BYE-ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1935, Page 6

BYE-ELECTION

candidate heckled A LIVELY MELTING CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. When Mr E- L. Hills, Independent Labour candidate for the Lyttelton seat, opened bis campaign for the byeeiectiou at Opawa last evening lie met with a very mixed reception. Trouble was early in coming and was precipitated when the chairman began a long explanation of the policy of the party. This was more than the hostile element, which included a. number of women, could stand. Persistent stamping of feet and yells for the candidate interrupted the chairman’s discourse, but he stood his ground firmly and eventually won the argument, although by the time he had finished the audience was worked up to an excited pitch Signs of uneasiness on the part of Mr Hills were apparent as the uproar increased m volume, and eventually he intervened and appealed to the audience to let the chairman state the policy of the party, as Mr Savage had been allowed to state the policy of the Labour Party. “Leave the Labour Party alone,” cried indignant voices, as Mr Cole attempted to resume his speech. Mr Hills opened his speech by expressing regret that there had been such an unfriendly attitude displayed towards the chairrAan. 1 : i “Possibly,” he added, amidst ironical laughter, “it is' accounted for by the fact ’ that you wanted to heWr h ?• “1 will not sacrifice my political principles for purpscs of gain,” declared Mr Hills, after "launching a hitter denunciation of the Labour Party, and he was promptly told that lie “hadn’t got any to sacrifice.” “If you give me credit for sincerity of purpose,” Mr Hills continued. “I will be satisfied.”

“Can’t even give you that,” the same voice told him. A promise' that he would give one of the interjectors an opportunity of debating with! him the subject of whether he was “a political acrobat,’ was made by the candidate a little later when feeling was again running high,.

Criticism of the selection hy the Labour Party of Mr T. H. McCombs as its candidate was not well received hy the hostile section and Mr Hills was told not to be abusive when he declared that the Labour Party wanted a man who could retain the sentimental “slush”, in the electorate.” .•

“On polling day, at least,” said Mr Hills, “it will be found < that my vote has considerably increased since the last bye-election.”

‘Have you had your .cup quired- a shrill .feminine voice,- which was provocative of hearty laughter.' “You want to be a dictator,’ the candidate was told when he was explaining some of his. policy of Socialism-

Mr .Hills rejoined that he was opposed to any form of dictatorship ex-> eepting that of the working class, and was, informed by the ihterjector that he would look good with a whip. “That’s right, pull the Labour Party to pieces'-all night,” complained one of the hecklers, after more criticism of the Labour Party. Uproarious laughter followed a remark by the candidate beginning: “If I’m successful in this campaign. “You laughed too soon,” he told the audience. “I was going to say: If I’m successful during this campaign in making a few hundred electors ponder deeply over the problems which concern them I shall have achieved something.” A voice.; ’ The bookies are laying you 400 to 1. (Renewed laughter). “What can one do collectively ?” the candidate asked. “Go fishing,” a voice told him to the accompaniment of a fresh burst of merriment. The candidate (addressing a particular member of the audience): I thought you were more intelligent than that. The man addressed : It wasn’t me, Mr Hills; I’ve been having a sleep. The candidate: Well, you must have been talking in your sleep. “Now let’s speak in a more serious vein about the mental revolution that is taking place.” “The revolution in the depot, ’ u voice suggested, helpfully, to the. accomnnniment of more uproarious laughter. ‘And didn’t' they hang out the dirty linen, too,” someone else reminded the eondidate. Mr Hills said he would he on the platform in Woolstori on Wednesday night and he would be prepared for all the trouble the Labour Party expected to give him. Questions, ludicrous and serious, were showered upon the candidate, and aftei the meeting had been in progress foi two hours and a half it was hi oug it to a close with a vote of thanks.