THE LYTTELTON SEAT'

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 4

THE LYTTELTON SEAT'

MR. MILLER AT OPAWA. THE ATTEMPT TO INTERRUPT. (By TclcgrnpJj.- -Press Association.) Citristcfiurch, December 1. 'Tho Mothoclist Schoolroom at Opawa was crowded when Air. Miller, the Government candidate lor Lyttcltcm, delivered a lengthy address. The mating was noisy, many interruptions coming from a •.section of men standing at the year of the building; but Mr. Miller's straightforwardness, and his abundant:; of good humour, prevented any real disturbance. Air. AliJlnr commenced his address by a tribute to the late Air. Laurenson, and lie- said tliat, while ibeir la to representative was in Parliament, ho bad. no desire to contest tli« sent which Sir. Laurcnson had so ably represented. The speaker felt nuite happy in bis little corner taking his share in local government, and was not particularly anxious to enter the wider political held. The present election, ho continued, would undoubtedly show whether the action of the present Government, in doing its utmost to maintain law and order, was to be approved, or whether the action of the federation of, Labour had tl.j sympathy of the electors. He was in'favour of the Arbitration Act. Under it the employers did not, and would not, tako notice of any small breach of an award, but paid secretaries of unions made it their business to lind out and light over similar breaches in order to justify (heir position. Dealing with finance, bo said that the inheritance of a largo amount of short-dated loans had so embarrassed the Government that it tt-as not aide to do all that it desired in the way of lending money for the development of the country. The stonewall bo strongly condemned, amidst applause, and proceeded to review past legislation. Air. J. Longton then moved a hearty vote of thanks to tbo speaker for his interesting and instructive address. A motion of "no conlidence" was refused by the chair. On a siiow of hands being taken a bod.v of young men jn the rear who had been interrupting strenuously managed to defeat* tho inotio'l. '

The meeting closed amid cheers for the Federation of Labour, and counter cheers for the Reform l candidate,' Mr. Miller's supporters easily holding their own.

UVEtY ME£TINC. CHAIRMAN FORCED TO LEAVE CHAIR. Cfiristclturch, December i. Mr. J. B. Lauronson. Liberal candidate for Lyttolton, addressed a largely attended nice ting at Gpawa to-night. After tlio address the following question Was put:—"l want to know if you, as vice-president, of the Canterbury Employers' Association, agroe with the Employer;;' Association of New Zealand in maintaining their own organisation and demanding that iho organisation for the benefit of tlio workers bo abolished?" Mr. Laurensrm replied:-—''! do not agree." Mr. Geo. Scott, chairman of tlio Hcathcoto County Council, who presided, refused to put the question, but was howled down and compelled to vacate the chair. A working man was then elected chairman. A motion proposing a vote of thanks and confidence, was proposed, but tho meeting broke up without any motion being adopted. ...