CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 21 June 1912, Page 4

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

MR. HARRIS AND THE PRIME MINISTER. Auckland, June 19. A breeze occurred between the Prime Minister and Mr. Harris, M.P. for Woitemata, at a meeting at Albany to-day, at which Mr. Mackenzie gave a political address. During the course of his remarks the Pri lie Minister stated that the reason why the Government lost so many seats at the last general election was that "slander, misrepresentation and lies" had been sown broadcast throughout the country. "And," he added, "I challenge any member of the Opposition to meet me on this platform and prove that such in not the case." At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Harris rose and asked permission of the chairman to say a few words. The chairman declined "to allow Mr. Harrii to speak, but the member of the district persisted, and for a while the atmosphere was electrical, there being several interjections. It was explained by the chairman that the meeting had been called to hear a political address from the Prime Minister, and for no other purpose. Sticking to his guns, Mr. Harris obtained a hearing, and, addressing thost present, declared that he would accept Mr. Mackenzie's challenge. He was prepared to meet him on the Albany platform at any time the Prime Minister wished, and to refute the charges so unjustly hurled at the Opposition.' In reply, the Prime Minister said Mr. Harris knew there was no time between now and the session for him to meet and debate the point. He had not accused the Opposition of circulating slanders, but they certainly had been circulated, and the result of the general election was due to that cause. The public mind had undoubtedly been influenced against the ex-Prime Minister in this way.