"MOB RULE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20081, 19 October 1928, Page 15

"MOB RULE."

INTERRUPTERS CONDEMNED. MR. ADEANE AT PONSONBY. ENERGETIC COUNTER-ATTACK. Hecklers were I>nsy and embarrassingly voluble wlieu Mr. Frank Adeane, Reform candidate for Auckland West, opened liis campaign at the Leys Institute last evening. At times tho babel became so pronounced that an impassioned appeal for a fair hearing was made by the candidate. Mr. Acleane was suffering from v a severe attack of laryngitis and suffered a serious handicap when six or seven people were shouting at him simultaneously, but lie bore the ordeal manfully, returned straight answers to the questions showered upon him, and occasionally took the offensive energetically against his tormentors. "My doctor told me I was stark, staring mad to address this meeting," the candidate explained in extenuation of his vocal handicap. "It is quite true," was the interjection someone could not resist and the hall, which was packed, rocked with laughter. " Hands Not Tied." "1 want to make it very clear that I am not in any way tied politically," Mr. Adeano announced. "Although I am the official Reform candidate, no hard-and-fast pledge has been demanded of nie. All I have been asked is, 'Will you support tlio Reform Government on a noconfidoriee motion.' and I said 'Yes.' " The personal claims of the candidate upon the good ollices of Auckland West electors wero that he was a New Zealander born, the son of an old colonist, a resident oi Ponsonby for 18i years, and a working man all lii's life. "1 have my little home and my big mortgage and most things that are common to the people of PonsonTiy," lie declared. "1 am a Radical at heart. I was always a Liberal while there were any Liberal's left, and I revere the memory of Richard John Seddon, but this savioui of the country who is hailed by interested people—this little baronet who came to Auckland 20 years ago—"

A Voice: Why run down Sir Joseph Ward ? Ho has the baronetcy, not you. Mr. Adeane: I am not running him down. I say ho well deserved his baronetcy, but he was not always as welcome in Auckland as he was tho other day. Just because he has to-day joined up with a party that has no policy and no reason for its existence except that it wants to beat the Government l\o is welcomed hero with open arms.

The statement was not received very cordially and it was some time before the candidate was permitted to proceed. The "Tom and Bill" Spirit.

Thorc was rio country in the world, said Mr. Adeane, whero worker and employer were on better terms than in New Zealand. Ho ventured to say that 60 per cent, of the employees in this country were 011 "Tom and Bill" terms of speech with their employers. New Zealand had never suffered' from what might he called government by the ruling classes. Under the Reform Government prosperity was once rnoro returning and the country had already turned the corner. (Laughter and jeers.) Sketching the achievements of the Government, Mr. Adeane paid a tribute to the work of the Department of Health. It had secured for New Zealand the lowest death rate in the world, an infantile mortality rate of only 38.74 per 1000, and Iho lowest tuberculosis rate, which was reduced 55 per cent, in the last four years, a wonderful achievement for the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young. The Government's work on behalf of maternal and iniaptile welfare was deserving of the highest praise. "I am of opinion the best immigrant is the New Zealand-born baby," the candidate added. A Female Voice: There is nothing to feed them on. Mr. Adeane: Have you tried Glaxo, niadamc ? (Laughter.) The reason I am keener on the baby than the immigrant is because it can be brought here for less money. In the midst of the prolonged laughter that followed, a man rose to a point of order, and declined to subside at the demand of the chairman, Mr. G. G. Shierlaw, until a policeman warned him. Appeal lor Fair Hearing. Noisy interruptions were renewed, however. " "You are not giving me a fair chance," the candidate protested above the tlin of the shouting. "1 did not believe that men could be such rotten bad sports as not to give a man with a bad throat a chance. 1 would not have credited that mob rule could have been brought against me in l'onsonby." A Voice: You are using hard words. Mr. Adeane: I repeat "mob rule." and I speak as one who has been a sportsman all my life. The Voice: Give us your policy. Mr. Adeane: How can T when T have had nothing but the braying of asses since ] started? (Renewed interruption.) A battery of questions was answered bv the candidate, who concluded, amid goodnatured laughter: "1 thank you for your patient hearing. I know what you are thinking: 'Here is a poor coot offering himself for Parliament.' (Laughter.) Well, I am not made of the stuff that runs away, and when tho poll comes T will not be very far from the to]). 1 am going to enjoy this campaign, and if there are any further questions you want answering, bring them aliing to my next meeting."