“LIKE OLD TIMES”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 28, 4 February 1943, Page 4

“LIKE OLD TIMES”

PRIME MINISTER SPEIKS AT CHRISTCHURCH NUMEROUS INTERJECTIONS (P.A.) Christchurch. Feb. 3. Interjections were numerous in the early stages of an address by the Prime Minister, thr* Hon. P. Fraser, at the Civic Theatre this evening. Mr. Fraser took some exception to the interruption which had arisen in a brief speech by Miss Mabel Howard, Labour Party candidate for Christchurch East’ in support of whom Mr. Fraser spoke. Miss Howard was interrupted in her remarks on the war effort by an interjector who asked where her party had been in the last war. Several interjections were raised over union secretaries’ salaries.

Shortly after Mr. Fraser started speaking the interjections were renewed. Pausing in his speech. Mr. Fraser said Ihe Labour Partv did not object to intelligent opposition, and would not shirk facing it. fighting it and defeating it, but New Zealand was fighting along with all the United Nations for just the holding of sucn meetings as that being held that night, and he deplored interruptions hurled at a woman candidate such as he had heard a few minutes before, and ho would assure the people responsible that Labour did not want the votes, and would not have the votes, of people who lacked chivalry and attacked a woman because she came out to strive for the cause she believed in. “And there will be many causes for interruptions before this meeting is over,” said Mr. Fraser, when fresh voices were raised from a section of the audience. Referring to the number of candidates in the by-eleclion, Mr. Fraser mentioned Mr. Herring. Voices: “Hooray!” Hooray!” Mr. Fraser: “Yes. I think you should get the cheers over now before I have finished with him. He is Lee's batman.” A voice: “Three cheers for Jack Lee.” The Mayor, Mr. E. H. Andrews, who presided, rose to speak when the interjections started. “Don’t worry, Mr. Chairman.” Mr. Fraser said. “It : s just like old times. We are enjoying this.” Mr. Fraser said that Mr. Herring came out as a supporter of the war effort. Where was Mr. Herring? Voices: “In the last war?" (Laughter) Mr. Fraser said Mr. Herring, on January 19, 1940. attended a meeting to draw together for common action all bodies and individauls opposing New Zealand’s participation in the war. Mr. Fraser went on to refer to Mr. Lyons. Voices: “Give us your policy.”