ADDRESS BY DR. THACKER, M.P.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 42, 18 February 1918, Page 8

ADDRESS BY DR. THACKER, M.P.

The Crown Theatre was filled to overflowing last night, when Dr. Thacker, M.P. for Christehurch East, gave an address in the interests of Mr. A. N. Polson's candidature for Wellington North. A considerable number of those present were women. . .' '

Mr. Poison presided, and in introducing Dr. Thacker said he was the champion of the soldiers, and the first man to realise that Sir James Allen and his inefficient staff were not giving, our brave soldier boys a square deal. (Applause.) Sir James Allen and his Department were ready enough to send our boys to fight on the blood-red fields of Flanders and other theatres of war, but were hot so ready to look after them and their dependents when they returned. Dr. Thacker ; who was received with loud applause, delivered a lengthy and characteristic addreGs, dealing mainly with the treatment of our soldiers. He urged that the Prime Minister should join with the Prime Ministers of other Dominions, and declared that we would not give up the Pacific Islands at any cost. Not only that, but they must segregate every Hun v ho was in New Zealand—every man who was a German. (Applause, and a voice: "And the profiteer.") They were amongst us/still. He severely criticised the action of the Railway Department in utilising trucks for the carnage of troops, when there were hundreds of carriages lying idle, and also : condemned tho action .of the authorities recently in packing eight hundred soldiers on the Te Ana'u, when the Monowai could easily have been made available. He was proud, he said, of what he had done in exposing the state of Trentham Camp, and of the hospital ship arrangements, and urged that soldier consumptives and "shellshock soldiers" should be treated in establishments specially provided for them, and not in the ordinary institutions. Regarding the Wellington North seat, he said: "Mr. Poison is single, 29, and unattached._ (Laughter.) He is an honourable, bright mam He has been secretary to several Ministers, and he helped me over the last medical military enquiry, of which they are afraid to publish the report. So. I said to him : 'You have been servant and slave. You can become master. Stand for Wellington North.' (Laughter.) I hope you are going to appreciate him at the value I put upon him. If he goes into Parliament .1 will invite him to sit on my bench with me, and we will be the two fiercest and keenest critics." (Laughter and applause). Dr. Thacker was accorded a vote of thanks, and the meeting closed with the singing of "God Save the King," and cheers for Mr. Poison.