LIVELY MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 5

LIVELY MEETING.

KEFORM AT ST. HELIER'S. INTERJECTIONS FREQUENT. Mr. W. P. Endean, Reform candidate, had a very lively meeting at St. Helier'a Bay last night. Two or three opponents of the Reform party were often heard, and interchanges with the speakers were frequent. On the platform with. Mr. Endean were Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. for Wellington Suburbs and Mr. H. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North. Mr. A. Twiname was chairman. An answer to the Hon. E. A. Ransom's challenge to Reform leaders to say which particular Act they would repeal, was made by Mr. Wright. Reform, he said. had not talked about repealing any Acts. Reform, however, asserted that United had made many clear-cut promises which they had not kept. One of these was the unemployment problem, which, said the speaker, was worse now than during a corresponding term of the. Reform Administration. The Government, he alleged, had ceased to publish official unemployment figures for fear of the consequences. The Hon. A. J. Stall worthy's part in the campaingn was again criticised by Mr. Wright." Mr. Stallworthy, he said, had attended one meeting and fired the first shot for United, but as soon as the fighting had begun he had considered discretion the better part of valour. He asked why Mr. Stallworthy did not take a hand in the campaign, but he was interrupted by a cry of "What about Coates ?" '"He will be in the field soon," was the reply. Mr. H. Holland said he was present "just to let you see what side I am on and why." He contented himself with a

survey of the work done by the Reform Government, and concluded with an appeal to voters for support. "I will not see any man, woman or child starve in Xew Zealand," said Mr. Endean, but he could not offer any solutions for the problem. Mr. Endean attempted to read the Sir Basil Blackett report on the finances of Xew Zealand, but was interrupted by, "We've heard that one before. ,-3 "You'll hear it again," rejoined the candidate, and he continued to read the report. In reply to a question he was asked at Kohimarama on Wednesday night, Mr. Endean said that the Dalmatians employed by the Public Work 3 Department were naturalised citizens of Xew Zealand and if the Department saw fit to employ them, in view of the widespread unemployment, politicians should not interfere. A vote of confidence in the Reform candidate was passed with acclamation, with a few dissentients.