MR WREN REPLIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18265, 5 December 1922, Page 11

MR WREN REPLIES.

A LIVELY INTERCHANGE.

RELIGION AND PROHIBITION.

THREE-CORNERED DISCUSSION.

A veritable fusillade of questions was fired at Mr. S. M. Wren, Reform candidate for Parnell, at the conclusion of his meeting at St. George's Hall last evening. The meeting was most orderly, and although some of the questions seemed to show some little hostility to Mr. Wren's views, they were put with a courtesy quite refreshing in a political meeting.

A series of interchanges with a persistent elderly questioner in a front seat was greeted with unrestrained enjoyment by the audience, members occasionally taking a hand in the argument in a friendly and informal manner, making quite an interesting three-cornered discussion on some of the points raised. The elderly gentleman fired the first shot by inquiring, in polite but firm tones, what were the candidate's views with regard to prohibition. (Mingled cries of dissent and sounds of applause.) "My views, sir, so far as you are concerned, aro nil," was the candidate's prompt and equally firm rejoinder. "I utterly refuso to tell you how I am going to vote, and 1 do not expect- you to tell mo what you are going to do about it. You are provided with a separate p*Tl; it is unfortunate that it is taken on tho same day as the elections, but it is up to you then to vote one way or the other, and it will bo up to me, if elected your representative, to see that your will is carried out." (Applause.) Matter oi Principle. "I am sorry the candidate has not given a more definifo reply," commented the elderly gentleman, when the applause had died down. "I always believe, as a matter of principle in public life, in a man laying all his cards on the table." (Cries of dissent.) The chairman interposed. "Tho candidate's views on this question are quite private. I think the questioner should accept tho reply he has given." Tho candidate had tho final word. "The question is an entirely unfair one, and I refuse to answer it." (Prolonged applause) A few minutes later tho elderly gentleman returned to the charge, with his air of polite urbanity not a whit disturbed by the summary rejection of his previous query. His question this time concerned the cost of cultivating Taupo pumice land, and when the candidate admitted he was no farmer, informed the audience, "I know more about it than the candidate docs."

" Yes, I should hope you do; thank you very much," was tho agreeable reply. (Laughter, and a man's voice, ''That's right! You'll get his vote yet!) " Do you approve of a five-year Parliament?" was the next question. " That depends entirely on next Thursday's results," (Loud laughter.) Mr. Massey and Portfolios. " Do you consider Mr- Massey a capable Minister for Finance, and if so, why?" was a question which brought a renewal of merriment.

" Oh, I say, that is the kind of question they used to firo off at one in examinations," expostulated tire candidate. " I never did like them. Anyhow, I am not going to criticise Mr. Massey as Minister for finance. It woidd not be fitting." (Laughter and applause.) " Well, do you think any Minister ought to hold more than three portfolios?'

" I have not held one myself yet," was the modest reply, "so 1 don't know how I would get on with three, hut I really think one would be quite enough. It has proved more than enough for many Ministers!" Through the laughter and applause came yet another query: " Are you in favour of tho abolition of the Upper House?" " That is rather n largo question—" hesitated the candidate-

" Perhaps on that point you yourself would be a silent voter?" politely Fur;; gested a voice, the remark being prompted by pome very derisive views given by Mr. Wren a little earlier. " I think I would be in favour of abolition,' 1 decided the candidate, " for I have never seen much pood as a result of Upper House deliberations." The Questioner's Protest. After answering a few more questions Mr. Wren said that as n good many false rumours had been spread abroad, he wished it to be definitely known that he was a Protestant and a member of tho Church of England, and not a member of tho P.P.A. nor of any sectarian organisation whatsoever. Religion and prohibition should be kept entirely apart from politics. At this point the elderly questitioner rose to his feet once more amid laughter from all parts of the hall. " He's thought out another!'" came a cry. But he had thought out a protest instead. " As the candidate has baulked the question of prohibition he should not have told us his views on religion," he declared. " I do not know why he has thought it necessary—-I am a Mohammedan myself—(shouts of laughter), and I don't care what the candidate is, Mohammedan, or Catholic, or Protestant. Why won't, ho say straight-out whether he is in favour of prohibition or not, as he has thought it fit to tell us ho in a Protestant?"

" I was born a Protestant, but I had my choice about the liquor question." came the neat and telling retort, -which was greeted with laughter and applause from the whole audience.

" All 1 can say is Mr. Wren is quite sufficiently good at evasion to become, a member of tho Reform party," was the questioner's final thrust. A few more questions were answered by the candidate, who was accorded a vote of thanks an<3 confidence, carried with great enthusiasm. The proposer of a rather curious amendment, " A vote to Mr. Wren for his entertaining address, and of confidence in Mr. Dickson," met with no support whatever.

CLUTHA SEAT DOUBTFUL.

TWO MEMBERS STANDING.

PROSPECTS FAVOUR REFORM [by telegraph.—own <x>rh.espondk>;t.l

CinnSTCHUECH. Monday.

An ex-Otago resident who returned to Christchurcli at the week-end from the Southern provinces, states that a difficult result to forecast is that for the Clutha seat. Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Reform) lost solid support through the transference to the Mataura electorate of part of his old district, Tapanui and Kelso, where he was a school-teacher in his younger days. ■ The abolition of the Bruce electorate has also caused the absorption into Clutha of a strong anti-Reform centre in the mining district of Kaitangata. It is stated by prominent men in the electorate, however, that this hostility was directed more against Sir James Allen, the previous member, than against the Government. Mr. Malcolm may do better there than Sir James did.

Mr. J. Edi« (Opposition) defeated a strong man, Mr. J. Begg, at the byelection in 1920, caused by the retirement from Bruce of Sir James Allen. The votes between them were only ]24, and on paper it would apoear that Mr. Malcolm, i who polled 2257 votes in 1919, against 3456 polled by his opponents, was in Tor a defeat. However, on that occasion, his principal opponent stood practically as a Reformer, and he certainly took many votes from Mr. Malcolm. Moreover, Mr. Edie is a very indifferent platform man and, summing up, Mr. Malcolm should just about win.