A LIVELY MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19617, 22 October 1925, Page 10

A LIVELY MEETING.

MR M‘CRATH AND THE LABOURITES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 21. Mr M'Grath (National candidate for Wellington North] had a crowded and lively meeting last night. There was a. running fire of interruptions, intellectual and otherwise, but the spectacle of two burly detectives who sat on the edge of the platform with many others who could not secure seats had a stifling effect upon would-be interrupters. Those who were present, however, were treated to a lair evening's fun. That a certain section of the audience was manifestly out for heckling purposes was demonstrated early in the meeting when the candidate announced his intention of dealing with extreme Labour. “That is the main point.” came a voice. “Yes,” replied Mr M'Grath, ‘ but remember what your boss, Peter Fraser, told you last night—to listen to everyone and give them a hearing.” , , , , Mr M'Grath added that he detested extreme Labour because it was dishonest. This produced a storm of protest from the opposition in the audience, and one rod-faced man rose and shook his finger menacingly at the candidate, endeavouring to make himself heard. “It’s all right,” Air M'Grath went on. “many of them will have a fiver to spin on the tote on Saturday. .Those people have the usehold of the unions. A Voice: Who are they? Mr M'Grath: They are the so-called leaders cf Labour. I know from my own knowledge men have been frightened to do what they knew would be right because they were afraid of being manhandled. The manifesto of the Labour Party seems to me to he the litter gathered by a suecesssion of brain storms. 'Hie policy, if one can call it a policy, of the extreme Labour Party is machine-made, and it would be all right and quite workable if mankind could work and live like machines. The policy of extreme Labour is an impossible one. . A Voice: How is it that it was such a success in Australia? Air M’Grath: I -shall deal with Australia in* a minute, and my friend will be sorry he spoke. The agreement, is summed nP in that terse maxim of Air Hickey, the Labour nominee for Invercargill, Xo hen with agreements.” A Voice: To heil with lawyers. Air M'Grath; Yes, t#ld in a minute I will tell you how they come crawding and cringing to a lawyer when they are in trouble. . , . , . . A red-faced man was a persistent objector, and an elector suggested they should send out and get him a saucer of milk.— (Laughter.) A detective silenced the persistent one. . . ... ~ To a further mtenection tho candidate retorted: “My friend—” A Voice: “My learned friend. (Laughter.) . In a reference to Mr Tom Walsh in Australia the speaker quoted his words at the Deportation Board, an said: They rush to the lawyers and say. For God s sake save us from the just deserts of what we have been doing.’ ’ (Laughter a.nd * Mr M'Grath concluded his address amid applause, laughter, some boisterous banter, and strenuous protests. He got a vote of ronficiencf? by substantial majority on a show of hands. CLUTHA. | Mr Kclie (National candidate lor Clutha) spoke at Waiwora township on Friday evening last. Mr Gorman* who was voted to the chair, in a very complimentary speech referred to jVIr Fdie as a friend of standing and a man of his word. At the conclusion of his address Mr Fdie ' va '' accorded a hearty vote of thanks. ine the day Mr Edie visited Waxwera Hill and Taumata. On Saturday evening he addressed a large meeting -at. Clydcvale. Mr «J. Mosley* the chairman, in his introductory remarks, referred to the good work done by Mr Edie for the constituency. The address was attentively listened to,- and on vhe motion of Mr Murray. Mr Edie was accorded a hearts vote cf thanks. Dux ing the flay Air Edie visited Popotunoa district. OROUA SEAT. (Per United Press Association.! FEILDING, October 21. Air R. Cobbe, the National candidate foi- Oroua, addressed a very large meeting at Feilding last night, and was enthusiastically received. He favoured the amalgamation of the moderate political parties, and said he would not support any no-confidence motion moved hr the Labour Party in the House. He criticised the extravagance of past Administrations, claiming that the formation of a National Government would put a check on such extravagance. He favoured the maintenance of the Singapore base and an adequate defence scheme; advocated the freehold land policy, an agricultural bank, and ward system of election of representatives to the. Dairy Control Board. The candidate received an almost unanimous vote of thanks. WESTLAND SEAT. (Per United Press Association.) HOKITIKA. October 21. All* Thomas E. * feeddoix (AwatiomnJ was nominated for the V estland seat to\lr Heddon addressed a large gathering in* the Princess Theatre last evening. He re'eived an excellent hearing, and dealt with the National platform and fusion, which he strongly favoured. He was subjected to a number of interjections by a small band of extreme Labour partisans, who were effectively overpowered. At the conclusion, on the motion of the Rev. John Perkins, he was accorded a vote or thanks and confidence, carried unanimously. RICCARTON. (Per United Press association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 21. Mr A. E. L. Hunt (National candidate for Riccarton), opened his campaign tonight, when ho addressed a meeting of 6J electors at Upper Riccarton. His speech was on the usual National lines. In reply to a question, he said he would not, if elected, vote with Labour if its aims were Communistic or Socialistic. He "as accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. LICENSING QUESTIONS. PRIME MINISTER’S VIEWS. FAVOURS THREE ISSUES. (From Ouh Own Correspondent.) KOKAKO, October 21. Several questions dealing on the licensing issue wore asked the Prime Minister at Paparoa to-day by the Key. Mr Kings, Methodist minister. lhe first of these was' In tite event of prohibition not being carried at the forthcoming poll, would you be in favour of a two-is.-.ue ballot paper? Mr Coates: No; I think we should have three issues. Tho minorities - x have to be considered. I was approached by both sides, and what I said to thorn ivas that ] would introduce a Bill and place it before Parliament and let Parliament deal with the position. Mr Kings; Would you oppose or support a redistribution of licenses? Mr Coates said he had not given this question sufficient consideration to enable him to* say just at the moment what ho would do. However, it seemed to him in some places there were too many hotels, while in others the accommodation was insufficient. Mr Kings: What is your attitude towards the proposed extension of time between the licensing polls? . Mr Coates: Of course, personally, I have always been in favour of a five-years Parliament, and that would mean an extension of the polls. TO-DAY’S MEETINGS. North-East Harbour.—Mr J. M’C. Dickson Park Hill, Dunrobin, ttolievale, and iloriot. —Mr J. Horn. Waipiata and Kyebum.—Mr J. Kitchener. Waipounamu, Wendon, Wondonsidc, am! Waikaia. —Air A. Ashworth. Puketiro, Tawanui, and Houipapa.—Mi John Edie. Olekura, Puema, and Glonomaru. —Mi Fred Waite. Shag Point. —Mr E. P. Lee. Oameron Hall, North-East Valley.—Hon. G. K. Statham. Old Town Hall, North-East Valley.—Air H. L. Tapley. St. Glair Presbyterian Church Hall. —Mr T. K. Sidey Kingston, Athol, and Garston.—Mr J. Ritchie. Sawyers’ Bay.—Mr J. W. Mttnro. St. Peter’s Church Hall. —Mr J. Gilchrist. Creep Island Town Hall.—Mr J. E. MacAlanus. Sutton.—Mr M. Connelly. Warepa and Kakapuaka.—Mr J. W. Fenton.