CITIZENS AND NATIONALISTS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27183, 29 October 1953, Page 5

CITIZENS AND NATIONALISTS

CHALLENGE TO PROVE CONNEXION The Christchurch Citizens’ and Ratepayers' Association has challenged the Labour Party to .prove that ft is a branch or-en off-shoot of the National Party." The chairman ot the association (Mr H. P. Smith) last evening invited the Labour candidate for the mayoralty (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) to appoint any public accountant or auditor to examine the books of the association or show by other ‘means that there was any connexion. ■ "We are not interested in politics in municipal elections—we’are more interested in men," Mr Smith said before listed speakers were introduced at a meeting in the Risingholme Community Centre last evening. The Citizens' Association would have, kept out personalities but it could not let pass some of the allegations of Labour speakers. “As late as last night Mr Macfarlane made the bald statement that the Citizens' Association was an off-shoot of the National Party,” Mr Smith ..continued. “-i make an offer to Mr Macfarlane to invite any public accountant or auditor to examine the books of the association and find the slightest connexion between, the Citizens* Association and the National Party,. If it were an off-shoot you would expect to see money passing. All our funds come from voluntary subscriptions and if any accountant or auditor can find any connexion from our books or otherwise, Mr Macfarlane is welcome to appoint him.” ' ■ . . Several other candidates also denied any connexion between the association and a political organisation.