ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 258, 31 October 1928, Page 11

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

REFORMER FOR GREY LYNN.

f0B mgR LABOUR CANDIDATE

POLITICAL COAT CHANGED.

"I offer a sincere apology for a tardy Entrance into the field, as, unfortunately, the final choice was left to the last foment," said Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert, official Reform candidate for Grey Lynn, who g* ve opening address to a small critical audience at St. George's Kingsland, last evening, jlr. Fitzherbert said that his late Utry as the Reform representative had riven his opponents a chance to get in jjgt. His T>arty had only themselves tb blaine for that, and he asked forgiveness of those Reformers who had given their pledges to other people, as they were undoubtedly bound by a pledge. g e wanted, however, to warn those parting the other side that a vote for the United party was a vote for Labour. 'Voices: No!

The candidate said that he was going *9 Conduct his campaign absolutely cleanly. He would not personally attack Jiii opponents. He considered that if he lad started earlier it would have been I walk-over for Reform.

V, A Voice: No fear! The Candidate: Well, I am going to Ight and win. (Applause.) 'The candidate said he considered Sir Joseph Ward had given wonderful service to New Zealand. (Applause.) In the speaker's opinion Sir Joseph was a fine statesman, but the country needed « stronger man in charge. This was proved in the Coalition Government. He jgid that Sir Joseph had served in a Liberal Government under the late Mr. geddon and on the latter's death gained exclusive control of the Liberals. He considered that the Dreadnought gift was a magnificent gesture, but he was condemned for doing it without congulting the people of New Zealand. In ]8 months Sir Joseph found himself on the Opposition benches. .There came a time in the Coalition Government when gir Joseph could have helped the late Mr. Massey, but he forsook him for his own political advantage. It was a time when, a wizard of finance should have stood by his country to get soldiers repatriated on the land. He considered that Sir Joseph was a very dangerous man, and not fit to take charge of New Zealand. J1 Voice: You have an alternative —the labour party. :' The Candidate: I will come to them later. What I want to say is that Sir Joseph sat in the House until he was the last of the Liberals. A Voice: How many "ratted"? The Candidate: The whole party. A Voice: No, seven. I The Candidate: Now there is a colJection of political rejects. A Voice: Rats! The Candidate: You'll get rats before 1 am finished. (Laughter.) Forming a Party.

Mr. Fitzherbert said the United party fatd got hold of a champion organiser who had collected a number of "rail•itters" and rejects, and had- crushed thim. into a party. and called them i&ipcL TWa vreraf several mentioned (if eindidates for the' leadership. There %4n,*Tom" Wilford, a capable and fine lß|n, .Mr. Veitch, a rail-sitter who could jbot make his mind up, and Mr. Forbes, tlven Sir Joseph Ward could not make S'" hie mind, and when he accepted the flership it came as abombshell.

The speaker next Teferred to the Labour party and said that Mr. Holland was an intellectual and kind man whom everybody liked, and even Mr. Coates was lond of him.

? A Voice: He's no judge. (Laughter.) Referring to the Labour party the candidate said that there was once a German of an inquisitive and analytical Blind.

A Voice: Hindenburg! The Candidate: No, Karl Marx, and the Labour party is the child of his brain. The candidate had a tilt at the Legislative Council, and said that it was an expensive luxury which might be reduced to a few elected by some democratic arrangement. He was satisfied that in the last session it had not •hown much intelligence. Bernard Shaw kid called it "the place where their futures were behind them." (Laughter.)

A Voice: The old men's home. (More laughter.) After criticising the State Bank proposal the candidate said that a five day ireek of work was suggested.

A Lady: Quite enough, too. The candidate said that he agreed with the principle of the right to work, hut a lot did not want work. (Dissent.) labour had a wonderful platform, but people would not be so silly as to accept it. "Now, Don't Get Nasty." Persistent interruptions from a man at the back led the candidate to remark: Til get on to you directly." A Voice: Now don't get nasty. (Laughter.) A Second Voice: You'll do us, old •port. A Third Voice: What we like is a good tempered man in Grey Lynn. (Renewed laughter.) Referring to the Reform the candidate said that Mr. Coates had achieved a great deal. A Voice: Hear, hear. Soup kitchens after twenty years. The candidate produced a Government publication, and waded into a mass of figures. A Voice: Take 'em as read. At this stage there was an interruption from the back of the hall, and the speaker protested. _ A Cheery Voice: It's the spring of the Seat broken. (Much merriment.) The speaker next accused a man at the back of making a noise like a cow. The Elector (indignantly): I ain't no cow. (Cheers.) The Candidate: You made a much better noise than a cow. The Elector (tartly): Get that off amongst the "cockies" and give them the "bulldoze." I don't want to know Uothin' about cows or pigs, either. You better ring up a bloomin' dairy farm. The candidate withdrew the remark about cows, and harmony was restored. In reply to a question the candidate admitted that he previously stood as a labour candidate for Patca, and said that he left the Labour party because le could not hold with its views.

A Voice: And I worked for you before. The Candidate: And I hope yon will work for me again. The Voice: I have more sense now. (Laughter.) Mr. Fitzherbert received a vote of thanks, which was put by the chairman (Mr. T. Mclndoe) and carried by acclamation.