FIERY CANDIDATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22261, 8 November 1935, Page 13

FIERY CANDIDATE

MR. V. 11. POTTER'S START UNDER LABOUR FIRE banter and some anger / ancient grudge revived The Independent candidate for Rosfcill, Mr. V. H. Potter, opened his campaign in the' Capitol Theatre last evening with a speech full of characteristic fire, that drew almost continuous interjections from an opposition mainly supporting Labour. Mr. W. Hammill presided over a large audience. Mr. Potter caused an immediate uproar when ho began by paying a tribute to Mr. Coates as a man who knew his own mind and had the courage of his opinions. The candidate then proceeded to criticise the Government, which he fidence motion. Frequently ho was challenged on tho ground that iiis position was inconsistent. His reply was that his idea was to amend and not destroy, asserting with good-humoured composure that he was the ty{k> of man to show tho Government its faults and bring about their correction. Memories of Walhl / "Coates keeping you and you're looking very nice," yelled a man, while another called the candidate "rat." "What about Waihi," came in broad Scots, and when this was repeated Mr. Potter said it was surprising that thoy had to recall what happened at Waih ; nearly 30 years ago, but that under the same circumstances he would do again what he did at Waihi. "Aye, we know you," said the Scot "The same man after 30 years." Mr.. Potter spoke of the need for Auckland local authorities to work in co-operation with the Unemployment Board to create work in the matter of drainage and water and denounced the unemployment administration. Voice: Yet you will support them. Mr. Potter: I believe in taking out the bad planks. Second Scot: We will sort them out, p;.." laddie. / Another Voice: Why did they fiw> you out, anyway? A little later the first Scot, in tonea almost of sorrow, rerparked, "You'rf« talking a lot of nonsense." " When dealing with soldiers' pensions Mr. Potter said ho had had six and a-half years' of war. "Does that include the civil war?'' promptly asked the f; Scot. i X The candidate said he wonld favour lowering the old age pension age for men to'6o years. "Yes," said a man at the back. " "I'm getting old myself too." Mr. Potter got a good "hand" when he said that B radio stations should receive £IOOO each, and when he argued for free milk for school chiJdren, ho said he would not include the country children, who perhaps Baw tap much milk. "Too right," said a man with much feeling. Surfing Boards and Birdcages A cheerful youth suggested that tho candidate should deal with surfing boards among his list, and later another aske'd if he would favour wireless birdcages. loward the end there was a good deal of banter on both sides. With mock seriousness Mr. Potter said that everyone who had money was a friend of his. The exchange question was dealt with most emphatically, Mr. Potter being against the raising of it. This , had been a breach of the Ottawa agreement. - "Now," continued the candidate, "I am going to toll you about Mr Elliott." , "Whatl Howard?" said a man, and there was great laughter. "VVhat is the voice of Now Zealand?" started Mr. Potter in declamatory tones. ( A Quiet Voice: Gordon Coates .(Laughter.)' Asked about the selection of the National candidate, Mr. Potter said , he had written to the party stating that he did not intend to come out for the Nationalists. Voice: What did they give you £IOO for? Mr. Pother: Because they realised that for the brains I have I had been ill-paid. Iflterjector: As a taxpayer I paid part ,of that £IOO. Mr. Pottfer: Yours must have been the bad money I got. Uproar From Labour There was considerable uproar when the candidate criticised Labour'? guaranteed price policy and made his estimates of the cost in generous mili hODB. , f Mr. Potter: When Ido start to deal with your platform you are not manly enough to Jisten. Voice: Well speak the truth and We'll listen. Man in Front: Carry on Viv. "Lies, li<te," came in a chowis that for once sounded angry. Finally tho chairman had to intervene and tho trouble subsided. When on the subject of national ' sweepstakes which he supported Mr Potter was asked if he had ever won Tattersalls. Mr. Potter (laughing)': Do you think I wonld be here if I had? Among many questions were a number relating to currency. The vote of thanks and confidence Which the chairman, with a smile, declared to be carried, did not reflect the feeling of the majority. What happened was that a vote of thanks'and confidence in the Labour member was Dioved, but tho chairman apparently did not observe that it had been seconded in several places. He said it lapsed for want of a seconder. RETURNING PROSPERITY SIR A., YOUNG AT TE RAPA [from OCR OWN correspondent] ■ " HAMILTON. Thursday " The four- year plan laid down by Jne Government with a view to seeing Dominion safely through tho most ttinicult period in its history is work®6 out most satisfactorily in the best Jnterests of the people," said Sir Alexj «nder Young, National Government candidate for Hamilton, at Te Rapa last evening. Sir Alexander added that one of tho '"any illustrations of this fact was that ?° ne y was/flowing back into tbo Post fk* 0 Savings Bank in increasing Woiints. Lnst year deposits oxceedod withdrawals by over £.3,332 t 000. The speaker urged the doctors seriously to consider their responsibility in the erection of supporting tho Government ! ' n iithe maintenance of stable conditions, especially ut tho present stage, when prosperity was rapidly returning. The Peaker, who was giveu a cordial recejv won, received a vote of thanks and t confidence.