THE ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14223, 11 December 1911, Page 7

THE ELECTIONS.

SECOND BALLOT CAMPAIGN. CANDIDATES' SPEECHES.' CHIUSTCHURCH EAST SEAT. DR. THACKER AT ALEXANDRA, HALL. Dr. Thacker, the Independent Liberal candidate for Christchurch East, addressed a largely-attended moot his of electors in tho Alexandra Hall on Saturday night. Mr A. F. Drayton, chairman of the» East Christchurch School Committee, presided. Dr. Thacker was received with applause, and thanked those* who supported him last Thursday, and thoso who intended to support him next Thursday. When ho first addressed the .electors, tho candidate said, ho had stated That ho considered his opponents were honourable and straight men, and ho still said that, for Mr Davoy was not responsible- for. his (Mr Davey's) blatant, bigotted friends, nor for their doings and sayings. Referring to election night, ho said that a most malicious and dospicablo libel and scandal was in circulation to tho effect that ho was intoxicated when ho addressed tho people from the newspaper offices. (Crie3 of *'Shame. :, ) Ho contradicted thia statement, and characterised it as an abominable lie. (Continued applause.) He suffered, he explained, from a physical disability—his left leg was partially paralysed, as tho result of an accident on the fcotball field. Hβ offered ' a reward of twenty-five sovereigns to anyone who could give information which would enable him to trace this slander to its source. Hβ did not pretend to bo a teetotaler, but ho thought ho only used alcohol when he felt absolutely fatigued —{applause)—but ho had nothing to say against thoso who did not believe in tho use of alcohol. ■' He hoped that in tho brief campaign before tho second ballot, his supporters would put aside party strife and madslinging. The candidate then dealt *t some- length with tho various planks of his programme, on the lines of his previous speeches. He said that the previous day ho had had a most delightful chat with Mr Hunter, who told him that if ho (Mr Hunter) -was not in tho second ballot ho would presido at his (Dr. Thackcr's biggest mwting on Monday night. (Applause.) Ho reiterated his previous statement us to his position from a. party point of view. Hα would not vote for a MhnV 'try of which Mr Massey was Premier--("Hear, hear" and applause)—and composed of Ministers picked out of his following. He would not object to vote for a Ministry which might contain Mr Massey in it. (A Voice: "Better !eave him alone, Doctor.") Ho wanted to stick to what ho previously said, but if Sir Joseph Ward went back witli a following of 33, and Mr Massey with a similar following, they would bo unablo to get along unlegs the Independents did something. If Sir Joseph Ward reconstructed his Ministry with capable and gcod men, 1 then he (Dr. Thacker) would vote for him every time. In the event of <m unforeseen * stato of. affairs politically arising he would call his constituents together in tho largest theatre in the 1 city, and abide by the decision of the I majority as to ■what course he should pursue. The candidate answered a number of questions. Asked if he. was in favour of Government grants to Catholic schools, the candidate replied:—") would be favourable to giving.grants to denominational schools." The Questioner: Will you give a grant in aid of tho Catholic-schools? Tho Candidate: You, sir, are trying to s bully Dr. Thackor, and he will not bo bullied. If you want an answer to that question, you should go and ask your candidate, Mr Davoy, and he will give it ; A Voice:' Answer the 'question, Doctor; "Yes" or "No." You are hero before your judges. - ! The Candidate: You' are not my judges; the citizisns of Christcliurcli East are my judges. I have answeml that qiiestion co directly that the citizens have put mo at the top of tho poll. -; There -was some dissent, and voices called out, "Wobbly,-wobbly." Dr. Thacker was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, eevoral' dissenting. Throe cheers were given for tho candidate, but there was also somo tooting.