LIVELY UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18341, 6 March 1923, Page 7

LIVELY UNEMPLOYED.

SIR J. COOK heckled; ENGLAND AND ■ AUSTRALIA. ; ; LONDON. Feb. 26. : Rowdy unemployed at a public meeting io consider unemployment compelled the abandonment of a set speech by Sir Joseph Cook, Australian High Commissioner, who entered merrily into the rough and tumble of the heckling. .'*•£" 41 ' Interjectors asked : "Why did yon come to England if Australia is such a good country?" Sir Joseph replied: Because I had a good job offered me ; but I've been unemployed, too.'.' Voices: " You send men- to Australia to blackleg " Sir Joseph retorted : " If I thought you were going to blackleg I'd heave something at you. Tnere is no blackleggl'ng about this! That is one of the gags you ate ?irculuting throughout the country, but, it is a lie. No man goes to Australia unless---" , Voices: " Unless he's mad ! . Sir Joseph. " It's useless whining like—" A Voice : " You wouldn't talk like .that ; if you had been in the trenches in . 1914." , ■; Sir Joseph : " When the Hinder.brurg ; lino was smashed ..I was there at the smashing." . Voices": "We want a fair deal in our J own country." . 's» V May I remind , you," replied Sir Joseph, 11 that Australia is your own country. May I remind you that " this country is.as much ours as yours. He ; declared in conclusion that ' he was ..not {.ending men to Any city in Australia. |tf§ In the uproar a digger cn:tl»"baJoonyi" s stood up .and- yelled : "We do '• nol want > this crowd -in Australia. Wejjj wouldn't i own them." : . ISir Joseph s lively handling of his aiv >■:: i tagomst* was • loudly applauded 1) th ■ . . ' - ; ' ;