UNDER FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 230, 29 September 1938, Page 13

UNDER FIRE.

" POLITICAL COMEDY."

CONTINUOUS UPROAR.

MR. DODD'S CAMPAIGN.

Something of a political comedy was enacted at the Orange Hall, Newton, last evening, when Mr. C. R. Dodd, National candidate for Auckland Central, was before a crowded meeting, many people beinir shut out. The chairman. Mr. R. McVeagh. introduced the speaker as the ermine member for the electorate, after which there was pandemonium in varying degrees. In assertive fashion Mr. Dodd said he intended to have his say on the political fituation. "'I am a young man and you are 7<>o people against one." he declared rhallengingly. (Applause.) When a deridinir chorus died down he added:

T give you people credit for having some intelligence and 1 realise that your political convictions are your own bu*iness." (Loud applause and *eers.)

Questions and croKS-o.uest ions showered from all parts of the hou-ie and the ■speaker was heard to say "If you are not prepared to listen to me. get out. hut I can assure you that the majority do want to hear me and I am going to see that they hear me. no matter— Voice: Go on, what about your policy?

The Labour party was composed of Socialists and Communists and not of true Labour, said Mr. Dodd. To-day it meant that if you were not a member of a union you had to starve. (Loud dissent.) There was further uproar whe?i he said there was no reason for keeping union secretaries on fat salaries.

"I can tell you of a member of the Legislative Council who formerly took Od a week from the unemployed," declared the speaker. "You are wrong. It was Cd a month," came a reply. "I don't care if it was a penny a week," said the candidate, "it was wrong and you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." Finally, a man rose in front of the hall and proposed a vote of confidence in Mr. Parry, this being carried by acclamation. In response to a request by Mr. Dodd. the National Anthem was sung, following which cheers were given for the Prime Minister and a round of applause for the chairman.

BACK TO 1935.

MR. POOL CRITICAL.

GOOD HEARING AT EPSOM. Had there not been an increase in overseas prices for farm produce just when the Labour party came into office in 1935 there would have been no Labour Government in Xew Zealand today, said Mr. Donald Pool, National candidate for Eden, in the Epsom library last evening. The reason, he said, was because the Socialist Government would have done what the Lang Government did in Xew South Wales—bankrupted the finances of the State. The audience numbered nearly 200 and the candidate was accorded an excellent hearing, his remarks being frequently applauded. The chairman was Mr. Cliff Clarke.

The candidate severely criticised the Labour party for its lack of provision for the defence of New Zealand. "It is stated we need Iβ anti-aircraft guns to protect this city—and we have only two," he said.

A voice: Why didn't the National party do something when in office?

The candidate impressed upon his audience that the National party offering to-day was a new National party, not the old one.

A voice: But all the old ones are still in it.

A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried by acclamation.