MR. BRANDON AT MASONIC HALL

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 3

MR. BRANDON AT MASONIC HALL

About 200 persons attended Mr. Brandon's meeting at the Masonic Hall, Boul-cott-street, last evening. Mr. E. F. Hadfield, who occupied the chair, referred to the fact that Mr. Brandon was opposed by the newspapers, and an incursion into the electorate was now about to be made by two members of the Government. He maintained that Mr. Brandon's supporters were loyal members of the Reform Party—more loyal than Mr. Massey's recent action had been. He then alluded to fche controversy that had arisen with respect to the selection of a candidate for Wellington North. Even if Mr Holland' were elected, he said, the parties in the House would b« 73 toi 7. Yet it was said' that the supporters, of ' Mr. Brandon were splitting the national vote and upsetting the British Empire. (Laughter.) Mr. Brandon said he came before the electors in the hope of persuading them to cast on one side the attempt to introduce into New Zealand politics the American machine known as the political machine—the machine by which a leader known as the "boss/* supported by his henchmen, took complete charge, and, if he and his party happened to be in the majority in the Legislature, took complete charge of the Legislature. Why should not every individual exercise his intelligence and take his proper part in the government of the country? Those electors of Wellington North who were present at a very small meeting did not concur in the dictates which it was suggested they were to adhere to. That meeting was held with locked doors. He did not proposo to disclose what took place. The chairman had been pleased to give an account of something that took place at another meeting, but ho had not given an account of all that took place; and on that point he (Mr. Brandon) wished to clear up one statement —out of severai which had been mn.de against himself. He would repeat what he had said to the electors —namely, he asked them to exercise their intelligence. He did not thrust himself upon them; but ho had been chosen by a . very influential number of men living among them, and he left it to the electors to judge which kind of candidate would represent them most faithfully. It had been stated in print that he was asked, prior to the league's deputation, to stand as a candidate, and that he declined. That statement was contrary to fact. A modified statement was made, namely, that his name was suggested as a possible candidate at that meeting. That statement was contrary to fact. He wanted the electors to be affected more by his principles than by the underhand '■•aek-biting which was going on. Mr. Braudon then referred to an advertisement in which he was asked why he did not answer the question whether he was in favovir of the continuance of six o'clock closing. He had never been asked that question. He had already said that his policy was to leave existing legislation as it now stood. They did not want the community rent in twain by questions of prohibition or freetrade. He' was also asked why he did not give a. straight-out answer on other matters affecting the liquor trade. He said they had been trying these experiments ill America and in Canada, and during the war they had succeeded in establishing one of the most serious positions that it was possible to create in a civilised community. "After the war," remarked Mr. Brandon, "it will be time enough to consider whether we will turn the liquor out of licensed houses and put it into fly grog shops; or what not." He denied that he was a nominee of the liquor trade. The candidate then "briefly dealt with some of the published planks of his platform on the lines taken by him at previous meetings.