HALL CROWDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 234, 4 October 1938, Page 10

HALL CROWDED.

MR. TENNENT AT OTAHUHU.

POLICE TAKE ACTION,

The Otahuhu Public Hall was inadequate to accommodate the large audience which sought admission to hear Mr. K.. B. Tennent, National candidate for Otahuhu, address electors last evening. The hall was so crowded that all seating accommodation was taken up and the wings of the stage and the passageway won- crowded. In addition, there was an overflow audience ot jt.ve.ral hundred outside which had to be content to listen to the loud-speaker. Mr. A. Murdoch, Deputy-Mayor •of Otahuhu, presided.

It was evident from the time that the candidate took the platform that the audience included the opposition section, considerable heckling taking place, as the result of which the police had to escort some members of the audience out of the ball.

Mr. Tennent *aid the real issue before the electors was the question of State dictatorship versns private enterprise and freedom. He instanced the power wielded by the Ministers of the frown from whose, decisions no appeal was allowed. >.. Answering an interjector, lie denied that his party stood for the reduction of wages, but bcliovjd in good wages commensurate with value of services given. Stating that the only freehold granted by the preeent party in power was that by contract of previous administrators, the candidate said he favoured a email farm s-eheme by way of private subdivision. Dealing with unemployment, which the Government had promised to solve in six weeks, the candidate Raid he considered the position was worse than ever. When a motion of thanks and confidence was moved a section at the back of the hall called for a ehow of hands, to which the chairman acceded. He then declared the motion carried by a large majority.