STORMY POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 228, 24 September 1918, Page 4

STORMY POLITICS.

WEIXINGTON CENTRAL MB. MACK'S CANDIDATURE. REFUSED A HEARING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A section of the audience at the opening meeting of Mr. ilack, lndepeuueut Labour candidate for the Well.ngtoa Central seat, last night, was extremely rowdy. Continuous interjections and other noises prevented delivery of a speech, and Mr. Mack was kept answering questions till the cliairman declared the meeting closed. He said that, as the candidate had been refused a hearing by a section of the audience, he would not put any motion. During the singing of the National Anthem, at tbe bc'giuning of the meet ng, tbe hecklers sat, and one marred the singing with a loud discordant socialist song. Mr. Mack explained that he was not a member of the Protestant Political Ahsociation nor a member of the Prohibitionist party, and said he was not connected with the Orange lodges. If any organisation decided to support him, that was its own business*. He was responsible only for his own actions. Hβ claimed the right to represent reasonable labour, as distinct from extremists. Though personally opposed to compensation to the liquor trade, he favoured the National Efficiency Board's recommendations as sound 'business. Answering questions about " A guinea a day as a member of the Military Service Board," he said he paid this money into the Amalgamated Railway Servants' funds. He declined to be bludgeoned into withdrawing from the contest; he could go to the poll even if 99} per cent of the railway men requested him to stand down. QUICKENING INTEREST. / (By Telegraph—Special to "Star. -- J WELLINGTON, this day. Of the six nominated candidates for Wellington Central three only need be considered —Eraser (Labour), Hildreth (National Government), and Mack (Independent Labour). Atmore is regarded as having little chance, as he is a stranger to Wellington. Tanner will get a few votes, and Garrison, a returned soldier from Grey Lynn, fewer still. Interest in the election is quickening, and the particular attention is being paid to Mr. Mack, since his candidature was endorsed, by the P.P.A., and also his challenge to the militant Labour section, of which Eraser is the representative. In the interest centring in the local contest the fact that there is also a vacancy in Taranaki is being lost sight of.