WELLINGTON CENTRAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

ME. MACK AT ST. PETER'S.Mr. M. J. Mack addressed olectofca in St. Peixjr's Schoolroom last cveuiiig!. The Rev. G. Knowles Smith presided. The hall was tilled. A large number of those' present expressed their hostility" to the candidate, but they did not deny him a hearing-. Mr. Mack covered ground that he had broken in previous addresses.' Hβ said that the electors had been told th.ab the contest 'lay between Messrs. Fraser and Hildret'h, and that he (Mr. Mack) did not count. If that were soi he was doing Labour good by splitting; the anti-Labour vote, but- if Labour stands solid Mr. Fraser would get in. j'During his speech Mr. Mack was accused of not representing Labour. Uβ replied that he had letters which showed that he did have Labour support.. He read one from the president of a. union, but declined to givo the name of the writer. This brought a howl of disapproval from opponents present.. Mr. Mack said that there was i-.o industrial organisation in ■ New Zealand.

Voices: Hot! Mr. Mack: There is only one indus-, trial society in' New Zealand to-day— the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. One of the audience: They don t think much of you.

Mr. Mack said that the first essenr tial of a. candidate was loyalty to his country. The Labour Party had no .platform regarding education: that had not yet been drawn up. On the liquor question he stood' for the Efficiency Hoard's proposals. "He was of opinion, that he would be "in it" on Thursday, but if he was not there would be no weeping on bis part, and they would probably find' him coming up smiling hi sonie future date. In reply to & question, Mr. Mack said v that Uβ had nothing to do with the inSfertwn in tno Press of an advertisement appealing to loyal Protestants. At the conclusion, of the address, the chairman called for a resolution, and. the following was moved: "Seeing that Mr. Mack does not represent Labour, 1 only move a hearty vote cf thanks for his address here to-night. "1, ae a bona-n'do -worker," • continued the mover, "am absolutely surprised at his standing, and, in my opinion, He js only a tool used by the Capitalist class to keep Labour a\\C . This was seconded in several places. The chairman invited an amendment,, a-v 1 the following was proposed: 'ihat N tliis meeting of electors in Wellington Central considers that Mr. Mack is a. fit and proper candidate to represent us in Parliament, and he has our fullest and widest sympathy for election at the top of the poli." The amendment was put to the meeting. There vrere many ayes, but the noo.s. at least, were louder. The voting seemed to be fairly .even. Ino clitirman declared the amendment carried..

Speeches in support of the candidature df Mr. P. Frascr were delivered ra the Post Office Square during the luncheon hour yesterday by Messrs. i. Briudle and R. Semple. Mr. Seraplo spoke on much the same haes as those ho had followed the previous evening in the King's Theatre, giving most or his attention to the alleged machinates of the P.P-A- Reference ira# made also to the tramways trouble. Mr. H. Atmore spoke during the luncheon hour i» the Post Ofhce-Squnw yesterday. He outlined what he considered to be the proper radical platform at this time, especially in regaid to the cost of living problem. In effect he has always stated that the Liberals should never have become parties to the coalition, but should have insisted on domestic reform, while giving the Government support m every measure that might have 1 to be taken to carry on the war. It is in regard to failure to deal with domestic matters that Mr. Atmore has so persistently criticised the Government. . Mr.'M. J. Mack, the Independent Labour candidate, will address the electors at 8 o'clock to-night at Mount Cook Boys' School, and to-morrow night a meeting of supporters will be held at St. John's Presbyterian Ha• The Labour candidate, Mr. J Eraser, will speak in the Post Office Square to-day at midday, to-night at the Mission Hall, Aro Street, and tomorrow night he will speak at bt. Peter's Schoolroom, Ghuznoe Street. Mr. Atmore will encak in the lost Office Square at midday to-day. Mifcchclltown Schoolroom to-night, and at Willis Street School to-morrow evening.