MINISTER HECKLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1938, Page 10

MINISTER HECKLED.

FREQUENT INTERJECTIONS.

FARMERS SHOW HOSTILITY,

(By Telegraph-—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day. Frequent interjections and heckling interrupted the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, when he addressed an audience of about 70 at Te Rapa last night. The hostility of the

audience was indicated by the questions put to the Minister, there being only one sympathetic query. A constable on duty at the hall had occasion to speak to one or two of the interjeetors. A lull followed, but the interruptions were renewed later. The meeting was comprised almost entirely of farmers. The meeting showed itself particularly resentful of the guaranteed price. Socialism and the social security scheme, and displayed its feeling from the outset. Mr. C. Wise presided. A vote or no confidence in the Minister was moved by a member of the audience, who said that the Government itself had shown no confidence in him because it had appointed another Minister as Minister of Marketing. The Minister explained that the speaker did not understand the position, as marketing was always dealt with bv somebody other than the Minister of Agriculture. A motion of no confidence in the Gov- ' ernment was then proposed. Before it ! was seconded a speaker said that, while ! he had been one of the Minister's critics. I he wanted to be fair and say that the j Government had done good work with I regard to the eradication of ragwort. ; He ;then moved a vote of thanks. It i was not put to the meeting, but carried by applause. I