AUDIENCE SHIVERED OUTSIDE HALL

Chronicle (Levin), 18 November 1946, Page 5

AUDIENCE SHIVERED OUTSIDE HALL

Press Association

wiiile hon. w. e. parry stayed at home

Bv Telearavh —

AUCKLAND, Nov. 17. * Shivcring in a -Jd wind .nceompan icd i » y rain, about 4(1 rcMdum-tH of Ihe Aicli ' Ilill I'lvctoraU* waited iu rain on Saturday niglit nutsido the Grey Lynn library to attend a political meeting whb'ii had been advertised in both Auckland newspapers. Aceording to the advertisements tlie speaker was to lx> W. K. I'arry, Labour candidate for Arch HUI electorate and the meeting was to begin at s p.m. The first xuenibers ot' whai would have been the audionee arrived outside the library at 7.1.1 ji.in. and by 7.41 p.ni. they had been joined by many niore. By H o'clock, as the lilirary was still in darkness and the candidate had not made an appearance, doubts began to be entertained by the aiting people as to whether the meeting was to be held. The arrival of two jiolicemen vwho said they had been detailed to attend the meeting, temporar ily dispelled all doubts. llalf an hour later, however, the hall was still in darkness and the candidate had not pnt in an appearance. The waiting people began to get angry and began to argue among themselves as to what had hap jiened after the meeting had been plain ly advertised. A reporter who was among the waiting crowd, telephoned AI r. Parry's residenee and found the candidate there. Mr. Parry immediately launched an attack on the part the newspapers had plaved in the election eampaign and wlien told he had been advertised as speaking at the meeting, he replied that ]ie did not read newspapers. Mr. Parry stated he had no knowledge of the meeting. Later he spoke to oue of lii.s- supporters on the telephone and later relurned to tell the disgruntled crowd there had been a mistake.