The Test in Hauraki

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 May 1931, Page 3

The Test in Hauraki

VIEW OF GOVERNMENT. AUCKLAND, May 26. The United candidate for the Hauraki seat, Mr. E. Allan, and the Minister -of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith, who spoke in support, received an adverse vote at a meeting they addressed at Otahuhu last evening. The great majority of the 250 electors present were Labour supporters and demonstrated loudly in favour of the Labour party at the close of the addresses. Mr. Smith’s speech was seized upon by mterjeetors at the outset ,and one man who persisted volubly with questions and ironic comment was threatened by the Minister with removal from the hall. The meeting became quieter from that point onward, and the Minister was allowed to complete his speech. Tlie Government, Mr. Smith said, placed great importance on the outcome of the by-election. The great need of the time was a strong stable Government which Mr. Coates, by refusing the Prime Minister’s offer of fusion, had declined to sponsor. The test in Hauraki, therefore, was whether the people wanted a powerful national Government representative of all sections of the community. Voices: “No, we don’t. Why is the Government so weak that it wants fusion? ’ ’ Mr. Smith: “It is not right that the Government in power should be at the whim of one party or the other.”