TE AWAMUTU AT NIGHT.

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2235, 15 November 1928, Page 5

TE AWAMUTU AT NIGHT.

-> LARGE CROWD AWAITS RESULTS; ■'- - . ' MR BROADFOOTO ENTHUSfAS- , 1 TIC RECEPTION. , v| - "'"'.."?-•''' '« Evidence of the keen and general- ; interest aroused in the contests, was afforded in Te Awamutu last night. , Shortly after 7 p.m. people began to • congregate in front of the Waipa Post Office, where arrangements had been made, to screen the results. As the evening wore on the crowd increased in proportions till nearly 1000 had assembled, all eager to obtain the latest information which came through with a promptness, that was highly appreciated. In that connection a meed of praise is due to the local officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, who handled ; all telephone and telegraph messages with despatch, and to them the best thanks of the proprietors of the Post are due and accorded. The crowd was a good-natured and orderly one. and lustily cheered the results as they came to hand. The polling was not without its surprises and occasioned a great deal of natural elation among the supporters of the successful parties. Shortly after midnight, Mr W. J. Broadfoot, whose majority surprised hi| most sanguine supporters, arrived from Te Kuiti and Otorohano-a, where he had briefly returned thanks, and was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. ~ Immediately the car pulled up the new M.P. was seized by his ardent supporters and amid msuch cheering and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," was carried shoulder high to a platform outside the Waipa Post office. His appearance there was the signal for the outburst of further, cheering and singing. , . "I promised my friends," beeran Mr Broadfoot, when the ovation had died down, "and my good supporters this morning that win or lose I would come back to Te Awamutu to-night to tender them my very best thanks for the great fight they had put up for me. "It is my good fortune —and I hope it will be to the good fortune of the district—that I won — "Too true," chipped in a supporter, a remark that drew forth a renewed demonstration :'of cheering. "While it is my pleasure to win, I must reeret that two others had to lose. (Hear, hear.) I feel that I owe a great deal to Te Awamutu for the way it stuck to me. _ . .. j "Of course, it did," interacted someone amid a chorus of hear, 'hears. Mr Broadfoct went on to say that he was highly pleased and deeply o-rateful for the result, especially as he had come into their midst somewhat as a stranger and had pot a great spin. (Loud applause.) Right through the campaign he had had excellent square treatment from the papers," more than he had anticipated and for which he was extremely grateful. Last election he had had to swim against a ••strong current, but this year he had had a— A voice: A big wave with you. Another: You had a mighty trudgeon stroke with you. _ .' There was further cheering at this stage for several m,inutes, and when it had subsided, Mr Broadfoot said he could only thank them very sincerely for the confidence they had renosed in him. He really did not know what to say, but he felt proud of the fact that it was in the Waitomo. electorate that the United Party had been given it's birth, and he had the honour of going in. ~..*. A voice: You'll be Prime Minister Another: You're two up, Broadie. Three Ministers have gone. Further cheering greeted .this interjection, and Mr Broadfoct added: "And the gentleman who coulcm c handle your lands is out" This remark was greeted with renewed ° Mr in ßroadfoot said he would tell them a little story. An Englishman and a. Scotsman had a heated argument and the former eventually declared that he was born an Englishman, lived as an Englishman and would die an Englishman. Ayemon',' rejoined the Scotsman, "haven't vou got any ambition. (Laughter.) Well, he thanked them sincefely ion behalf of his good lady and himself for the honour bestowed on him and the confidence reposed.in him, and he could assure them that his whole efforts and ambition wouldbe devoted towards placing the King Country on the man. A voice: You'll do it, alright. "Yes I will give you of my best to do it,"'added Mr Broadfoot, "and I will strive to give the little man of trwday the opportunity to become the big man of to-morrow." (Loud and prolonged cheering.) Whpn quietness had been restored, someone called out for "three cheers ?oi W. J- Broadfoot, M.P.". and these were lustily given, followed by the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." ~ , <. Mr Broadfoot) thereupon called for three cheers for Mr Rolleston, which Were heartily given, as also a similar comnliment to Mr Croall, on the call of the new member. f) "Now, then, ladies and gentlemen, called out Mr Broadfoct, "three cheers for the man I had the pleasure of seconding for the leadership crfthe United Party-Sir Joseph Ward This call resulted in a further enthusiastic demonstration and Mr Broadfoot then descended the piat,form, being immediately surrounded bv, a large number of supportiers, who offered their Personal congratulations. Shortly afterwards he left for Te Kuiti, the car moving awav to renewed cheering. Thereafter the latest returns were screened, and at 1 a.m. the Good Night" message was flashed on trie screen and the people wended their wav home, after having seen results posted which will mark a political milestone in the history of New Zealand.