RUNNING FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 303, 4 October 1938, Page 6

RUNNING FIRE

INTERJECTIONS AT A MEETING. man threatened with EXPULSION. AIR. GRIGG AT DROMORE. For the first time since the election campaign started in Mid-Canterbury, the serenity of a candidate’s meeting was ruffled, when Mr A. N. Grigg, National candidate, addressed about 80 people at Dromore. Shortly, after the candidate had been introduced by the chairman (Mr L. Hanrahan) heckling commenced and two men at the back of the hall kept up a running fire of what were often irrelevant interjections. Raising his voice, Mr Grigg endeavoured to drown the interruptions, but it was necessary for the chairman to appeal for an attentive hearing. At one stage there was a mild uproar as the supporters of Mr Grigg called upon the interjectors to keep quiet or get out. The speaker spoke at length in criticism of the Social Security Scheme. “I will say,” said Mr Grigg,. “that the Social Security scheme is ” Voices: Rot! Rot! “Very sound in principle,” concluded the speaker, amidst laughter at the expense of those at the hack. Speaking upon the proposed National housing scheme, Mr Grigg said that the people would own their houses. He instanced the case of a man in a Labour Government house spending some thousands in rent, and .at the end of his life having nothing to show for it. Under the Nationalists he would own his own house.

A voice: “Where will you get the money from?” Mr Grigg: “Off the gooseberry bushes like Mr Savage.” (Uproar.) At this stage the heckling from the back of the room had reached such proportions that- the candidate’s voice could not be heard. A member of the quieter portion of the audience walked over and threatened those at the back with immediate expulsion unless they desisted. Order was maintained for a short time. Mr Grigg his audience that

the real issue before the electors was 4 Socialism v. Democracy, and he asked them - to forget party differences in their private lives. He asked them to weigh the position carefully, and if they did so he had no doubt of the result on election night. announcement brought forth uproar from the back of the hall. At question time the main interjector of the evening asked the candidate how costs could be reduced without the reduction of wages. la reply, Mr Grigg stated that increased efficiency and output would cut costs without cutting wages. In answer to the same questioner, Mr Grigg* stated that he was not opposed to the 40-liour week in industries that could cope with it. His objection was the'rapidity with which the measures had been applied to all industry, regardless of whether it was economic or not. Much amusement was caused by Mr Grigg bringing his main interjector to the frdnt of the room, introducing him to those present with the statement that Mr Grace would now address the meeting. Mr Grace joined in the general laughter. On the motion of Mr H. Wilson, seconded by Mr H. Copland, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried, only two or fhree at the hack dissenting.