AT ELECTION MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19435, 22 October 1925, Page 6

AT ELECTION MEETINGS

PEOPLE WHO ATTEND ENTERTAINING AND OTHERWISE. MR VEITCH’S EXPERIENCE. Election meetings in Wanganui hav* so far been singularly dull, but Mr Veitch’s mooting in Keith Street last evening, gave promise, at several stages, to be particularly interesting. The chairman was a kindly gentleman, who was evidently making his debut in that position, and he allowed a lot of latitude. Two Men and Two Cigars. A florid faced gentleman in the front became somewhat estranged from a man in the second row. The florid gentleman was talkative, full of interjections, aad smoked a pungent cigar. As he puffed, he waved his hand before his face to clear away the smoke so that he could see. the candidate more clearly. It wa» not out of consideration for the lady alongside him. She wasn’t his wife. The man in the second row soon began to protest, and at a convenient moment he rose to draw the chairman’s attention to the nuisance, mildly asking it everyone could smoke. The florid gentleman: "You sit down. Mr Veitch is speaking. Keep quiet.’’ And he went on puffing. "Stop him smoking,” said the eeeond man, but the chairman went on sitting. So the second man pulled out his pipe and struck up, but, being a gentleman, he shortly afterwards put it away in his pocket and resigned himself to enjoying the address. The florid gentleman continued, however, to take a keen interest in the address. Ho interjected frequently. He mentioned the Wilford-Veitch party and asked; "What did you let George Forbes in for then ’ ’ Mr Veitch: "He is a good man, too. We have so many good men we don't know what to do with them.’’ A voice at the back: "Turn them out.” After many interjections the chairman was provqked. "You be quiet, or you will go out,’’ pointing threateningly to the door. "Don’t make me laugh,’’ said the florid one. Then, being in a benevolent mood, he walked up to the ehairman and gave him a cigar. The gift was scorned, and passed over to Mr Veitch’s end of the table. The florid gentleman thereupon arose, walked up to ihe table and took back tho cigar, giving it to the man in the scat behind. It was like the pipe of peace. The gentleman smiled, and there were no more cross words between them. The Questioners. When Mr Veitch announced that Le would make a certain statement, thet man in the front seat said: "Don’t tell us any lies.’’ "You arc making it too hot,’’ said Mr lieitch calmly. "All these people camo here to listen, even if you didn’t.’’ "Well, tell us the truth,’’ was the unabashed reply. "You will have to go,out,” said the candidate. "You arc a decent man under ordinary conditions.’’ When question time came Mr Veitch had to reply to a broadside from supporters of the Labour Party. "Is it by accident or design that you choose the name of the most Tory party in the world?’’ was the first question, from an elderly man. "That is just w f here the narrow lines of party bigotry come in. What is in a name?” asked the candidate. "It was an accident, then?’’ "No, it was by design. The National Party will be for the national good.’’ The front seat man: "Joe Ward will not have that name. He is a good old Diek Seddonite. The Wilford-Veitch crowd, where are they? You were a Liberal at one time.’’ Mr Veitch—"There is room in our party for Liberals or anybody who will play the game for New Zealand. A name of a party means nothing to me. ’ ’ Mr A. Clark, secretary of the Wanganui Labour Party, cross-questioned Mr Veitch in regard to the fusion negotiations and asked what Mr Wiilotu mvaa; jy .settling the "petty differences’’ uetween the parties. Mr Veitch said he did not believe in line distinctions in words. "The conference proved that the differences were so great that we could not get to gether at all. ’ ’ Elderly man: "The Reform Pariy has you on toast. If they get enough at the election they won’t have you at any price. If they haven’t enough they know they can get you.” Mr Veitch —"It is not a fact.” A voice at the back: "Give him a chance to be turned over.” Labour interrogations were so frequent, and at times tho atmosphere was so heated, that Mr. Veitch remarked that the Labour Party had better take tho hall for themselves. The reply was they would be there to-night.

After a lengthy meeting, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Veitch was put and carried, an amendment f thanks, but no confidence, being defeated.