LIVELY MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23149, 22 September 1938, Page 15

LIVELY MEETING

INTERJECTORS ACTIVE EDEN CANDIDATE'S ADDRESS FIRST SPEECH OF CAMPAIGN Facing an almost constant barrage of interjections and silenced several times by brief periods of uproar, the National Party candidate for Eden, Mr. 1). Pooi, made his first campaign speech under lively conditions at the Gordon Rond Hall, Mount Eden, last night. Half an hour before the meeting commenced, accommodation was fully taxed by an audience of about 300 people, and many who arrived later were obliged to stand in the vestibulo or on the -footpath. Tho Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. P. J. Mills, presided. Persistent interruptions were maintained by a section of the audience at tho back of tho hall. Almost every claim of tho candidate was questioned by interjeetors and the arrival of a police constable during the course of the meeting was the signal for an outburst of laughter, cheers and applause. Several group 1 ? of interjeetors were subsequently approached by the constable. The election was to be fought entirely on a question of principle, Mr. Pool said. It was the duty of electors to return a party which was unfettered in representing them in the House. To-day, the Trades and Labour Council, which was not elected by tho people, was* tho Government of the country. Voices: "Wait until after the election. History of Trades Unions Mr. Pool traced the history of the trades union movement, which ho claimed, did not represent Socialism. The latter was a movement entirely independant of unionism. Trade unions had beea formed —and rightly so—to guard tho interests of employee?. Voices: They couldn't do it five years ago. Mr. Pool: Tho unions developed and performed their work during the last century. . . . Voices: And then the Government wiped them out. Mr. Pool: Eventually tho Socialists gained control of the unions and the position aroso of a minority controlling a majority. Socialism is a parasite of the trade union. Voice- That is a lie. 'Mr. Pool: If Socialism is to continue in this country. . . . Voices: We shall be better off. Mr. Pool (continuing): Business will disappear in favour of tho complete socialisation of industry. Private enterprise will disappear and then you will have — Voices: Adam Hamilton.

Air. Pool: Then you will have complete State control. What will happen to the trade unions? State as Arbitrator Voices: Who threw out the Arbitration Court before? You are insulting the intelligence of your audience. "Under these conditions it will be tho State that will arbitrate on the questions of conditions, wages and hours," Air. Pool continued. Voices: And they will be 40 a week. Air. Pool: It is 40 hours to-day. But there will be only one boss and he wilJ tell you how you are to work. Voices: So did Gordon Coates. , There was a period of uproar when Air. Pool explained that it was tho intention of the National Party to retain tho Arbitration Court and tjie trade unions if it were returned to office. Social Security Tax Cheers ancl applause greeted Air. Pool's statement that there wero morn workers on the income tax list than ever before. When he claimed that an extra £8,000,000 had to be found for the social security scheme he was loudly informed that "they could pay it." The possibility of a financial crisis arising from the application of the social security plan was mentioned by Air. Pool. Voices: You never had the courago to vote against it. Inadequacy of Deleaoe The inadequacy of the Dominion's defence forces was stressed by tho candidate, who compared the present situation with the conditions which ruled in 1914. To-day they laughed at the territorials.' In the event of danger to the Empire New Zealand must have a force to send overseas, if necessary. During question time Afr. Pool was pressed to answer a question whether a National Government would bo propared to conscript wealth in the, event of war. He replied that war was a special measure, and it would bo conscripted. A vote of thanks to the speaker was carried by acclamation, but an attempt to introduce a motion of confidence in the National Party resulted in a motion of no-confidence also being presented. The meeting concluded with cheers for- Air. Hamilton and for Mr. Savage, and neither motion was put to the vote.

"COMMUNISM HOT-BED" UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CANDIDATE'S ALLEGATION [bt telegrafh—OWN correspondent] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday Reference to- Victoria University College as "a hot-bed of Communism" caused a momentary stir at a meeting at Seatoun addressed by Mr. W. L. Barker, National candidate for Wellington East. Mr. Barker had made passing reference in his address _ to "half-baked Bolshies" from universities who, when they were appointed to debate serious subjects, had openly admitted that they were only chosen to make clowns of themselves. At question time Mr. Barker was challenged on the point and was asked to be more specific. His reference to Victoria University College was greeted b>' an uproar of applause and dissent. "I have seen the German, Consul chased from the room there," he declared, "and 1 have seen the Italian Consul insulted there. That is not education; it is not British justice."

DEBARRED FROM POLITICS DETECTIVE'S PLAN FRUSTRATED [Fltoai OUIt own cojibespondknt] GISBORNE, Wednesday It is learned that Detective C. P. Belton, who was desirous of standing as an Independent candidate for Gisborne at the general election, has discovered that he is unable to do so owing to the fact that members of the Police Fcrce are unable to take part in politics.