REFUSED A HEARING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 7

REFUSED A HEARING

"UNCLE SCRIM” ATTEMPTS AN ADDRESS By Telegraph—Pres? Association AUCKLAND, September 28. Greeted by uproar and harassed by a constant barrage of interjections, the Controller of the Commercial Broadcasting Service, Mr C. G. Scrimgeour, was refused a hearing by a section of a large audience at Tirau tonight. There was no serious attempt to interrupt Mr A. F. Moncur, M.P. for Rotorua, when he spent two hours outlining the list of Labour benefits; but when Mr Scrimgeour was called on to speak a noisy demonstration occurred, and almost continuous interjections persisted. Finally, after 15 minutes’ effort to make himself heard, he was forced to resume his seat. More than 400 persons, representative of a wide district, crowded the hall, and so thick was the crush that the doors were shut 20 minutes before Mr Moncur commenced his address. Scores of persons were accommodated in the adjoining supper-room. Others stood on the road outside the building, oi perched precariously on window sills, and many others stood in the aisles and on the stage itself. It was apparent from the outset of Mr Scrimgeour’s speech that he would be subject to severe heckling, and he experienced the greatest difficulty in uttering a few words without uproar and cross-talk developing in the audience. A constable in the body of the hall was almost powerless to secure a better hearing. Mr Moncur had commenced speaking when Mr Scrimgeour arrived, but his remarks were interrupted by a furious volley of cheers, applause, catcalls, and booing. The uproar was renewed as Mr Scrimgeour mounted the platform, and when he was briefly introduced by Mr Moncur. Mr Scrimgeour had been due at Tirau for a social function, but he had been unable to attend, Mr Moncur explained. He was in the district this week, and he had expressed a wish to see something of his unseen radio audience. A voice: Because the election is near. (Applause and laughter). Mr Moncur: I am on the box seat to-night and "Scrim” is going . . . Here he was again interrupted by an outburst of cheers, dissent and laughter. An Interrupted Story Continuing, Mr Moncur said Mr Scrimgeour had to sit and cool his' heels in the meantime. He added that when the chairman had asked for a fair hearing for a public speaker, Voices: For you, Mr Moncur. We Will give you a fair hearing. Although a section of his audience W'as obviously hostile to his policy, Mr Moncur had no difficulty in coping with sallies from members of the crowd, as he proceeded with his address. He outlined the benefits brought by Labour rule to the Dominion. The announcement of Mr Scrimgeour as the succeeding speaker was also greeted with relative silence. Mr Scrimgeour said that he was not really at Tirau to speak at all; he was really there as a visitor. A voice (amid cries of dissent): We are pleased you came. We wanted to see you. Repeating that he had not visited Tirau as a speaker, Mr Scrimgeour said that he had been unavoidably prevented from attending a social function at Tirau earlier, and as he was in the district, several of his friends said they would like him to go along to the hall this evening. “When I came in and received such a warm welcome,” he continued, amid laughter, “I was reminded of an incident in our home, when our little girl, Who had a dog—” ■ Voices: Bow-wow. Mr Scrimgeour: We will give him a job at the studio as sound-effect man. Repeated attempts were made by Mr Scrimgeour to complete his description of the incident, but without success. One interjector demanded "What it had to do with Mickey Savage." When Mr Scrimgeour asked if the audience wished him to finish the story, a chorus of assent was broken by a cry of, “No. Let’s go home, boys.” This In turn provoked a demand for ejectment, and the suggestion from the back of the hall that one member of the audience should be put out of a window. “Those who do not desire to listen to Mr Scrimgeour, please pass out now,” requested the chairman, Mr H. T. Brill. “There is no possibility of his speaking with this noise going on. It Is only fair to give him a hearing.” Later Mr Scrimgeour resumed his seat. When the chairman called for thanks, the audience applauded.