A NOISY MEETING

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 5

A NOISY MEETING

MR. MASSEY AT NGARUAWAHIA

THE PREMIER AND THE LABOUR

PARTY.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

HAMILTON, This Day. Tho Hon. W. F. Massey spoke at Ngaruawahia last night. The hall was densely packed, and hundreds could not get in. Trouble^ was scented from the beginning. A special train-load of miners from^Glenmassey occupied the whole rear part of the hall.

The Premier was received with loud applause, hissing, and hooting. There was a tremendous hubbub for a time, and cheers were called for Mr. Jordan, the Labour candidate. When allowed to proceed, Mr. Massey bowed ackno\vledgments, and said: "Thank you." This was the signal for a further outburst, but the Premier only smiled.

A voice: "Keep smiling, Bill!"

Mr. Massey: " Yes; I'll smile and continue to smile when some of those who lire boohing will be weeping. That will be the night of tho election." Mr. Mas-' sey said it was the first time he had spoken at Ngaruawahia. A voice: "But it will be the last."

The Premier commenced to refer to the war, when a voice interrupted: "Give us politics; not that stuff." Interjections continued, and Mr. Massey said: "I am not going to stand this sort of thing. There are certain ways of stopping it. I have never resorted to such ways yet, but I will not hesitate to do so to-night."

Mr. Massey endeavoured to proceed, but further interruption caused him to instruct a constable to . take names. "Simply take names; that's all I want you to do. I will do the rest, for at present I am head of the police." (Laughter and prolonged hooting.) Mr. Massey: "I think the tactics of interruptionists in this campaign have been the most cowardly and contemptible it is possible to imagine. Do they think there is anything manly in interrupting a meeting" Later,Mr. Massey said: "I am going to do something to improve the road from Tuakau."

A voice: "Put the Labour Party on it." ■ ' ' ■ Mr. Massey: "The Labour Party I Hum! They go slow. I can just imagine what a lot of road-making the Labour Party would do." (Laughter and groans.) The Premier went on to speak of finance, but his remarks were scarcely audible. The interruptions continued for some time, and a miner finally rose at the hack of the hall and began to address the Premier excitedly, and threatened to fight those laughing at him. A great hubbub ensued. Mr. Massey spoke about shipping, and said the time had come when the Government would have to own ships, but it would be utter folly to purchase ships now. There were more interjections, and a voice called, "When are you going to be a baron, Bill?"

Mr. Massey: "That is not a thing I take pleasure in; for I have been offered high honours. My pleasure is in doing what I can for the people." Questions poured in, and there were many interruptions. Mr. Massey read a telegram he had received, quoting a speech by Mr. Holland, ill which he said that he was going to assist Ward to oust Massey, and then dictate terms to -Ward. "Let me. say this," said Mr. Massey. "They are not going to get me. I would sooner leave the Treasury benches and Parliament altogether and go back to the plough than be kept in power by these democrats."

A vote of thanks was carried amid applause. The' Premier thanked the audience for. the enjoyable evening they had given him, and the meeting broke up with hisses, hoots, and applause, and cheers for Mr. Jordan, the Labour candidate.