“NOT A PUBLIC MEETING”

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1935, Page 7

“NOT A PUBLIC MEETING”

MR. COATES AT ROTORUA MAYOR REFUSES TO PRESIDE. OTHER PARTIES NOT ADMITTED. MINISTER WELCOMED, HOWEVER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Rotorua, Nov. 23. The largest election meeting ever held at Rotorua was addressed by Mr. J. G. Coates last night It was freely rumoured that a demonstration would be made against the issue of tickets and interest was added to the position owing to a report that the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, who was to preside, had refused to take the chair on the grounds that the meeting was not of a public nature owing to discrimination against supporters of opposition parties. The Mayor was not at the table when the official party took their He later appeared and extended an official welcome to Mr. Coates, but he did not take the chair. In a (Statement issued after the meeting the Mayor said he had declined to take the chair as the meeting was not of a public nature. The chairman of the local' executive of the party had admitted that supporters of opposition candidates had been refused admission to the haU and therefore it was impossible for him to preside in his official capacity. However, he did not believe that Mr. Coates was responsible for the discrimination, and accordingly very willingly attended the meeting to extend him a welcome.