CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17631, 7 December 1922, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.

MR ISITT'S FINAL MEETING. Mr L. M. Isitt the Liberal candidate for Christchurch North, held his final meeting in the eastern portion of St. Albans Park last night, speaking from » motor lorry which was illuminated by mean 3of electric light. Mr J. W. Beanland presided over a large gathering, which included a fairly strong sprinkling of the supporters of the extreme Labour Party. Mr Isitt was in excellent form, despite the strenuous campaign that he has conducted, and though he was subjected to an almost continuous stream of interjections—a great number of them of a fatuous description—and though two or three attempts were made to count him out. his £ood humour never deserted him and before the meeting was over the most of his opponents had been effectively silenced. "1 see that Mr Andrews has done another weep," Mr Isitt said in his opening remarks. "He is the most lachrymose gentleman I have ever had to do with. Ho is a brother Prohibitionist and yet he is great on ths "w (h) ines." (Laughter.) You know he has summoned me and having done so I would have thought it would have been a breach of etiquette on his part to make a speech on a matter that is sub judice. He is not going to get me to do that."

Continuing, Mr Isitt" referred to Mr Andrews's comment on his (Mr Isitt's) statement at his opening meeting, that he intended to make it a bitter fight. But in saying that he had meant that ho was going to make it a bitter fight against principles that he believed were subversive of good goernment. "Why," ne added, "you migiit as well talk about fighting against a sponge as fighting Mr Andrews—l don't load my gun to the muzzle to fight a mosquito I" In face oi the big'body of labourites present Mr Isitt delivered a slashing attack on the principles and objective ot the extreme Labour Party, and effectively silenced an interrupter, who asserted that when Mr Isitt first entered politics he was glad of the support of the Labour Party. . Mr Isitt quoted a letter which appeared in a local paper! winch stated that, as Mr Isitt had de-1 i 1 j to Blgn the Party's pledge, Labour would not vote for him . He was equally successful with an interrupter who challenged, his statement that the "Maonland Worker" is the official organ of tho extreme Labour Party, by quoting the published stateSLr a ST*?, of **• National Executive <rf the Labour Party in support of his contention. "I am going to do my best for you men who haven't a word bad enough for me," Mr Isitt said, in reply to a questioner. "I am going to fight for 1 a.living wage, for the righting of every ocononuo injustice, and for the uplift I of the^ mass of the people; but JT am ! going to do it along constitutional and democratic lines, and I am going to Sght against the extreme Labour Party I and againat the substitution of 80l- ' snevik rule for constitutional rule." j Someone interjected a. remark about, the late Mr Seddon. "I wish we had' Richard John Seddon here for a quart 6l " an h(mr >" rejoined Mr Isitt; "if he didn't jump with his hob-nailod boots'on your extreme labourites it 1 would bo astonishing. Seddon would nave hit your miserable 'go-slow' and direct fiction with « sloctee-hsTnmer." .Dealing with the Labour Party's proposal for the abolition of inheritance of,accumulated wealth, Mr Isitt said;— . "Some of you chaps have been thrifty, and have jrot your house and quarteracre section. The policy of these men is that when yeu die the State should collar all your property and hand it over to the fellows who have spent their money in booze and two-up! My platform is to remedy economic injustices by, constitutional methods and reasonable legislation, and to increase the t happiness of the largest number on I - constitutional and democratic lines." | (Apnlause.) i "When" you stand by the ballot box | to-morrow, Mr Isitt began— . "Remember Archer," shouted someone in the crowd. * ' '/' And beware of him," finished Mr Isitt. "He is not a Bafe marksman: He shoots his arrow into the air, They fall to earth, heaven knows where. But if you vote for Isitt you will vote for a rattling good man." (Applause.) Someone in,the crowd threw a missile of some description. "Now that wild blackguard," said Mr Isitt, ''has hit that young lady with a rotten egg or whatever it was. You .ought to hand him over to the police. You're a most rotten lot of cock-shies, you have never succeeded in hitting me. ' I feel like coming down and asking you to come up here so that I could have ■ & shy at you." (Laughter.) Question time brought a plentiful crop, of queries. Most of them were concerned about Mr Isitt's attitude on the' Civil Servants' "cut." The candidate very clearly stated his position. To a .questioner who asked regarding \ his political beliefs, Mr Isitt replied: "I stand as an enthusiastic Liberal. I-will live and die in the Liberal flock but il, will „ never consent to lift my party into power to.be at the mercy of the Red Feds." (Applause.) v < At the conclusion of the meeting Mr ' '. Isitt, was accorded, by acclamation, a Tote.of thanks and confidence. LIBERAL PARTY. ME WILFOED'S APPEAL TO ELEOTOES. (PBKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) . WELLINGTON, December 6. Mr Wilforct has issued the following message to the electors: — To-morrow is the day on which it will be proved that Liberalism is still strong, 1 and a force to be reckoned with. Tomorrow is the day on which it will be shown .that reaction in the guise of ■ Reform has been found out, and found - wanting. - It is .realised to-day that Reform will 'never,,find the way by which the enmities and discords which now divide men ; may'find reconciliation. Since last elections the minds of Liberals have turned back to the days when so-called Reform was in the Opposition, when prosperity reigned, when extreme Labour was little heard of, and waa an expression and not a definition of bitterness and discord, as at,present. .Everywhere throughout New Zealand -, a wave of Liberalism has risen in a remarkable manner in the last few weeks. Communications from every part of the country, predicting increased support of our party, are arriving hourly, and indications definitely show me that the Labour Party, led by Mr Holland, has no possible chance of increasing materially its numerical strength, which now numbers nine out of a House of eighty, while I have convincing evidence that our party will come back to Parliament , "much stronger than it is at present, with tbe .addition to its ranks of men of experience, judgment and wide know- - ledge. I ask all Liberals and those workers who approve of our policy to stand firmly, together and help the , "party to defeat the present Adminißtra- ;• "twn'known as the Reform Government