“Uncle Scrim” Refused a Hearing

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1938, Page 9

“Uncle Scrim” Refused a Hearing

i [Special to “Northern Advocate.”] j ROTORUA. This Day. j Although there was no serious attempt to interrupt Mr A. F. Moncur, M.P., Labuor candidate for Rotorua, when he spoke for two hours at Tirau last night, outlining a list of Labour benefits, when Mr C. G. Scrimgeour, Controller of Commercial Broadcasting, was called upon to speak, a noisy demonstration occurred, and almost continuous interjections persisted. After 15 minutes’ effort to make himself heard, he was forced to resume I his seat. j When Mr Scrimgeour rose, he said I he was really not there to speak at I all. He was there as a visitor, j “We Wanted to See You.” A voice, amid cries of dissent: We are pleased you came. We wanted to see you. I Mr Scrimgeour repeated that he had i not visited Tirau as a speaker. He j said he had been unavoidably prevent- ! ed from attending a social function at Tirau earlier, and, as he was in the district, several of his friends had said i they would like him to go along to the hall. “When I came in and received such a warm welcome,” he continued, amid laughter, “I was reminded of an incident in our home, when our little girl, who had a dog—” - A voice: Bow avow!

Mr Scrimgeour: We will give him a job at the studio as a sound-effect man. Repeated attempts were made by Mr Scrimgeour to complete his description of the incident, but Avithout success, one interjector demanding to know “what it had to do with Mickey Savage.” Dog Tale Cut Short. When Mr Scrimgeour asked if the audience Avished him to finish' the story, a chorus of assent was broken by a cry of “No, let’s go home, boys.” This provoked a demand' for an ejectment, and a suggestion from the back of the hall that one member of the audience should be put, out the window. “Those who do not desire to listen to Mr Scrimgeour, please pass out no\A r ,” requested the chairman, Mr H. T. Brill. “There is no possibility of him speaking with this noise going on. It is only fair to give each speaker a hearing.” “Let me finish my story; I will take only a minute,” appealed Mr Scrimgeour. “I believe it would 'illustrate youf* feelings towards me.” Further Disturbances. As further disturbances continued, Mr Scrimgeour, who had previously accepted the situation quite cheerfully, added: “I think it is a pity that where there are perhaps one or two people who deliberately—l sometimes suspect paid—create a disturbance of this sort (cheers and boos). I think we will call it a day, and let it go at that.”

Mr Scrimgeour then resumed his seat.

The chairman said they must thank him for attending the meeting, and there was applause when the chairman asked for an expression of thanks.