WEST COAST POLITICS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13353, 18 April 1911, Page 7

WEST COAST POLITICS.

MR. T. E. TAYLOR HECKLED.

VMM Ham at a Raaftaii Netting. (Per United Prw Association.) REEITOK, April 15. Mr T. E. Taylor spoke hep? last night. Anonff the audience was the Bev. William Thompson, organiser for the Licensed Victuallers. Almost from the outset the meeting developed into a dnel between these two. Mr Taylor said the advertised statements as to Maine, published on the eve of the last election, were absolutely false. Mr Thompson—Absolutely true. Mr Taylor said* that th.' man who signed that advertisement knew it to be false. He was an ex-parson who once had preached righteousness, and' now worked for a traffic fonnded on vice. Mr Thompson —Yon miserable coward! The proceedings at this stage grew very warm. Mr Taylor—l never met this man liefore, bnt now 1 have him under the whip. Mr Thompson —Yon are a liar and a rad! You broke ffp my meetings. Mr Taylor—l never met you before, and sever broke up your meetings. Mr Thompson—lf not you it was your party. Me Taylor—That is not I. Mr Taylor termed Mr Thompson "a renegade parson," and Mr Thompson said Mr TWylor was a liar, and no gentleman. Mr Taylor compared Dr Salmond s artie'e against prohibition to drawing a salmon, if not a red herring, across the scent. A local solicitor called on Mr Taylor to ■retract, and the proceedings again became Lively, Mr Thompson alleged that Mr Taylor had conniv.-d at the escape of a certain person (named, from justice. Mr Taylor challenged Mr Thompson to write the charge down, and he (Mr Taylor) would proceed against him for slander. It was t£c most exciting-meeting held in Reefton for years. A resolution was nassonly voting against it, but numbers cot voting, affirming the principle of oational option or recommending it to the Dominion.

STATEMENT BY MR. TAYLOR. CHRISTCHURCH. April 18. Mr Taylor declares that the Press Association report of the R.-efton meeting was «try misleading. The meeting lasted 24 soars. The dispute with Mr Thompson occupied about 20 minutes. The meeting was one of the most orderly he had ever addressed in New Zealand, and a motion in favour of national prohibition was carried with only two dissentients. Mr Tavlor adds that be had a fine meeting at Ruaanga. and a fierce fight at Greymouth.