NOISY THREE HOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 11

NOISY THREE HOURS.

CANDIDATE HECKLED. MR. STALLWORTHY'S CAMPAIGN. CLIMAX TO DISORDERLINESS. The Coalition aindidate for Eden, Mr A. J. Stallworthy, has had some disorderly meetings in the present campaign, but easily the noisiest, and the longest, was at Eden Terrace on Saturday evening, when Labour supporters and Communists caused a din lasting almost incessantly for three hours. The meeting was held in a small hall forming the basement of the Eden Terrace Methodist Church. Into this some 300 people crowded, although there were seats for only about half that number. Every inch of standing-room was packed, and spectators blocked two partly-open windows, and one narrow doorway, which were the only sources of ventilation. The air could almost be cut with the proverbial knife. The early part of the candidate's speech was marked by noise and interjections from all round the rear of the hall. Several men, who had been prominent at earlier meetings, soon made their presence felt, and Mr. Stalhvorthy also lost no time in declaring that they were Communists and disciples of Moscow, a remark which produced a babel of jeers, applause and loud laughter.

An Election Leaflet. The intcrruptors seemed wholly unimpressed when Mr. Stalhvorthy painted a black picture of the country's finances and spoke of the need for sound government as a pre-requisite for future loans. "Get it from Slippery Sam," shouted a hoarse voice. "He's got the money." Question-time arrived at half-past nine. "Does the candidate expect to take people in with claptrap like this pamphlet, 'Food for the People ?' " shouted a man, waving an election leafllet. "Wasn't he doing no more than his duty as Minister when he did what he writes about here?" , Mr. Stallworthy: When a Minister is constantly being blamed for doing nothing, h# has a right to tell the public what he has done. I have never expected to win vot-es by that leaflet. (Derisive laughter.) "That's why you were dropped," called out an interjector, while the candidate was explaining his views on promotion by merit in the railway service. "You have stated that men here aro receiving money from Moscow," said another man. "Will you inform us of the source of supply, as I am out of work ?" "I have too much respect for the questioner," said Mr. Stallworthy, "I should be sorry to see him in such company, so I will withhold the information. Short-measure Beer. A little later the chairman, Air. L. E. Falkrier, spoke severely to a man who had been persistently interjecting. "I want to tell that man there that he must behave himself," he said. The Labour section jeered, and a constable piloted the man toward the door. Mr. Stallworthy, however; waved him back, and the incident closed.

There were shouts of laughter when someone asked the candidate whether he thought it fair that publicans should be allowed to serve customers with less than the meajsure of beer they paid for. "I certainly hold that everyone should be given full measure of what he buys," said Mr. Stallworthy. "However, if a man spends his money on intoxicating liquor and receives short measure, he is no loser." One man outside caught the chairman s eye by waving an arm through-the top of a window, and was allowed to put a question. Another, who became confused in his utterance, was advised to "sing it." Later on a youth at the rear of the stage caused a diversion by putting up an umbrella. A man sitting near one of the side walls held up business by standing on a bench and delivering a fiery harangue, not a word of which could be heard. He waved his arms frantically the while, and the candidate imitated his gestures. Thanks lor "Entertainment." Another flare-up occurred as 11 o'clock drew near. The next calm spell found the candidate giving a concise, but detailed, history of the second ballot and why it had been abandoned. He was still in good form when someone suggested that it was "time to ring down the curtain." "I move a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate for the way he has entertained us to-night," stated-a man at the hack. "I will not take an absurd motion like that," retorted the chairman. Mr. C. 11. M. Wills £hen rose and attempted to move a vote of thanks and confidence. His references to the harbour bridge were drowned in derisive laughter, and he was "counted out." The motion was heavily lost on the voices, and the meeting broke up with cheers for Labour and various other causes, the names of which could not be made out.