EX-LABOUR ADHERENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 200, 25 August 1933, Page 3

EX-LABOUR ADHERENT

fierce Criticism. ANOTHER HOSTILE MEETING. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHEISTCHUECH, this day. The keen public interest that is bciug taken in the Lyttelton by-election is being manifested in large attendances at the candidates" meetings. Woolston turned out in force last night to hear Mr. E. L. Hills, the Independent Labour candidate, whose entrance into the field against Mrs. Elizabeth McCombs, widow of the late member, is resented by Labour supporters, who consider it improves the chances of Mr. -J , . W. Freeman, tho Coalition nominee. The rowdyelement, however, failed, and for fully SO per cent of the time he was speaking, Mr. Hills was given a good hearing. Dr. Thacker was chairman, and the meeting at tho outset promised to be very lively. Dr. Thackor's introduction of the candidate was listened to with ill-concealed impatience, and a running tire of interjection. "There are- two heavily-weighted top-weights in this race," ho said, "and to-night we have A Voice: A dud. A Relief Worker. • For • a considerable time after he commenced his address, Mr. Hills was listened to in complete silence. The electors of Lyttelton, he said were being afforded an opportunity of electing a man who Avas a relief worker, a man who had been in the "sugar-bag parade." A Voice: You are going the wrong way about, it. Mr. Hills condemned the party system of government, which, he declared, was not in the best interests of the country. A Voice: You should join the legion. The candidate said that there was a serious position arising in the country, and if the Government did not take steps to rectify the damage it had done the Dominion would be flung into chaos. He dealt with his resignation from the Labour party, and said that there was, not much scope in the Labour movement to-day for a young man who was not afraid to speak his mind. A Voice: You arc a twister. Mr. Hills: Oh, I cannot hide behind a corkscrew yet. The Voice: JudaS at least had the decency to hang himself. "Party System Corrupt." There were sharp passages while Mr. ITills was criticising the policy of the Christchurch City Council in regard to relief work, and at one time the candidate, the chairman, and several members of the audience were speaking at once, but Mr. Hills won out, and there was comparative quiet for some time afterwards. He advocated support for New Zealand industries, which, he said, would have to be protected, and he reiterated that the party system of government was a corrupt form. A Voice: Why did you belong to a party? Mr. Hills: During my association witJi the Labour party I had differences 01 opinion. A Voice: Why didn't you stick to the sh 'P ? . ~ Mr. Hills: So long as I was in the Labour party I was loyal to it. When I felt that I could be no longer subjected to influence inside the Labour party, I resigned. I have done the honourable thing. A Voice: Yon will do your tenner.

Chairman Refuses Motion. Towards the close the meeting became somewhat rowdy. Dr. Thacker declined to accept a motion asking the Woolston branch of the Labour party to make an official reply to Mr. Hills regarding the nomination of the late Mr. J. McCombs r.nd Mr. Hills for the Lyttelton seat. " He also refused to put a motion expressing no confidence in Mr. Hills. Instead, he put a motion of thanks, and declared it carried, though in the hubbub it was difficult to say how tlu voting went.