A PLEASING CONTRAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 14

A PLEASING CONTRAST.

LABOUR IN GOOD HUMOUR.

MR. WILSON AT EDEN TERRACE. BETTER HEARING ACCORDED. Labour supporters were present in strong numbers at the meeting held in the Bright Street Hail, Eden Terrace, last evening, by Mr. C. A. Wilson, the Government candidate for Auckland Central seat, and although interjections were frequent the tone throughout was pleasantly humourous and the candidate received a surprisingly good hearing. There was a very large attendance in the small hall, many people being compelled to stand. Dr. J. Hardie Neil presided. There were two persistent interjectors and questioners. One of them was the man who, on his own admission, was ejected from Mr. Oakley Browne's meeting on Wednesday evening, the other was a woman who was not satisfied until she was allowed to take her place upon the platform where she created considerable diversion.

The candidate gave an excellent address on the lines of his previous speeches. Discussing the difficulty of settling backblocks lands he said it was not so long since many of the settlers had only bush roads.

A Voice: There are still a few of them around Auckland.

Mr. Wilson : Yes, it is as well to have a few to show how good they are in comparison with the conditions of the past. (Applause and laughter). Some questions about the purchasing power of old age pensions bred others. For a time there was some noise from the back of the hall but the chairman's firmness and the candidate's ready replies restored order until the woman previously mentioned rose to ask about a miner in Hamilton, who, with 17 children to support, was out of work and compelled to seek charitable aid. The candidate expressed his opinion which was not regarded as sympathetic and there was more noise during which someone made a remark about being blown up on November

5. Mr. Wilson: Yes. but that will be too late, because the Government will blow jn on the fourth. (Applause). " Making Up to the Chairman."

This was followed by a reference to the care of the health of children and the Government's measures in the schools when the woman interjector was heard protesting that if the children had plenty of food and clothes they would not need to go to school for such treatment. The audience did not seem to wish to hear her so she insisted on mounting the platform. She was persuaded to take a seat alongside the chairman with whom she entered into an animated conversation. Presently a voice from the body of the hail announced: "She is making up to the chairman," Amid outbursts of laughter from members of the audience the woman came to the front of the platform and announcing that she was a grandmother, said, "I don't need to come here to make love to Dr. Hardie Neil." This evoked more shouts of laughter, which were even more unrestrained when the candidate, entering to the spirit of the incident, opened an umbrella and placed it on the table as a screen for the chairman and the woman, who had by this time returned to her seat beside mm. Toward the close of the meeting the candidate made the statement tha l. if elected they would find him capable of giving them good service. "You are in the position of being a multiple employer," he was saying, when a voice broke in, " You're sacked." After the laughter had subsided ths candidate concluded his address and was warmly applauded. Candidate an the B.M.A. Numerous questions were asked, some of them by the man who had been removed from a meeting on the previous evening. He had a strong voice with a slight huskiness, and when the chairman attempted to stem the torrent of his questions, a wag advised: "Cut his tonsils out, doctor." A question handed up in writing was read by the chairman with evident glee. It was: ''lf returned, will the candidate do his best to break up the combine of the British Medical Association?" Mr. Wilson said he had not had very much sickness in his 49 years, but if they tried to break up the 8.M.A., he did not think he would ever dare to be sick. Apropos of a question relating to the dental work among school pupils, the chairman said that he placed this work above any social work done in Auckland, adding that the medical profession was desperately anxious that the children should be taught to keep their mouths clean and thus aw id much of the disease now prevalent. The woman interjector then prepared to leave the stage and as she gathered up her belongings from the table she was advised by a friend at the back to "Watch that the chairman doesn't beat ygu for your gamp." This remark was typical of the demeanour of a large section of the audience, the rest giving the candidate very warm support. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him, and the meeting closed with cheers and counter cheers. 4 CANDIDATES' MEETINGS. PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY. Candidates will address meetings this evening as follow: — Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), open-air meeting, corner Pitt and Beresford Streets, 8 p.m. Mr. J. Stewart (Auckland East), Mrs. Lee Cowie's Hall, East Street, 8 p.m. Mr. Oakley Browne (Auckland East), Grafton Road Methodist Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. S. 'Oldfield (Auckland West), ladies' meeting, Leys 'lnstitute, 3 p.m.; open-air meeting, Three Lamps, 7.30 p.m. Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell), Presbyterian Hall, Gardner Road, Epsom, 8 p.m. Mr. R. F. Way (Parnell) and Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East), Newmarket Square, 7.30 p.m. Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskdll) Mission Hall, Kingston Avenue, 8 p.m. Mr. J. W. Yarnall (Roskill), open-air meeting, corner of Valley and Dominion Roads, 7.30 p.m. Mr. Hall Skelton (Roskill), Potter's Park, Dominion Road Terminus, 8 p.m. Miss Ellen Melville (Grey Lynn), Jubilee Hall, New North Road, Kingsland, 8 p.m. Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grev Lynn), openair meeting, corner View and Dominion Roads, 7.30 p.m. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), Anglican Church Hall, corner Marital Road, Milford, 8 p.m. Mr. T. Lamont (Waitemata), Public Hall, Birkdale, 8 p.m. Mr. A. G. Osborne (Waitemata), openair meeting, Devonport. 8 p.m. Mr. J. Massey (Manukau), Parish Hall, Mangere Bridge, 8 p.m. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau), Methodist Hall, Greenwood's Corner, Epsom, 8 p.m. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Eden), School, Te Atatu, 7 p.m.; Public Hall, Henderson, 8 p.m. Sir James Parr (Eden), Public Hall, Glen Eden, 7.45 p.m. Mr. D. McClymont (Franklin), Picture Theatre, Pukekohe, 8 p.m. Mr. E. D. McLennan (Franklin), Public Hall, Papatoetoe, 8 p.m. Hon. R. F. Bollard (Raglan), Glenmurray, 8 p.m. Mr. A. A. Ross (Thames), Ohinewai, 10 a.m.; Waiterirnu, 2 p.m.; To 8 p.m. Mr- T. W. Rhodes (Thames), Farmers' Union Store, Paparata Valley, 1.30 p.m.; Schoolhouse, Paparata, 8 p.m. Mr. W. Lee Martin (Hamilton), School, Puketaha, 8 p.m. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri), Mangawaru Bridge, noon; Hoe-O-Tainui, 2.30 p.m.; lahuna, 8 p.m. Mr W. .Jones (Marsden), Leigh, 2 p.m.; Pakiri, 8 p.m. Mr. A. S. Richards .(Marsden), Waipu, p p.m.