OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19434, 21 October 1925, Page 2

OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS

LABOUR, INVADES MEETING. LAW AND ORDER. One of the noisiest election meetings held in Auckland this year, states the “New Zealand Herald,” was addressee by the Reform candidate for Auckland West, Mr. S. Oldfield, in the Church, of Christ, Ponsonby Road. Labour supporters turned up in force, and the candidate, who is an uncompromising opponent of that party, devoted his whole speech to an attack upon its policy and the bona tides 01 its leaders. The address was punctu ated with interjections, uproar and demands from the chair for a fair hearing. The candidate was not dismayed. “I don’t mind so long as you can hear me,’’ he declared. “I’ll tell you onething: All this tells me that the Labour Party in Auckland West has got the wind up. I heard the other day that the Labour people were squealing all over the electorate, and now I know it.’’ A voice: Three cheers for Savage. The cheers were given. Somebody then called for three cheers for Mr. Oldfield, and these were given even more lustily. The chairman, Mr. E. A. Perkins, had to endure a good deal from the Labour obstructors when introducing the candidate. “He’s a good boy,” he said, “and we ought to put him in. He is proud of the flag and the Empire. ’ ’ A voice: The red flag! Mr. Perkins: He stands for the flag of the free and the brave. He is the official Reform candidate. A voice: Let’s hear him then. Other Voices: Sit down. Sing it. You’re not selling poultry now. Mr. Perkins: He is a man with a future. He’s got a good-looking audience in front of him, and I propose we give him a good reception. (Applause ana laughter). The candidate began by repeating what he had said at his first meeting, that the present was a greater crisis than that of 1914, and that a section of the people were out to destroy law ano order. There was much uproar, and the chairman warned a tall man standing by the door. The man nodded goodhumouredly, and someone else told the I chairman to “keep his head on.’’ A little later Mr. Perkins inviteu somebody whom he described as “the gentleman with a voice like a foghorn” to keep quiet. The candidate was accused of talking “sob-stuff’’ when he denounced the teaching of agnosticism in Socialist Sunday Schools. He declared that he whole-heartedly supported Mr. Coates, who stood for law- and order against attacks by the revolutionary Socialists. He had been told by a Labour supI porter to state his own platform, beI cause the Reform Party was on trial, | and not to attack the Labour platform. ! His reply was that as 5766 people in ■ Auckland West had voted three years | ago to put a Labour Government into i office he felt justified ir. regarding La ; hour as on trial and in attacking its ■ platform. A voice: It’s never had a trial yet. In the middle of a stormy interlude about the shipping strike, the chairman rose and remarked, “I’d be glad ir someone would tell mo the name of the gentleman who is making all that noise. ’ ’ A Voice: Trotsky. (Loud and continued laughter). In inviting questions at the close of the candidate’s speech, the chairman spoke in praise of the latter, provoking much loud interruption. “Noise is not argument,’’ he remarked. A Voice: Then don’t jazz. (Roars of laughter). The candidate, who had held his ground without the least dismay alt through, and had been heartily applauded by many supporters, answered a number of questions. This was the quietest period of the meeting. No vote of thanks and confidence was moved, but Mr. Oldfield received hearty cheers, as did his Labour opponent, Mr. M. J. Savage.