OUTMANOEUVRED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 8

OUTMANOEUVRED.

A PACKED MEETING.

A MASSEYITE FAILURE.

(By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") TAURANGA, this day. The fact that Sir Joseph Ward is receiving such a splendid hearing wherever he speaks in the Tauranga electorate was no doubt the influence which prompted certain Reformers to pack a hostile element into the meeting held at Te Puna on Saturday evening. The "opposition" supporters were in one sense strangers to Te Puna, being residents of Omokoroa, the adjoining western district, which is a distinct polling area in itself. News that a stunt of some kind was intended reached Tauranga during the course of the day, and when Sir Joseph addressed the gathering that evening it was a record for size in Te Puna. The faked opposition was expected to make it a record for rowdiness, but when the statesman rose to speak those who had come to mock were tongue-tied for eighty-five minutes as they listened to the unfolding of the only policy that has been put before the people of the Dominion for the saving of our country from ruin. Only after question time did the hostile visitors find their voices. When the motion of thanks and confidence was put to the meeting, they roared out "No."' but their scheme miscarried, and the chairman was perfectly correct in declaring the confidence motion adopted. "And even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer.''

One of the Reformers, who evidently has not sighted Sir Joseph's opponent in the race to the poll, called for "three cheers for old Bill." Apparently, as Steele Rudd, the Australian humorist, puts it, Dad has resorted to the expedient of trying on foot to outpace the rival horse.