P.M’s ROWDY MEETING

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31211, 8 November 1966, Page 1

P.M’s ROWDY MEETING

Hecklers Chant “Sieg Heil”

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 7.

Hecklers chanted “Sieg heil” in the Wellington Town Hall tonight as the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake)—with loudspeaker volume turned well up—told an audience of 1200 that New Zealand had honoured its S.E.A.T.O. commitments in South Vietnam.

Heckling, booing and interjections, dogged Mr Holyoake during his 70minute address. Four uniformed police stood directly behind a group of about 20 interjectors at the back of the hall.

Police moved towards the chanting group and the meeting's chairman, a former Minister of Finance, Mr J. T. Watts, told the hecklers: “If this noise is allowed to continue. I shall have to ask the police to put you out.”

“It is not fair play for Mr Holyoake and it is not fair play for everybody else. I ask you to stop for the last time,” said Mr Watts. Resuming his address, Mr Holyoake referred to the Labour Party’s “change of policy” on Vietnam and said: “Everything the Labour Party and the ‘Vietniks’ are doing and saying is bringing worry to our allies and giving comfort to the Communists in North and South Vietnam. “They are bringing comfort to the Communists all over the world. . . ’.* Interjectors: Smear, smear, smear. Mr Holyoake: It is rather hard work jusit fighting against sheer noise—but I welcome it because the more the people of New Zealand listen to you types, the more support we get. “Committed To Welsh” Hecklers again chanted “Sieg, heil,” when Mr Holyoake said Labour was “committed to welsh" on its treaty obligations to Vietnam and was “committed to desert its allies.”

Interjections began almost as soon as Mr Holyoake be-

gan outlining the National Party’s election policy. “What about the future?” called an interjector as he spoke of Labour’s 1958 Budget and referred to National’s tax reductions. Mr Holyoake: That’s what you have got to worry about —and that’s why you will vote National. During & reference to New Zealand's increased meat exports, another interjector called: “How much do you get for the two-legged meat you export to Vietnam?”

The Prime Minister did not answer.

Radio Policy

After retailing increases In production figures for agricultural products, Mr Holyoake was asked by a middleaged man in the front row: “You haven't got any policy yet. Where’s your policy?” Mr Holyoake: I hjpe somebody will have a policy statement to hand to this gentleman. It was published, you know.

Another interjector shouted: "What about pirate radios? Your policy is that if you cant beat them—arrest them."