THE EDEN SEAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19759, 9 April 1926, Page 5

THE EDEN SEAT.

A PIQUANT MEETING

SIR JAMES GUNSON’S CAMPAIGN

AUCKLAND. April 8. Sir James Gunson’s election meetings have hitherto been for the most part devoid of incident, but a mild Labour demonstration added piquancy to the meeting last evening It was early in the proceedings when the candidate was dealing with the 45 years’ record of Reform in Eden that one or two members of his audience interrupted by asking questions, interruptions which caused the candidate to remark: “I am not going to have a wolf-gang interrupting my meetings.” At once there was an uproar and voices from all parts of the bail demanded the withdrawal of the remark. Cries of “Withdraw that word” and “Apologise” were directed to Sir James.

Sir James: "I am not going to apologise. If it does not come within the description of you then it does not apply to you.” Voices: “Who are the wolf-gang? Your lemark is an insult.” Sir James: “What 1 said was that I am not going to have wolf-gangs coming round to my meetings and making interruptions I was told before 1 began that the candidate was going to have it ‘put over him' to-night. If the cap doesn't fit then it does not apply to you.” The asmosphere then cooled, and Sir Janies went on with his addiess and was dealing with the record of Reform in the last six years in providing funds to enable workers to be provided with 36,000 houses, when someone at the door interjected : “A woman was the cause of a man being thrown out of Eden before.”—(Laughter.) Sir James- “Perfectly true, but not this Eden.”—(Renewed laughter.)

MISS MELVILLE’S PLATFORM.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SQUARE DEAL

(Fhom Oub Own Cohresppndent.) AUCKLAND, April 8. Claiming that her charges had never been answered from the public platform, but that they had been side-stepped. Miss Melville, Independent Reform candidate for Eden, told a gathering of electors last night that she was the only Refoimer standing tor election. There was no other, unless it was a very recent convert. She hoped that loyal service in the Reform interest would be preferred to sudden conversion The only thing that her opponents could place against her was the allegation that she had broke" her pigdge, but there was nothing whatever in that. Fortunately her character was so well-known in Auckland that her word was able to stand against that of the Reform organiser. Miss Melville declared that her word was one of her most precious possessions. When strangers from other centres came to Auckland and did their best to discredit her word and her good faith, she would not tolerate She had arried the Reform banner in the Grey Lynn contests of 1919 and 1925 to the satisfaction of the party. . Was she not good enough now to claim support of Eden reformers? Reform’s motto was “A square -deal.” However, if the party’s own people did not get a square deal one wondered what would be the treatment of the country at large, but people did not want caucus rule in the Reform I‘arty Government by a little coterie. If some had forgotten the party's slogan of a fair deal others should know that rank and tile of the party had not.

‘REFORM THROUGH AND THROUGH, (From Ouk 'wn ikespondsk v AUCKLAND, April S.

In a speech at Miss Melville's meeting Mr V. 11. Potter, M.P., spoke at some length, referring in, particular to the remarks of Mr J. S. Dickson, M.P.. who was reported as having said at Mount Albert that it was regrettable to find a Reform member supporting a vote-splitter. Mr Potter gave that assertion an emphatic denial. He was not supporting n vote-splitter; he was opposing one. Whereas Miss Melville had always been a Reform supporter and a very hard worker, the selected candidate had been a reformer only since last March. Would they not rather have a child of their own than an adopted one? Sir Janies Gunson was adopted in March last, and they would see what sort of n goo I child he was going to turn out. Miss Melville was for Kforni through and through, having heen born into a Reform family.— (Laughter and applause.) Had the late Mr Massey been alive to-day he would have settled the whole trouble within hours in Miss Melville’s favour. Mr Coates, 400 miles away and out of touch with the position, was not to be blamed for taking the side that he did. Mr Potter believed that when Mr Coates came to Auckland next week he would change his mini after hearing all the facts.