INDEPENDENT STAND

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22151, 24 September 1943, Page 4

INDEPENDENT STAND

MR W. H. THOMPSON’S ADDRESS Mr Yf. H. Thompson, the Independent candidate for Hamilton, addressed an enthusiastic audience at the Theatre Royal last night Considering the weather the attendance was good. Mr Thompson emphasised the importance of the fearless voter. A voter who did not vote according to his conscience and convictions because of some illusory fears was a coward, and he flung into the gutter one of the greatest privileges of a freeman. The speaker went on to speak of the insidious power of the control of the National Party by outside bodies. They had been challenged repeatedly by Flying-Officer Clive Drummond, himself and others, but had evaded the issue. The clear-cut issue was emphasised when the National candidate, Mr F. Findlay, a man of undoubted integrity, stated at Melville that he believed in the application of Christian principles in everyday life. Yet he was not allowed to endorse those Christian principles when they were placed before him by the Reconstruction Movement, under the chairmanship of Canon Walter Averill. The same could be said of the Labour candidate, Mr Barrell. A motion of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. The chair was taken by Mr W. R. Shattock.