THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12353, 17 November 1905, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION

MR T. E. TAYLOR AND THE WORKERS. A LIVELY MEETING;

Tho question portion of li. • • Taylor's address at St. :' Ma-.wi<.'W's Scnoolroom, last evening, nssoived itselr into a sore of political pantomime, with the candidate and Mr Leathern, who appeared to be tlie mouthpiece of a bana of labourers, as the ch.ef actor.. The trouble arose over the much-dis-cussed payment of 7s (id per cay. to labourers under engagement to tho Construction Co., wmc-i has the ti'ainway contiacts. in naud. iNunierous questions, all "in the same hanu-wnt-i"g,' Air Taylor deoared, ana all dealing witn the same niacter, were handed up to tne caucuoate, auu he exrMUued his paction m manuer similar to .--t at his lecent meeting iv tne Canterbury Hall. Interruptions were not infrequent, and matter* brightened up corn-idembly as the discussion proceeded. The audience included a large number of ladies.

''V? y° a rQal ly think it «as fair for the Construction Co. to take on labourers at less than Is per hour?" aiked an aggrieved worker ac tho rear of tne hall, when a period of cheering, applauding, hooting, and groaning Had _uudd-

lhe oandidato replied that ho was not there to apologise for any action of the company He had exp.ained lis position and explained it fairly, but ho would say that the company had done nothing outside the existing law. /hey did I" cried another" worker, and once again tlie proceedinga degenerated into a general uproar, with Mr ?£ r 6ltt, . n e back smiling! After a time the chairman rose, and was hoard to state: I think the Candidate has answered fairly tho questions put to him, and rJ'Y-iJ?* 1 * 1 " Sundered through the building, while one.satisfied worker JLu'L* f ««« J>«M*es (who previously declared that he was an employee of tlie Obstruction Company, and was content with the wages ho was getting) informed an equally ( dissatisfied brother labourer that he would "argue the question outside with him!" ' Tlie chairman proceeded, "There aro ladies and gentlemen here who came to listen to Mr Taylor, and I don't fchink we should prolong this unseemly discussion. '.■-•*

The matter had been debated for about half an hour by this time, and teehng was running high. take a vote at this stage, Mr Chairman?" inquired a voice above the disorder, and the chairman, after consmltation with the candidate, was understood to give his assent. "The resolution I have to move," he went on, 'is that this meeting having heard Mr Taylor's explanation, is absolutely satisfied that he has not been disloyal to the workers of the city." "Yes!" and "No!" accompanied by groans and applause, were screamed in, the volume of vooal disapproval and approbation which followed. ' The. motion was carried by a large majority. A call for cheers for Mr C. M. Gray was honoured and boo-hooed -iinultaneously, and a similar request in respect of the candidate was dealt with in like manner. p -

The audienoe commenced to file out about thb time, and a resolution* of thanks to Mr Taylor for his address ond confidence in him as a fit and proper ?snson to represent the electorate in arliamenfc was hurriedly proposed and carried.

"The very men who are here tonight," he said, in acknowledging the vote, "will be compelled before long to acknowledge that 1 have never wronged the workers in any way.*' "You have!" tine workers at the back 6f the hall yelled in reply. , "No," was the equally emphatic declamation by those in front. - p-

Mr Taylor continued with his'speech, and concluded, "I wish them joy with any representative they may elect against mc at the dictation of the brewing interests of Christchurch." ■ y More groans', cheering - and general uproar, brought a "hot" meeting to a •close. ■''-'■'■'■.' : - .'• •..':■"'