QUESTION TIME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 7, 29 April 1914, Page 5

QUESTION TIME.

HENCHMEN ON THE WARPATH. Question time was productive of the most “meat” that has been served out during the whole campaign. Cr. Richards opened the hall with an interrogation as to the value of the opinion of Mr T, F. Martin, a recognised authority, said the speaker, on municipal law, whose ruling on the question of the position in regard to the Council and the Electric Light Company when the deed of covenant had expired was that the Company had no standing. Mr King; “Yes; 1 am perfectly familiar with it,” There was considerable uproar while Mr-Richards sorted out the particular section in Mr Martin’s letter to the Council on the position, and it was agreed that time»should be allowed the questioner to look up the point, which he had apparently mislaid. Meanwhile there were cries of: ‘‘You are frightened!” Cr. Fredric asked the chairman j whether, as a Councillor, he rememj bored having heard Mr King at any j time oppose the license to the Company at the Council table? Mr King: “Xo; I suppose he never j has. I have been on several occasions not exactly raisreported, but, | at any rate, the statements I have .made have been misconstrued from what I wished to say.” j Mr Richards then read the opinion of Mr Martin stating that on the expiration of the deed of concession, in hi s opinion, the whole matter ended, | and the Council had the right to re- ! move the poles and wires if they were .not removed by the Company within a reasonable time. j Mr King admitted that he was aware of that opinion having been given, but begged to remind Mr Richards that Mr Martin was not the only eminent lawyer in the land, and it was quite possible that advice from someone else might be in a totally opposite direction. Cleverer men’s

opinion had been unset iu the courts before to-day. Mr Richards' question as to whether, if the Borough ratepayers had agreed to take over the business at the last poll, the shareholders would receive 25s per share, raised uproar, if, lie asked, the 89 shares Mr King held cost £SO would it be reasonable for the other shareholders ti. expect to receive 25s per share Mr King: i never went into the question. A Voice: "They wanted £2 a share." Asides: "Booh!"" It is nst bosh." Mr Richards: "If the eighty-nin< shares cost only £SO, would it he reasonable for the shareholders to expect much more pro ratal-'" (Applause and ironical laughter.) Mr King: "I thought you were i. clever man —a good business man, Mi Richards—(more laughter and applause). lam surprised at you. II v other shareholders received £1 pei share I would expect the. same. That is another red herring across the track!" (Renewed laughter). Here Dr. Paget beat Mr Richards for possession of the floor, having caught the chairman's eye first. First of all, Dr. Paget wanted to know il the audience know that the "push". that governed the Stratford Loan Company and who "attempted" to govern the Racing Club also controlled the "Stratford Evening Post." Somebody interjected "Oh," at the term "push," and Dr. Paget—with that note of sweetness in his voice which so tickles a Stratford audience—raucously added: "Yes, 1 said "push;" that's what they are!" Din followed. and cries of "how-wow." "Oh, my," "Naughty.little man," and sparking again," the audience feeling that the fun was commencing. On something approaching order being restored, Dr. Paget, whose armt had been seen waving and who appeared to have been making convulsive efforts to get a further hearing, was then heard to say (presumably to Mr King): "Are you aware of it?"

Mv King: said ho certainly was aware that some of those connected with the Stratford Racing'Club wer« associated with the control of the Stratford Printing Company and for all ho knew some of the same gentlemen might ho shareholders in the Electrical'Supply Company. Why they should not be if they so desired he did not know. (Cries of ".Hear, hear," and "Oh.") He did not know all of them.

Dr. Paget.: "I thought you didn't." The next turn was very fittingly supplied by another humorist, in the person of Mr "Will" Diamond, the famous and much-travelled showman, who, holding up his hand in the real style, to command silence, said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of His Majesty's Theatre, 1 would like to toll this vast audience that with regard to the Electrical Supply Company and the electric light " The Chairman (amidst uproar): "Do you want to ask a question?" (Cries of "Let him loose," "Give him a show," "Question"). Mr Diamond: "As regards the Lights-only this, sir: I am more than satisfied!" (Shrieks of laughter) and the speaker disappeared from view. In the lull that followed in an earnest manner Mr Richards referred to Mr King's remarks about his opponent not working manually, and the hitter's physical inability to do so. The Chairman objected, and Mi King followed suit: "I am as really pained to hear Mr Richard bring in such a personal matter." A Voice: "You started it!"

