"SOLDIERS IN HOVELS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 16

"SOLDIERS IN HOVELS."

INSPECTION INVITED.

MKS. NICOL GAINS A HEARING

SCENE AT rOLITICAL MEETING

"■''. itil outstP».-ii:«<l arms, appealing for Bill .ire, Mrs. Emily Jv4»L cfaimpion of returned soldiers and thaw «wß"r\, , _.»:ts l was a dramatic figure in St. Jiiinaa' VrL.j; la-l night, when she claimed the floor i.l Mr. W. C. Hewitt's meeting. It wan question time, and the uproar was thunderous and continuous. "This is a question that touches Liilioiir, Reform and United:" asserted Mrs. Xicol in a lit Ho moment of silence. "I want to know if the United party will lake under their wing the exSoldiers who live down in Auckland Central, in the slums, in conditions you wouldn't put animals under? These men went away Al fit, and they came back Find I ered— shattered. When they won't hike pick and shovel work they are called wasters!"' Cries of "Shame!" and "Good old Emily!" Mrs. Nieoh Will the. United party stand by these men, their wives and children, why cannot stand by them-, selves? "Civc her a fair pop, now!" advised a bass voice at the back. "Moat certainly the United party will do for these boys what the Government has failed to do!" replied Mr. Hewitt. "The Government has done nothing for them!" A young man near the front: Oh. garn'. You are all the same, the whole clique of you—till you pet in I Everyone started shouting at this Stage, and the chairman, Mr. Percy McElwain, began to yell: "Shut up, can't you. Shut up!" This had no effect, and an altercation started on the front seats, several people becoming very agitated. A grey-haired man called something, and a young fellow near the door asked him if he went to the war. "Go to the war! I should say I did! I did so!" answered the grizzled veteran, waving a big stick with some emphasis. Then, as an afterthought, "Did Bill Parry go to the war?" Jn the ensuing uproar, Mrs. Nicol made her way to the platform, am', when order was restored, sho invited the candidate to accompany her "into some of these hovels" and see for himself the conditions under which returned men and their families had to live. "I shall gladly go," said Mr. Hewitt, courteously. "Say!" drawled a*voice from the doorway," who might you be standing for?" "KbJ'* shot bapk Mrs. Nicol. "I'm standing for humanity!" And she retired from tho platform, amid a storm of good-natured applause. The chairman: It ill becomes a man to Interrupt a lady! A Voico (in mock sorrow): Now, cut out tho sob stuff. You have had a fair go! The chairman sank back into his seat, all smiles.