MR. LAURENSON AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14840, 4 December 1913, Page 8

MR. LAURENSON AT LYTTELTON.

The Lyttolton Oddfellows' Hall was crowded last night, when Mr J. B. Laurenson, candidate in interest, addressed the electors. A fairly large Section of tho audience was plainly of the militant type of Red Feds. Mr W. T. Foster, who presided, said he had been called on at the last minute to take the chair, and appealed to the crowd for a fair hearing. Mr Laurenson said it was not his intention to speak as fully "as he• had done at Woolston the previous night, as he thought it was a candidate's duty to make his position fully, clear in his first address. He said he had the fullestsympathy with any just Labour mover ment. (Cries of "Yes, on the employers' side").' '■ ■■ Someone in the audience demanded to know why Mr Laurenson had sacked a man the other week.?The candidate said that owing to the strike and his works being full of manufactured material, he had reluctantly to put off some of his hands, who had since boon taken on again. * One man said it had been reported in the parvers that Mr Laurenson had re.ceive'd "a,letter from the Boilermakers' Union thanking him for his assistance in connexion with their recent dispute. Mr Laurenson then read the letter, which thanked him for his efforts'on behalf of the Boilermaker's Union. The speaker in the audience said he gavo that letter an absolute denial on behalf of the Boilermakers' Union. _ Mr Laurenson said that the union had its own remedy. He was prepared to 6how the signatures to anyone who wished to see them. The man in tho audience: The minutes were never passed by the union. Tho president and vice-presi-dent would giro it an absolute denial. (Hear, hear, and much noise). At the.conclusion of the address there was no littlo disorder, owing to the candidate's refusal to answer verbal questions. On this account a motion of noconfidenco was moved and seconded, but the chairman refused to put it, and the meeting broke up in disorder with cheers for the Red Fed candidate.