WORDS AT A MEETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 123, 27 May 1938, Page 8

WORDS AT A MEETING

MINISTER AND INTERJECTOR ‘•DON’T CALL ME A LIAR! ” INCIDENT AT WELLINGTON [ Per I’.ess ? asoeiaV.cn.f WELLINGTON, May 26. A declaration of an interjector that (he Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong! was a liar, and retort by Mr Armstrong that he would poke th. interjector in the nose, led to a brief incident at a meeting addressed b. the Minister at St. Anne’s Hall, Northland, to-night. At the time the Minister was comparing the treatment of pensioners undei the Labour Government with that under the Coalition Government, and said that nobody in New Zealand had had a reduction in pensions under the present Government. The Interjector: There are. 1 know it and jou know that is a lie. Mr Armstrong: Don’t you tell me that or I will poke you in the nose. The Inter.jetcor: You’re a liar. Mr Armstrong: I don’t stand that sort of thing from a snipe like you. 1 believe in straight talk. The interjector then protested he had not called the Minister a liar *1 never made such a remark. ’ he said. 'The chairman 'Mr H. M. CampIbell!: Order, please. | Several members of tne audience *near the interjector urged him to apologise. Mr Armstrong; The interjector deceives our sympathy ana not our condemnation. Everybody is not responsible for what they say. We have had a very nite meeting here to-night, ar t we are not going to have it disturbed by one hooligan. 1 can stand any amount of criticism. 1 have been getting it all my life, but don't tell me thru 1 he. I don’t do that. 1 may be mistaken in some ot my conclusions. The interjector then rose and apologised. He said, however, that r.c knew soldiers’ widows in Wellington who were not getting a pension, Th’ Minuter said tney were. I At the close of the meeting the incident was again referred to by Mr | Arms! rong. “I am very sorry for the] i incident to-night.” he said. 1 don't ob- ! jcct to being told I am incorrect, but | •when a man says I he he will gel it j ; back. If somebody says 1 lie tnau | ' hurts. 1 don’t think the chap meant ’it in that way. ‘ Another interjector: He said it. Mr Armstrong: i am very sorry •for the retort on my pait. . The Minister, who dealt largely; with the Government’s handling ot | ihe unemployment problem, was ac-< corded a vote of thanks and con fl-I tjcncc without dissent. The hall wasj packed to the doors. « —. —' ~