THE LABOUR VIEW.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 853, 29 August 1933, Page 4

THE LABOUR VIEW.

Mrs M’Combs Deals With a Questioner. A BOUQUET AT WOOLSTON, Even the voice of an interjector who is sympathetic, and on the whole friendly, may pall on a speaker if it is persistent enough, and Mrs Elizabeth M’Combs, in her meeting at Woolston last night, put up with the remarks for a while, but finally decided it was time to quell the interruptions and scored off her tormentor—a woman with an extraordinarily deep voice. Mrs. M’Combs was given a great reception, 400 persons standing and cheering as she entered the hall. An overflow meeting was addressed in an adjoining room by aid of a loud-speaker. The candidate was presented with a bouquet by the “ Women of Woolston,” and, with the one exception, was given a most attentive hearing. At the conclusion of the address, which was on similar lines to that given at Lyttelton, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence without dissent. The meeting closed with round upon round of cheering and the singing of “ For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Before Mrs M’Combs delivered her speech, the chairman (Mr C. Hill) read a telegram from Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., congratulating Mrs M’Combs upon the reception she received .at Lyttelton and wishing her success at Woolston. The chairman, introducing the speaker, said she was the rightful successor to her husband, and he did not think there jvas much doubt about the result of the election. First Passage At Arms. Mrs M’Combs spoke of her experience in politics, dating back to the days of her girlhood. She then traversed the Labour Party policy, and it was not long before she had her first passage at arms with the interjector who had opened fire almost at the outset. She spoke of the plight of the unemployed —“ Eight bob a day,” boomed the voice from the hall, and continued to mumble on, although the gist of the remarks could not be gathered above those of others who advised her to subside. Finally, the candidate took up the cudgels. “ I know my friend likes talking, but so do I,” she suggested, and then again she* was called. upon—“ We can’t both speak at once. Shall I speak first, or would you care to?” she asked. The audience left the candidate in no doubt as to which speaker they wished to hear and the speech was resumed. It was not long before “ boomer ” was back in the limelight with the pessimistic opinion that New Zealand would never again be “ God’s Own Country,” as Mrs M’Combs suggested it might be under Labour rule. “ You are only spoiling my meeting, and I’m sure you don’t really want to . do that.” Mrs M’Combs said. The appeal was fruitless, and the “ boomer ” was back again with another comment. “Aw, shut up!” said an irate member of the audience, but Mrs M'Combs required no assistance. “ It’s all-right,” she said. “ I can easily talk over that. I have been accustomed to dealing with children all my life.’’ That silenced the interjector and the meeting flowed on its even way until the ovation. Then a triumphant sup- | porter of the candidate, who had been angrily regarding the interjector all the evening, turned to her, crying: “How do you like j-our eggs done, Missus?”