HERNE BAY HECKLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20087, 26 October 1928, Page 15

HERNE BAY HECKLERS.

MR. ADEANE'S RESOURCE.

A CHEERFUL PERSONALITY.

MIRTH AT MISSION HALL.'

A ready, resourceful speaker whose cheerful personality is disconcerting to the interjector inspired with bitter hostility, Mr. Frank Adeane, Reform candidate for Auckland West, addressed a crowded meeting in the Herno Bay Mission Hall last evening. Many people had to stand, and some who could not get inside looked through open windows. Mr. W. Parkinson presided. It was a lively meeting. The candidate was subjected to a running fire of interjections, some gay, and others mot with vigour combined with a nice sense of humour values. A feature was the genorous measure of good feeling displayed by some of the opposition. Several men called the candidate "Frank," and adopted the tone of argument between pals. "I am not tied in any way to party," Raid the candidate early in his speech. A Voice: A Liberal rat. Tho Candidate: I have always had Liberal tendencies, Liberal in the widest sense of tho term, which is the greatest good for tho greatest number. (Applause.) 116 revered the memory of Richard John Scddon whose humanitarian legislation remained and had been extended by th© Reform Party, the natural successors of Seddon Liberalism.

Freedom ol Speech. When tho candidate declared tho standard of education of New Zealanderß was probably higher than in any country in tho world, the persistent interjector of diminutive stature, who is well known in the role in Ponsonby and occupied a fro.it scat, said, "Yet you call tTbein loafers."

Tho candidate said ho would give him only one more warning, and received tho reply, ''This is not a Sunday school meeting."

Touching on tho menace to the British Empire of Soviet propaganda, Mr. Adeano declared that no Empire gave the freedom of speech of tho British Empire. The Persistent Interjector: No, it isn't. You have just put the stopper on me. (Loud laughter.) Tho candidate, who enjoyed the joke, said he happened to be the only person who had freedom of speech in that hall that night. "And if," he declared with vigour, "any of you have not come to listen, you know where to go." Speaking of tho Singapore base, Mr. Adeano said he happened to havo been one of the happy youths who, in 1914, sailed in a transport which got as far as Cape Brett when it had to return and await an adequate escort in the shapo of a Japanese battle-cruiser, and even then it was a great relief when tho people knew H.M.A.S. Sydney had destroyed tho raiding Emden. That incident illustrated New Zealand's absolutely dependence upon safe seaways. If ono season's produce was held up it would mean ruination. 'lhus a small contribution toward the Singapore base was cheap national insurance.

Mr. Adeane made relwciico to tho fino spirit that usually prevailed between employer and employee in New Zealand, and tho healthy spirit that was a distinctive characteristic of New Zealand life. "And," he declared with emphasis, " tho people, English or foreign, who come into this country and try to alter tho excellent spirit that prevails between the 'boss' and his men, aro enemies of the working man, ' (Applause and uproar.) The Persistent Interjector: That's why I call you 'Frank.' There is such cordiality between us. (Loud laughter.) Tho candidate, who was enjoying the joke, said ho could be very frank if necessary.

Reform Party's Cards. Tho idea of some people, said tho candidate when tho railway manager's salary was mentioned, is to reduce every man to tho five-pound-a-week level. "There aro dever men," said Jlr. Adeano, "and there are brainless 1 idiots," pointing with mock seriousness toward the persistent interjector, and after the laugh added that clever me.i were worth their money. A female interjector, whose remarks had not been very clear or very relevant, now received a little attention from the candidate, who said he wondered why some women who chattered at political meetings did not try it 011 their husbands. Tho lady 111 question drew a laugh with the romark that half tho women did not have husbands because so many men could not afford to keep them. During a very merry question-time, when both Labour and United supporters continued to make speeches, tho candidate showed quick wit, patience and knowledgo, and sound grasp of national affairs.

"Whv does tho Reform Party not put its cards on the table as the United Party has done ?" asked a questioner. "Tho Reform Party," said Mr. Adeano glibly, "has played about six or eight rubbers, and tho country knows all about its game."