THAT CHALLENGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 18 May 1909, Page 3

THAT CHALLENGE.

MR REMINGTON EXPLAINS. Mr Remington, M.P. for Raugitikei, was entertained at a social at Koeke last Friday night. In the course of a lengthy speech, Mr Remington warmly thanked the settlers of Koeke and Pohonui for their kindly welcome, which was an incentive to work more energetically for the district. Reference had been made to things said of him at last election. He was one of those who always believed that after the battle was over he was the representative of the whole of the electors. A he would look leniently upon statements made by those opposed to him because he hoped they were not malicious and willul, and he would endeavour to forget all about them. lie hoped now that they had had time for reflection they would wish to forget them themselves. Such should be the case. Should it be necessaiy for him to deal in Parliament with any attack made upon him he would do so. Voluntary information had been placed at his disposal by those who had been prominent in attacking him. This would fill the pages of Hansard and he ventured to say, make such interesting reading that at least twenty thousand copies would be wanted between Taranaki and Manawatu once it was placed on record. There would be someone who would wish it had never appeared. He was not going to do anything that he thought lowering the dignity of Parliament, but if necessary, and on behalf of those who had expressed renewed confidence in him, he would give such an answer as would meet the case, and no doubt lead those who had made a prominent attack to be made sorry and wiser. Dealing with paragraphs in the press stating that he refused to accept Mr Hutchison’s challenge to resign his seat, his answer was that Mr Hutchison knew when he threw out that challenge that it was impossible for them to arrogate to themselves the whole right to contest the Raugitikei or any other seat. The field was open to all, and he knew it. Why did he ignore Mr R. W. Smith ? Had he no right to be consulted ? Continuing, Mr Remington admitted that in the heat of the moment he was rash enough to make a challenge, but it was pointed out to him by numerous correspondents that he had no right to make that challenge, and that the electors having elected him with full knowledge of all that could be said against.him, as it was said, he valued their decision and considered the opinions and suggestions of his bitter opponents unworthy of consideration.