POLITICAL GOSSIP

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10141, 29 October 1925, Page 6

POLITICAL GOSSIP

LABOR.ITE3 SLANDERED. (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 27. Mr Eartram, a candidate for Grey Lynn, stated at a meeting .ast night tliat a lady canvasser who said she was working for his opponent, Miss Melville, called on his daughter and repeated air untrue story that he had been intoxicated on several occasions. A similar report had been made in the electorate. It was alleged he had been seen drunk while at Parlianient; also on one occasion at Point Chevalier. He strongly condemned such tactics. Mr J. A. Lee, candidate for Auckland East, speaking at the same meeting said a similar untrue, statement had been circulated about himself. He asked anyone who heard s anders of tips k.nd to forward the names of persons uttering them. The Labor party would see that such persons were given an opportunity of repenting them before a magistrate.

WARD HITS OUT. “LYING, MALICIOUS RUMORS.” Addressing a crowded in South I nvei cargilSir Josepli A\ ard delivered a great fighting speech. He dealt with “lying and malicious rumours” which he said had been c rculated. The latest and about the eighth one wrs told to a supporter of his of high standing, who had been asked to take part- in a meet rrg of Colonel Hargest (Reform candidate for Invercargill). His (Sir Joseph s) suporter was told that even now there was a probability that Ward would not go to tho poll, that Ward would pull out because Coates had been approached to offer Ward a seat in the Upper House. He gave the statement a straight denia . Ten thousand Coates would not send h'.m there. .It was well known that he could have gone there s x months after his retirement, and no friend would make such a statement. Ho did not object to criticism, but detested untrue rumours.

AIR. BARTRAAI’S JOCULAR VEIN Air F. N. Bartrain, at li's meeting indulged his love of 'the lighter vein when making reference to the rowdy reception accorded Aliss Melville by Labour enthusiasts. “I want to appeal to mv Labour fr ends not to heckle her;” he said. “Give her a good show', hear all she has to say, judge her polcy, and then vote accordingly. - 1 have to thank Grev Lvr.n 'audiences, both friends and foes, for the exceedingly courteous treatment they have always recorded mo and 1 want them to extend tliat treatment to the plucky little lady who opposes me.” Of course, th s brought down the house. It will rank as one of the best jokes of the campaign. “Little lady” _w*as good, superlatively good, espscally from him, and the audience rocked av th deVght. His apparent seriousness made the joke all the mere palatable. Aliss Alelville will no doubt appreciate it even more than its maker.

A JOB FOR NEBUCHADNEZZAR. “We read in the Bible, thrt Nebuchadnezzar called on Daniel not ineic]y to interpret his dream, ’’but first of all to tell him what his dream was, which was about <s hard a- task as could well he g.ven to any man. But the candidate who. has to interpret the Labour land policy has an equal y d fficult. task. He has to reconcile irreconcilable provisions ami contra d’etory policies.” The Hon. Downie Stewart.

NOTES AND NEWS. Answering an interjector at -Point Chevalier, Sir James "Parr- caused much laughter by saying, ‘I ni a sport, and if my friend Mr Mason gets in. I’ll he sport enough not to lodge a petition against strawberries and cream.” . , . “Is there anything you want hi Roskill that L have not got for you, Mr V. H. Potter (Reform) asked his audience' at Epsom. “Yes,” saw, an elector. “What?” asked Mr Porter. “Pubs,” replied the. elector, amid a roar of laughter. “I have been thirtyone years a resident of Roskill, ■.said Air .Potter, sternly virtuous, and you w ill never, got a pub there wirt. inv sanction.” , '.’. . The Nationalises are the Liberals, the same old Wil lie Lincoln going as All Smoke. Every vole for the Nationalist candidate will be a direct vote agninsfc tho Government. —Mr Kvlo at Riccarton. . In some directions everybody would condemn the Russian Revolution, but iii some respects it was a good thing for tho people.—Air. IT. E. Combs (Labor), Wellington North. Tho Maori elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3, the day before the General Election. Tt may not he generally known that there is a section in the Legislature Act which provides that: “It shall not ho lawful to sell or supply to any Maori anv intoxicating linuor on the dav on which any election is held for a Maori electoral district, and every person who commits a breach of this provision, shall be liable Io a fine nort exceeding £o.