."