COUNTED OUT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 22

COUNTED OUT

MR. ADEANE AT PONSONBY LIVELY MEETING “I know that most people here have come to hear what my great chief has to say, but I believe that a great number have come to listen to me also,” said Mr. Frank Adeane, Reform candidate for Auckland West, addressing a record meeting at the West End Theatre, Ponsonby, last evening. Nearly 2,000 people were packed into the hall, the aisles and rear being completely filled. The audience was In sportive humour, and it was only with difficulty that the candidate was able to make himself heard. Fresh reinforcements of police arriving at the hall up till nine o’clock were greeted with cheers and hoots, but the fun was mostly good-humoured. “This is the last occasion on which I shall have the pleasure of addressing the electors of Auckland West,” said Mr. Adeane, amid laughter. Candidate: Except on Wednesday, when, as M.P. for the district, I will be returning thanks to the electors at the Three Lamps, which occasioned more laughter. Mr. Adeane said that though he did not favour betting, he considered that this weakness of humanity should be catered for by the Government, by permission to bet by telegraph. The Government would profit and the bookmaker would be kept out. “I have been accused of being a 1913 strike-breaker,” said the candidate. “That is a lie. I was not a strike-breaker in 1913, but I assisted in breaking the Big Strike of 1914.” Challenging Mr. Adeane on a statement, an interjector called him a liar, and the chairman called for an apology from the Interruptor, threatening him with an ejection. The Interrupter: No, I won’t go. I came along to see my old skipper, Captain Coates, and why should I retire after a little argument over Adeane. He’s not worth it. The chairman took the statement as an apology, and comparative peace reigned for a while. “There are a number of people in this hall who don’t want to hear me, because they don’t like what I say,” declared the candidate later. (Uproar.) “Is there a man in this room?” pleaded the candidate. Voices: Hundreds of them. Mr. Adeane retored “Bow-wow-wow” to an interjector, and for many minutes was unable to speak, dogbarking coming from all over the hall. The crowd then counted the candidate out. The chairman, who handled the meeting firmly, got the big crowd under control again. “You have a serious responsibility i

at the ballot-box on Wednesday,” said the candidate. Voices: Yes, to put you at the bottom of the poll. More Voices: Give it a spell and be quiet. The big boss is coming. The candidate answered a number of questions at the conclusion of his address before the appearance of the Prime Minister.