IN THE CROWD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17525, 30 April 1925, Page 7

IN THE CROWD.

WATCHING THE NUMBERS GO UP. ELECTION NIGHT STUDY. I i I He light that was reflected from the j result board fell on a masculine crowd i —a- crowd of toilers mostly of the type that study -the outside totalizator at Addington. The impassive face of the result board, with its ever-changing tigures, brought back memories of

speculative days, and induced a train of sporting jargon among individuals. 4 ‘What about backing Joe Handet for a divvy,’’ said one man, “lie’s paying a hatful.” “Archer's paying two pound five.” said another lightning calculator, not very wide of the mark. “What about a nought on the end of Archer/* Mas another suggestion. The scene Mas one that left a ueep impression On the memory. Threfe high-powered lamps black-cowled on the. spectators’ side, threw a brilliant filar© on a black figured background on which two experts nith paste brushes worked feverishly. The Town Clerk, smiling cheerfully, Mould come to a window opening on to the plat-

form, thrust out a sheet. and the number sticker would soon be gaily pasting up a progress report, while the crowd craned its neck to get an early view of the figures. It was a Jlabour crowd, essentially, and whenever Archer’s thousand figure got a. preliminary dash of paste there was a howl of jov. When it came to Flesher' s turn to change there | would be warning cries of ••That’s enough,” or a cheer if he fell hack in the running. “Archer’s winning a double,” said the sporting student ns big figures went up on the Hospital Hoard column. (As a matter of fact ho was .just beaten on the post for first place on that event). High up in the old balcony of what is to be the new concert chamber, a group of youths had climbed and presently there came the strains of a cornet. It favoured the audience with the appropriate air, ' Horsey,

keep your tail up.” Ln essaying that pathetic ballad, -Can You l'o° get.” the cornetjst fell off the top note backwards, much to the amusement of the expectant crowd. Interest was barelv aroused by Harbour Board figures, as the straight was neared in the Mayoral contest. Give us the big stuff.” said a disgusted voice, as the paperhanger moved his steps over to the Harbour Board figures. *' What about Thacker,” said .another voice. “ He’s getting Thacker, and Thacker and Thacker,” came th© reply. By this time the crowd was assured of the return of Mr Archer, and when another long list of City Council results arrived, the sporting 44 jo Ker shouted : “ What about trottm’ out Archer?” However, there was a long wait before the winner returned to scale, so to speak, and the crowd was very inipal ient. 4 ‘ Where is Archer?” came the call, when th© result of the Mayoralty was no longer in doubt. 4 ‘ He's trying on the robe !” “ Where are your short skirts?” he 1 was asked when at last he appeared j on the balcony. Mr Archer thanked almost every, one for putting him at the top of the poll, but a wag in the crowd found | one omission.

“"Wliat about Bean land ?” he called. Even Mr Archer smiled. Air Flesher was howled down. ‘ What are you going to do with this building now. Flesher r” came a. query from the old haloonv. Going to make a zoo out. of it?” Mr Flesher started “Ladies and gentlemen” and then there was another interruption. When he foun 1 his voice again it was in an angrier tone. “T always thought a Christchurch The word “crowd” set fire to the magazine, and there was another explosion. Tn the lull Mr Flesher turned somewhat- bitterly towards Mr Archer and pointing to him with his arm declared “At all events he is a minority candidate.” This was the “end of tiic section. “What about proportional representation?” one man howled. Another section of the crowd meanwhile was engaged in a lusty count-out. Mr Flesher was seen to dictate, a vigorous sentence or tv.o to the reporters. “My word, he’s puttin’ the hard

word in now,” said a little man in the crowd. Mr .Boanland looked liaj>p> . and the crowd applauded him as the saviour of Archer. He barked a few words about the Citizens' Association and the newspapers, and as he disappeared Mr K. •!. Howard, handed him his hat and shook him unctuously by the hand. Tie was certainly ‘‘the i good fellow’’ with Labour. “Where's your wings. Joe? ' greet- i ed lhe grey-haired Hamlet who came j forward hardily. “I stood as an independent,” he j said, “ami l would remind you that J independence is Liberty. O. Lilwuuy, j Thou sbalt not soar forever on the far horizon —” This was laying it on too thick for such a late hour, and the quotation was abandoned under a derisive broadside. Then Mr Hamlet tried another tack. ‘•You know what* the good Book says." he began, “The stone that the builders refused is become the head of the corner.’ ” This was too much, and a roar of derision swelled up. not only from builders but from bricklavers and boilermakers and allied tradesmen. Mr Hamlet descended to commonplace speech for a moment, and then the crowd had a dissolving view of this hardy optimist that vast h— - was not going to hold. But nobody was sorry that he barely saved his deposit.