REFUSAL TO PRESIDE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 25 November 1935, Page 3

REFUSAL TO PRESIDE

MAYOR OF ROTORUA

AT ELECTION MEETING

(Per Press Association) • ROTORUA, Nov. 23.

The largest election meeting ever held in. Rotorua was addressed by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates last night. It was freely rumoured that a demonstration would be made against the issue of tickets. Interest was added to the position owing to a report that the Mayor, Mr T. Jackson, who was to preside, had refused to take the chair on the grounds that the meeting was not of a public nature owing to discrimination against supporters of the Opposition parties. The Mayor was not at the table when the official party took its seats, but he later appeared and extended an official welcome to Mr Coates. He did hot take the chair. In a statement issued after the meeting the Mayor said he had declined to take the chair as the meeting was not of a public nature. The chairman of the local executive of the party had admitted that supporters of opposition candidates had been refused admission to the hall; therefore it was impossible for him to preside in his official capacity. However, he did not believe Mr Coates responsible for the discrimination, and accordingly he very willingly attended the meeting to extend him a welcome.