MR. FREEMAN AT LINWOOD

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20956, 9 September 1933, Page 14

MR. FREEMAN AT LINWOOD

INTERRUPTORS AT MEETINGS CANDIDATE'S DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT Almost continual interjection was the feature of the meeting of Mr F. W. Freeman, Coalition candidate for Lyttelton, when he addressed an audience of 80 persons at the Linwood Avenue School last night. Most of the interjection came from one particular section of the audience, and one man in particular, who admitted that he was not a voter. Two appeals from the chairman for a fair hearing were ignored, and although part of the heckling to which Mr Freeman was subjected was ill-mannered, and. according to Mr Freeman, was made by persons who had attended many of his meetings in various parts of the electorate, the candidate contrived to make his address, and to maintain his good humour. At the close of the meeting a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Freeman, and also to Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P. for Central Otago, who gave an address as a preliminary to that of the candidate. Mr T. Nuttall, chairman of the Linwood Avenue School committee, presided. In introducing the speakers he reminded the audience that the election was for the Lyttelton electorate, and although he knew that there were persons present from the Avon electorate, which bordered on it in the Linwod avenue area, he hoped the speakers would be given a fair hearing. Mr Freeman welcomed those in the audience who had seen fit to listen to him at many meetings. He pointed out one man who he said had been at a previous meeting six or seven miles from Linwood avenue. Mr Freeman brought evidence of former economic depressions, and said that as in the recoveries after them, so now would the wheels of industry be set moving again to herald the dawn of a new era of prosperity. Prices for primary produce, he added, clearly indicated that further general improvement in world conditions was to be expetccd, and that the crisis had P interjection was almost continuous, but Mr Freeman took it. in good part and did not allow it to prevent him from making his points. He outlined the method of reconstruction being used by the Coalition, which he considered meant the saving of the Dominion from ruin. He was proud to belong to the Coalition, and added that if he was elected he would do everything in his power to serve the whole of the Lyttelton electorate. (Applause.') Mr Bodkin made a spirited defence of the Government's policy during the last two vears. and during his speech he was subjected to consistent interjection. Mr Bodkin rebuked those who heckled him and said that he recognised that the subjects were contentious, but he did not mind interjection if the audience would also listen to a sneaker with the sincerity that he was giving the matters in his address. , , In the present camoaign he accused the Labour party of capitalising the unemployment among women to secure a party advantage. CORRECTION MADE MINISTER'S TELEGRAM A telegram has been received by Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., from the Minister for Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) correcting any wrong impression he might have given to the effect that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, was in favour of war prosperity. The telegram reads as follows: "In reading reports of your election speeches have noted your references to impression apparently given by me that Mr H. E. Holland was in favour of war prosperity. If I conveyed such an impression it was entirely unintentional. The point I endeavoured to make was that Mr Holland appeared to be in favour of creating a fictitious prosperity such as was created as a result of the war, and that such a fictitious prosperity could -only be followed by its logical aftermath. I should be glad jf you would make this explanation at your meetings." "Of course no other impression could be given by what Mr Ransom did say," said Mr Armstrong, "but if he intended to say something different, I have no objection to his telegram being published."