Mr King: "I had no intention of making any personal reference in that nay." (To Mr Richards): "Vol ought to bo ashamed of yourself!" (Applause and uproar.) Dr. Paget, having rested and got his breath again, returned to the attack, this time referring to his owi iction while on the Council in regard to the Town 'Hall, and wanting to know how Mr King could explain his .■statements re the £16,000 loan and increased rates and Mr King's '•astute" management of the Council ind no rates? Dr. Paget's use of the word "astute" must have ruffled the candiiate, as Mr King warmly ventured that Dr. Paget was the most "fat headed" councillor that had ever sai it the Council table. Dr. Paget: ''Does the candidate re member that this "fathead" as yot term him was instrumental in defeating that iniquitous proposal to plan* ;he lighting undertaking upon tin Borough by ten to one?" (Laughter and applause.) Mr'King: "It was not my pro posal." A Voice: "You started it!" Dr. Paget repeated his question am referred to the two experts who wen ippointed to value the plant, anc isked whether they were not botli ippointed by the Company, or, ii other words by the Company's friend. l in the Council. Mr King: "By the majority on tin Council—and vou wore 'one!"

Dr. Paget said Company and Conn ■il were the same: both include! Masters. Boon, Ward, King and Co. Air King (with boat): "Dr. Pago* is wrong. He may think what !i< oleases on that matter, but he must not think lie ran como hero and brow beat me! I won't take it from him!" ■Hear, bear; laughter and applause.) Dr. Paget: "If 1 go b-n-oiid bounds he chairman can ask me to pull up! Why are the guarantors charging shareholders two per cent for the guarantee?" Mr S. M. Porritt: "Is this a meeting of shareholders of the Electrical Supply Company?"

Air King: "It is a purely personal question. iue L'uainnan: "it is private busiiieo.i ■ i ruiv Mv ivwig »uay ptoasd uimseli as to answering." Dr. Paget: "ion extended an invitation to me to come up on the platform. is it open no»\ r '' Mr iung: "Get too hall on your own account some other iiigut and pay for it." (xtoars u! Utugtiier and uproar). Or. i'aget: "Oh, i thought so." in rcpiy to a questioner, Mr King said tlie date of the letter to tiio Llectnval Supply Company asking for power wiiicii had not been replied to was 23rd March, 1914. Mr Newton explained that the letter had been mislaid. A Voice: "flats!" Mr Freclric asked if Mr King had ever said anything at the Council table against the issue of a license. Mr ivmg: i talked very little at all upon the subject of the electric light. 1 have at times sat back altogether from the table when this discussion was on. Mr Fredric: "During the past twelve mouths, have you ever sat back from the table?" Mr King: "No, I have not. 1 have a perfect legal and moral right to sit at the table." Voice from the dress circle! "You have a legal, but not a moral rightto do so." Another: "What are morals—and whose!" (Laughter and applause.) Mr King: "Yes; 1 hold 1 have a moral right to do as 1 have done at the Council table." Mr Marshall (referring to the incident of the messenger hoy going to the Electrical Supply Company's office for information): "Did tha boy's mother know ho was out?" (Convulsive laughter.) Mr King: "I don't know ahout that, but you will know all right tomorrow night that I am in!" (Applause and renewed laughter.) Mr I). J. Malone asked Mr King's personal liability at the present time. The Chairman : "That is a private question, but Mr King can answer if he likes." Mr King did not reply, and the end approached quickly, Mr G. Sangster moving a hearty vote of thank's to Mr N. J. King for his address. The motion was carried by acclamation, and a similar compliment to the chair concluded a meeting which had been amusing and possibly- instructive.