“I’LL FIGHT FOR YOU”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 13

“I’LL FIGHT FOR YOU”

INDEPENDENT REFORM MINER “COATES NOT A BAD FELLOW” (From Our Ou~n Correspondent J HUNTLY, Saturday. Mr. William P. Brown, of Glen Afton. a miner, and an independent Reform candidate for Raglan, opened his campaign here last night before a good audience. Huntly is the stronghold of Labour in the electorate, and keen interest was taken in the candidate’s address, but a large section of the audience was apparently out for a night’s fun and at question time Mr. Brown had plenty to do, and convulsed his hearers at times with his ready replies. He is a fast Scotch speaker, and Mr. J. W. McNee was in the chair. A slight delay was occasioned at the ’ start, tho speaker taking seven mini utes to arrange his papers, news- , paper cuttings, etc., but finally he read ; over the Reform pamphlet, "Achievement,” as a preliminary. A Voice: Give us your platform. ; Bill. , The speaker said that their fathers ; had come to a land of trouble and • ferns, and not to a land like the New Zealand of to-day.* Remarking that L “soihe people could not look any furl ther than they could see.” he strongly [ approved of the Singapore base as an } imperative necessity. [ Remarking that the traffic bridge ; was necessary over the Waikato at ; Huntly, the speaker said that if, *n- '• stead of interviewing officials of vari- , ous departments, the Prime Minister - was approached personally, he would r give his sympathetic assistance to any legitimate requirements for the public . benefit. , Mr. Brown said he had been up " against it often, and liad "packed his

i bluey,” but ho did not think New t Zealand was a poor country, because l he had been a little unfortunate. It j was a land of open spaces, and there l was plenty of land available if the necessary financial assistance to those desirous of going in for farming was arranged, so that it would not be a burden, but lack of experience often spelt disaster to the holders. “Ho is not a bad fellow, is Coates. I can meet him as Mr. Coates, gentleman, or as plain Wattie Brown." A reference to Lloyd George "thinking of a greater thing than Russia, viz., £ s. d., prompted a voice to say “Crib time” (a well-known miners’ language for meal time). This drew a ready answer "Crib time is coming and there are some people who want a crib in the mouth.” “Now get on with your questions.” was the next remark from the speaker. The chairman thereupon informed the audience that Mr. Brown was carried away perhaps by his enthusiasm and excitement, to which the aspirant for Raglan replied: "Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I’m aot excited.” and several residents of Huntly who are not addicted to bashfulness at public meetings promptly obliged, but though the candidate’s speech may not haw been palatable, having a “Coates" flavour, the answers to some of the questions were still less palatable to the questioners. Referring to the liquor question he said he was in favour of State control which meant better quality and service. “Some of the stuff sold at present made some people jump others dance, and at the time of the strike, hop.” Mr. Hugh Gavin proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker and this was seconded by Mr. George Liddle. An amendment that “a vote of thanks be accorded the audience for its patience in giving the candidate a hearing” lapsed for want of a seconder. “I’ll fight for you.” was tL final remark of the candidate in re turning, thanks to the large audience’ °i her Ind,s P«odent Reform can-' didate, Mr. John Malcolm McKinnon has now been compelled to withdraw frOI ?/ he Raf?lan contest, havin ' ic cepted the position of agricultural “in' etructor to the Training CoPcge Paerata, near Fukekohe. ” 1