The Sun WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1914. MR MASSEY AT THE OPERA

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 250, 25 November 1914, Page 6

The Sun WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1914. MR MASSEY AT THE OPERA

The' big meeting in tlie ■ Opera" House last night was less disorderly than 'Mr Massey 'a Theatre Royal meeting, but that is about all one can say of it. The Red Fed. element was present in -tforce, and some of the bolder spirits made it clear 'from - the outset that they weie there for the express purpose of keeping up a running fire of unmannerly interjections and cheap witticisms. Serious and reasoned discussion of political matters was out of the question, but Mr Massey, with a persistence and an unfailing good humour worthy of the highest 'praise, faced the audience for about two and' a-half hours without onee losing his temper or appearing at a disadvantage. His speech may not have followed the lines he .originally intended, but, whatever subject he touched upon, he stuck to it manfully till he had driven hig point home, and time after time he scored heavily at the expense of his tormentors. One newspaper critic complains that the speech lacked inspiration.! There is no doubt about'it, but doe* any sane person suggest for a moment that it is possible for any .mate to get up . and speak as if lie were inspired to a noisy, jeering crowd of young hoodlums whose main object lilst. night was to prevent the Prime Minister being heard at all?- 0/Ue.v regrettable feature of tlie meeting was the rudeness and disrespect shown,, to tlie Mayor. Hi.' Worship's earnest appeals to the fairness and better nature of the. rowdies fell oil' ears, and they- libwled aitd. 111; as au unwelcome disturber of the sport they thouglit they were having at the expellee of Mr Massey. Despite the interruptions showered xipon, him, Mr Massey was able to, reply very effectively to the base insinuations made regarding the Huntly mine accident, and to prove conclusively that the amplest powers were provided under existing legislation for ensuring the safety of tlie men employed underground. He also disposed of the.equally unworthy suggestion that the Waiuku railway had been, .authorised mainly for the benefit, of; politic at: The-ostrich farm, about which so'much has . been heard, the : /Main Trunk railway, and reaps no advantage whatever from the Waiukitbraneh line, which is being carried into a closelysettled district in pursuance of' prOtiiisels' made years ago by former Ministers of Public Works. Under more favourable circumstances, the Prime Minister would no doubt have devoted more attention to an exposition of the policy set out in his manifesto. This would have been decidedly more interesting and more important than hearing Mr Massey on the strike, which is ancieUt 1 history now; : but his opponents amongst the audience insisted on his taking it lip, with tlie result that they,, and not the speaker, were to blame for any lack of originality about the speech. Perhaps a day will come when the Prime Minister will be heard in Christchurcli with the courtesy and -respect that his position should eommalid, but ; under present. .conditions a speech

delivered by liim is merely a itribute to liis physical endurance, good humour, and genial disposition.