RANGITIKEI CONTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 14 October 1938, Page 9

RANGITIKEI CONTEST

“FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW ” MUSICAL HONOURS FOR MR. GORDON ASSISTANCE FROM MR. A. B. SIEVWRIGHT An attendance of 700 electors in the Civic Theatre, Marton, last night accorded the National candidate, Mr. E. B. Gordon, musical honours when he arrived on the platform at 9.30 p.m. after an address, given by Mr. A. B. Sievwright, of Wellington. Mr. Sievwright spoke in the National Party’s cause while Mr. Gordon was at Kimbolton. Very forceful in his criticism of Labour, Mr. Sievwright was listened to with close attention by a majority of those present. There were frequent interjections, but nothing of an untoward nature.

Mr. Golden was greeted by sustained cheering and the singing of "For He’s a Jolly Gooo Fellow.” He thanked Mr. Sievwright for his service in then electorate in the cause of the party, and stressed the serious issue before the electors—State domination and socialism, as proclaimed by the Labour Party, or freedom for private enterprise and opportunity for self-reliance as supported by the Nationalists.

Mr. T. Barton, president of the Rangitikei branch of the National Party, moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Sievwright for his addresses in the electorate. Responding, Mr. Sievwright moved a vote of confidence in Mr. Gordon and in the National Party, which was carried, a small minority voting against it. ADDRESS AT OTOKO CAMP There were over 120 electors at Mr. E. B. Gordon’s meeting at the Y.M.C.A. rooms at Otoko, on the Parapara Road, on Wednesday evening—about an equal proportion of Government and National supporters. Mr. R. O. Mongomerie presided and the candidate received a patient hearing with numerous good-humoured interjections. A number of questions were answered by the candidate in his usual straightforward manner and at the conclusion of the address was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation. Mr. E. B. Gordon was congratulated by Labour supporters on the expert manner in which he had placed his views before the audience and also on the wonderful progress that he had made as a platform speaker. “CHEERS THAT BECAME BOOS ” AMUSING TOUCH AT MARTON "Three cheers for . . .” called a voice from the audience in the Civic Theatre, Marton, last night, at the close of an address given by the National candidate for Rangitikei (Mr. E. B. Gordon). Before the object of the cheers could be named, the audience anticipated that they would be for either the National Party or the candidate. But the audience was wrong. ... For Mick Savage,” concluded the voic», which had been cut off. Swiftly the cheers of the moment before were effaced by loud booing.