MR. ATMORE & THE PREMIER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2010, 18 March 1914, Page 7

MR. ATMORE & THE PREMIER

STRONG OPPOSITION COMMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ■ ■':- Nelson,. March 17. In connection ! with the disturbance ivhicti marked the close of the Prime • Minister's meeting last ovening . the "Colonist," which is the local Opposition, journal, ill*, a loading article in this morning's issue, headed "A Regrettable Incident," deals with the matter'in the following outspoken terms:—.-■' ■"We cannot . . .refrain from comment upon the regrettable incident whiajj' warked the close of the meeting anuj $ disclaim on behalf of the people oi JNeison any sympathy with what m'ay 1)A considered a gross discourtesy to a distinguished visitor.to the city. . '.' .'<. It was a meetins: called to hear an. address By the \Primo Minister, and apart from whatever may bo due'to the office Mr. Mnsaey holds, .Mr.-. Atmore was not present as an ordinary elector. But he was present in his capacity or. member for the district and he occupied α-iteat on tho platform by invitation— ■a courtesy to his own official position from those responsible for the holding of the meeting. It seems to us, therefore ■• that in endeavouring to take charge of tho meeting and deliver a political'address on his own account Mr. Atmoro forgot what was diie.to him, on' such an occasion and lamentably overstepped tho bounds of good taste. His own- sense of tho fitness of things and the , standard of conduct his supporters are entitled :to aspect from , him should have restrained him from a proceeding which we are sure will be very widely denlored." ,■ ■ . , ~ . ■ :The matter is the subject of general comment here to r day ' and the. almost universal opinion is that. Mr. Atwore's conduct at the Prime Minister's ■ meetins tends to make his defeat certain at the next General , „' ; .