RANGITIKEI ELECTORATE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 25 November 1935, Page 5

RANGITIKEI ELECTORATE

MR. A. STUART AT MARTON JUNCTION A LIVELY MEETING In furtherance of his campaign as Nationalist candidate for Rangitikei, .ur. A. Stuart addressed a crowded meeting at .Marton .Junction on Friday evening. He spoke on the lines of previous addresses, vigorously defending the Government’s policy and warning the electors not to be misled by fancifal schemes. The meeting at times was rowdy but interjections were good natured. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence was put to the meeting and in volume of voice, at least, the “Noes” had it. However, .Mr. Stuart said that the ballot box was the place to record confidence, and the matter was left at that. The fun started early. .Mr. H. C. Gronn, who presided, was introducing the speaker. “You all know Air. Stuart ’ ’ A voice: Too well! ‘‘He has been in our midst for 40 years,” proceeded .Mr. Gronn. The same voice: Too long. The candidate was greeted with ap plause on rising to speak and there were cries of “Good old Alex!” and “You’re not a bad chap!” He thanked the people for their welcome. “Talking about 40 years ago,” he proceeded An Interjector: Did they have sausages in those days? (Laughter). .Mr. Stuart settled down to business and spoke about the dangers of. inflation. A Voice: What about inflated land values ? Mr. Stuart: What do you know about land? You know more about the business end of a feeding bottle. The Voice: You want the bottle. The Candidate: Yes, if it’s got the right stuff in it. (Laughter). .Mr. Stuart was detailing the schemes set in hand by the Government of recent months, and as each item was mentioned there was a chorus: “Just before the election.” ‘‘You’ll be getting sore feet jump ing at conclusions,” commented the speaker. Defending the extension of the life ; of Parliament, he said the Labour Party would not mind if it was extended to J 4 years instead of four—a statement which evoked cries of “Rot!” and “Talk sense.” Having disposed of policy matters the speaker said he would have some thing to say about the other parties. A Voice: I.eave the Labour Party alone. The Candidate: Well we’ll take the Democrats. The Voice: Rub it in good and hefty. To illustrate a. point a little later, .Mr. Stuart said that he had been at a wedding the other day An Interjector: Oh! you giddy old chap. (Laughter). Another Interjector: And you’re going to a divorce on Wednesday, (Further laughter). .Mr. Stuart: I ’m going back alright. A Voice: Yes! back to the farm. Mr. Stuart: Well, if you don’t want me I won’t worry. If the people want someone else, let them have him. A Voice: And we’ll have him. Another: Why not pull out now and save a licking? .Mr. Stuart was criticising (he atti tude of Independents. “You’ve got to be a team to do any good in Parliament. ' ’ he said. A Voice: Do as you’re told when the whip cracks. -Mr. Stuart: And might not your Labour man get a shock if he ever did get in? But he won’t, so why worry/ (Uproar). “Do you know there is not a farmer in the Labour Party?” asked the speaker. An Interjector: There will be after Wednesday, and you ’ll he among the missing. •‘Do you know that Mr. Nash, of the Labour Party, said he could get the country out of trouble in four weeks?” proceeded the candidate. Voices: ‘‘And Nash never said that”: “Lies,” “Keep to the truth.” Mr. Stuart: Come on. now, take your medicine. I am quoting Nash's speech, so there you are. There were further interjections and Mr. Stuart commented that it suited him. “I wish I had some of you (haps at my up-country meetings,” he added, “to put some life into the show. ’ ’ A Persistent Interjector: That’s on. I’ll come. Mr. Stuart: You’ll do me. The Interjector: I hope they won’t , mistake me /or Gordon Coates. (Laughter). For a time interjections came thick and fast and the candidate appealed for free speech. “You chaps support a party which advocates free speech, yet you won’t practice what you preach,” he remarked. “It would be the same if Labour got into power—they would make a damn mess of things.” A Voice: “Ob. you naughty old man! (Laughter». Another: Isn’t he rude, and in church, too. ( Further laughter). “You have no idea what a trying time members of the Cabinet have had.” said Mr. Stuart later. A Sympathetic Voice: Ah, well, the poor chaps will get a holiday now. ( Laughter). Mr. Stuart concluded by appealing to the electors to stand four square for stable Government. “Don’t be mistaken.” he said, “the Labour Party can’t do half for you that they promise. The first question asked was: “Did you support that subsidy of 6d a lb. tc the tobacco grower?” Mr. Stuart: I supported the Government. So many votes were taken A Voice: You mean you voted and didn’ know what you voted for. Mr Stuart: I support any measure calculated to assist a new and struggling industry. The Questioner: Then why not pay a subsidy on butter? Another Questioner: When you spoke here four years ago you said you would vote against the Government if there was a measure with which you did not agree. Did you ever vote against the Government? Mr. Stuart: Yes. I did once. A Voice: And then you got t’r.c strap. (Laughter). A Third Questioner: Are you in far our of immigration? Mr. Stuart: Yes. but we don’t want any Tom. Dick and Harry. We want the right people and I wouldn’t mind going Home to select thnm. A Voice: Oh no. You might be more costly than Coates. (Laughter). After the motion (mentioned above) had been disposed of the candidate was loudly applauded. He briefly returned thanks.