A HOWDY MEETING.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 14474, 13 March 1913, Page 5

A HOWDY MEETING.

Mil MASSEY HAS WARM HEiCEIP-

TION

INTERJECTIONS AM) INTEiKRTJP-

TIGNS

CHRIS-TCHUItCH, March 12

The Hon. Mr Massey addressed a. large audience at the Theatre Royal, last night. It wtus fortunate thatspe-' cial , precautions had been taken to prtwnt danger of overcrowding for the hall was filled by 7 o'clock- The dpors were then "closed.. Hundreds turned up later. When the , curtain was drawn, up a pand«moniuml reigned fur several, minutes. Finally"an appeal by the Mayor restored order. Mr Massey rose amidst cheers and groans. Ha said he was to have his say. ££«■ always had got a. fair hearing everywhere, even at. Waihi. He* was going to make a; policy speech. Half of his next sentence was lost through interruption, the, incident moving the Mayor to rise and apologise "for the manners of & £eyr noisy citizens." Mr Massey referred to the work of the past session, pointing! out the fact that the patiy had' gone, through hundreds of divisions NVithout a single defeat. Financial difficulties (legacies left by his predecessors) made it imperative for the Finance Minister to go Homle. They were giving the local bodies money at the same rat© as it.cost to get. That was a square ■ deial. The country was never more prosperous than to-day. A voic*: What about the Southland letases1. Mr Massey: What about it? What did Judge Williams satys? t , A voice: How much did you pay hiniii Mr Miassey said such remarks were a- disgrace to the city. Judgai Williams is a man I hold in the highest I'espect. Interruptions here became more frequent. When, % referred to labour matters he said they would stick to tine Arbitration Act and endeavour to make it! perfect. The Government would see that thei Hipper House would be elective^, and the terra of office wouldbe for three years. Ai vot© of oonfid'ence was pi-oposiecl, followed by a hostile amendment. A 1 great many held up their handsi for each and amiid cheers and groans the Mayor declared tlie motloni carried.