POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1938, Page 2

POLITICAL

MR LEE’S PREDICTION. (Per Press Association—Copyright). AUCKLAND, September 19. Opening his election campaign in Grey Lynn to-night, Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, addressed a large audience. It was estimated at eight hundred, but the ball was crowded to the doors. There were people sitting on the front of the platform. Many, other people waited outside, und. l they heard the address through a Iqud speaker, system. • ,Lee,\yqs.given an enthusiastic reception, the meeting concluding with three cheers, after, a vote of confidence in Mr Lee had been passed,, and the audience had pledged itself to endeavour to secure his return at the forthcoming election. There were only two i literjeetors, but they were persistent. Early interruptions came from a man near the front of the hall, who challenged the speaker’s claims in respect of the Labour Government’s treatment of disabled returned soldiers. After an exchange of words with Mr Lee, however, the interjector subsided.

Later an argument developed between the interjector ■ and another man, and a series of remarks culminated in a shuffle. An elderly man, who was taking no part, was struck on the liose with a walking stick. Weeding profusely lie was assisted to the ante-room, while the interjector then left the hall, at the request of Mr Lee. The police had been sumbut tin; two officers who entered the hall merely conducted the man outside, and took no other action.

The second interjector made his presence felt later in the meeting. He drew from Mr Lee spirited references to those people who “sniped from the dark, and . were afraid to come inside and show themselves.” Mr Lee reviewed the work of the Labour Government. He expressed his confidence that, not only would he be victorious in the election, but that Labour would achieve a sweeping victory. • ‘‘There was no doubt, lie said, about the housing shortage, and for every cue who got a house, there were 99 deserving ones who did not. He continued that the Government was, however, going on and on with housing until the needs of the people were met.

Mr Lee said that it wa£ not claimed that Labour had completed its task, but lie felt that the Party was entitled to a further term in office to have the opportunity of doing all that it had set- out to accomplish.