AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 8

AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT

An unusual incident (we are informed} occurred at ' Mr.' H. Oakley Browne's open-air meeting at Quintan's Corner yesterday, afternoon, when Mr. IV Eraser, Labour' candidate for Wellington Central, by his interruptions and interjections, called forth a sharp rebuke from Mr. Browne, who said : "You are unsportsmanlike, and not playing the game. I have never been into your electorate and interrupted your, meetings,'.' This, statement evoked loud cheers from the crowd.- "It is all the worse-for you," continued the candidate, "as you are standing for a party that advocates freedom of speech, and w rhich; recently made an official statement .that interruptions at meetings, don't , come from the Labour movement." The Hon. It. M'Kenzie, in moving a vote of thanks to the candidate, said he had been electioneering for more than thirty years, and it was the first time he had known a candidate come to another candidate's meeting, and endeavour to interrupt the proceedings.. Mr. Browne drove off amidst a volley of hearty cheers from, the assembled crowd, which had grown to very large proportions.

A different version of this incident is given by. Mr. A. Parlane, secretary of the Wellington. North-branch of the Labour Party. He states that Mr. Browne had bitterly attacked the Labour Party, specifically, mentioning Mr. Fraser personally. Mr. Parlane produced a pound note, and said he would donate it to charity" if Mr. Browne could prove what he had said. Mr. Fraser, who was standing beside him, and who up till then had not spoken, said, "I will make it twenty." Mr. Browne, finding himself, as Mr. Parlane says, in a tight corner^ had to get out of it somehow, and did so" %y a ' direct attack upon' Mr. Fraser. When the address was ended, Mr. Browne was invited to stay while Mr. Fraser replied, but did not do so, and drove off.' Mr. Parlane states that Mr. Fraser's offer of twenty pounds is still open, provided that Mr.' Browne can substantiate the "charges which he made at the-meeting, and which led to the challenge. *