GREAT BARRIER VISIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 509, 12 November 1928, Page 13

GREAT BARRIER VISIT

MR. SPEIRS CORRECTS MISSTATEMENT CHAIRMAN’S DISCLAIMER All Saint’s Hall was crowded on Saturday evening when the United Party’s candidate for Auckland West, Mr. R. B. Speirs. continued his campaign. Before introducing the candidate, the chairman, Mr. Prust Stewart, disclaimed all association with the Auckland West Committee of the Reform Party, and stated he wished to contradict any impression which may have been created in the minds of any members of the audience by, his appearance in the chair that evening. In view of the Tact that his name had appeared on a circular issued by the local Reform Committee, he thought it necessary in fairness to the candidate to make public the statement that his name was on that circular without his knowledge and certainly without his permission. Although a party man, he felt that the time had arrived when personal worth rather than party feeling should be appreciated. He wanted it clearly understood that as far as Auckland West was concerned he would definitely support the United Party. Mr. Spiers dealt at length with the land settlement policy of the United Party along the lines of previous addresses. Pie referred to a criticism of statements condemning the Legislative Council, and said that. while acknowledging the undeniably great personalities who had occupied seats on tho council, he protested against the method of appointment which had been used during the past few years. Faithful service to the party in power and not necessarily to the country itself was given as the excuse for several of the appointments made, and he advocated an elective chamber rather than a political appointment. His reported statement that no other candidate or member of Parliament had visited the Great Barrier was wrong. What he had said was that he had been to places on the Great Barrier on his recent visit where no other candidate bad been. For nearly an hour questions were showered upon the speaker. A Labour interjector who said that the Labour Party would not receive the candidate even if lie wanted to join up with it was met with the retort, “I take that as a greater compliment than you probably meant it to be.” A vote of thanks was carried with little opposition.