WENT TO LYTTELTON GAOL FIGHTING LATE PRIME MINISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 2

WENT TO LYTTELTON GAOL FIGHTING LATE PRIME MINISTER.

“ BIRD OF PASSAGE ” AND LABOUR MAN HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS. SAW BEER AT PARTY MEETING, SAYS SPEAKER. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, June 21. “ You’ve merely a bird of passage from Dunedin. People here know nothing about you,” were words used at a conference here to-night. A meeting of small shop-keepers tonight, called for the purpose of discussing closing hours, was considerably enlivened by a very heated dialogue between two Labour workers, Mr G. , S Thomson (Dunedin) and Mr W. J. i Thomas. ! The incident occurred during an adS dress by Mr Thomson, who commenced by dealing with a newspaper correspondent who asked how he reconI ciled his present proposal to lengthen shop hours, when he was the avowed champion of sh( rning them. Mr Thomas p. .csted at this stage. He said he did not come to hear a tirade, but an intelligent address on the subject of closing hours, i On being appealed to, the chairman ! ruled Mr Thomas out of order, i Mr Thomson said the statements which he was replying to were vital ! to the movement. He read the article i in question, and said he had the isame . argument put up to him by Mr j ; Thomas and two other Labour men. “You're doing nothing but slandering I people,” interjected Mr Thomas. “Why I don’t you get on with the subject?” j Mr Thomson (dramatically exhibit- . ing a red badge) : 1 am a member of the Labour party, and went to Lyt- | telton gaol fighting Mr Massey. If Mr i Thomas can say he has done that i then he can call me a traitor, and ! say I am insincere if he wishes. Mr Thomas: I fortunately can't say that. "Mere than that,” Mr Thomson conI tinned, "I neither smoke, drink, nor : gamble, though I am in the midst of it. : all the time.” He said it was a dis- ■ ; grace that beer should be consumed at ’ j Labour meetings. They must clean up , ! the stable. -j Mr Thomas: You’ll get into serious [ i trouble if you go on making wild irra- , tional statements like that. Mr Thomson was about to make a l further remark when Mr Thomas said, “You’re mad.” Mr Thomson: I saw beer at a LaI bour meeting last night. Mr Thomas (angrily) : You’re a liar. • You’re merely a bird of passage from ;; Dunedin. People here know nothing - about you. The chairman ruled Mr Thomas out 5 of order again. I, Mr Thomson: Very well, I will let it rest at that. Unfortunately we have been supplying good copy for the newspapers. ... Later in the evening he assured Mr Thomas that they parted the best of i, friends. . jr. The rest of the evening passed ' out further untoward incident. ! At the conclusion the meeting deal cided to form a sub-committee to as- * ! sist Mrs Taylor, branch of 1 j Invercargill, in the work of strengthen»o 1 ing the association here, and obtain- ~ ing support for the petitition.