Mr Holyoake’s Meeting Has Lively Opening

Press, Volume C, Issue 29535, 9 June 1961, Page 12

Mr Holyoake’s Meeting Has Lively Opening

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had a few minutes of heckling in the Rangiora Town Hall last evening when he sipoke in the Hurunui byelection campaign. Two young men, apparently Social Credit supporters and certainly opponents of the International Monetary Fund, sitting in the gallery caused a brief disturbance. "Three cheers for the Wall Street stooge,” one man shouted as soon as Mr Holyoake was invited to speak. “Are you for usury—money lending interest rates?!’ he shouted shortly after. “If you are you are anti-Chrsitian,” his companion added. Mr Holyoake advised them that in the meantime he had the floor and would run the meeting his way. They had the answer of paying £lO deposit, paying for advertisements. hiring a hall and then

talking to the two persons who would probably listen to them. When the Prime Minister referred to the Social Credit League, more interjections came from the gallery. A police constable and then an inspector approached the men and after an argument there could be heard: “Shut up,” “Don’t tell me to shut up.” The two men then walked out and one appeared downstairs, hurried down the hall to just below the stage and told reporters: “I want you to report that we were thrown out for heckling, which is a British democratic right.” “What’s wrong now?’’ Mr Holyoake wanted to know. “It’s all right. They have got the ‘Black Maria’,” a man shouted. But no police action was taken, for the young men returned to their galleryseats within five minutes and sat quietly throughout the rest of the meeting, except when Mr Holyoake asked them a question. Did they agree with importing more motor-cars? he asked. “I have been threatened by the police that I will be thrown out if I say any thing,” the main interjector said. He had his chance at ques tion time, when Mr Holyoake said to a question: "Yes. I believe in money lending and interest.” “Don't talk childish rubbish,” said the Prime Minister when the young man said he objected to the World Bank putting conditions on New Zealand. “It has no power to levy con ditions on any borrower,” Mr Holyoake said. “Are you confident you can pay the money back?” Mr Holyoake was asked. “Yes.” he replied. “Now I’ll ask you a question: Have you stopped beat- . ing your wife?” Mr Holyoake said. “A trick question,” a 1 woman said. "Yes, just like the ones j I’ve had,” the Prime Minister replied.