WELLINGTON CENTRAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 66, 11 December 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

MR. PIRANI' FORCES A HEABLVG. Long before 8 o'clock last night St. Peter's Schoolroom in Ghuznee Street was crowded to the doors with electors desirous of being in attendance at Mr. i\ Pirani's meeting in furtherance of iiis campaign for the Wellington Central j sent. Hundreds of others were wl'ussd admittance by "tho police, who were I generously sprinkled anions tho audicneo. ! Air. .I, If.' Fuller was in the chair, a ml his appeal for a fair hearing for (he candidate was greeted with jeers and cries of "Speak up." In opening, Mr. Pirani, who steadfastly refused to lie baited by in)erjeclors, said that ho wanted thai; night to go a little behind the ordinary political questions of the day. (A voice; "You i are well behind.") He was desirous of touching on one or two outside subject,-:. (A voice: You will alwiys bo i.ulside.) 'Mr. Pirani went on to drp'ore tho fact that in a coimiry so richly endowed us New Zealand there was so liinch evidence of poverty ami hariUnip. in this 01.11neotion he thought the ouestion of -social service ought to be taken up by tho community, by tho politicians, and liv j Parliament itself so that men c{' infill- : once, wealth, and leisure in the country j would bo encouraged, nay, compelled to j give if not. something of"their riches at | least something substantial to tho com- > nuuiily. Mr. Pirani went 011 to urge I the segregation of nil aliens living in • Wellington and her sister-cities in wpa-' rate little colonies of'their \vn, as was <iotiu in Honolulu and otlwr American citics. They should not iie allowed to livo cheek by jowl with the white population. | An interjector: And yet you will voto •

for men like Ward who are in favour of indentured labour in Samoa. Mr. Pirnui: "I am not going to answer interruptions because it would be encouraging the men that tlio police are going to deal with directly." (Uproar.) Continuing, Mr. Pirani dealt with a. variety of subjects, and, although subjected to frequent interruption from a mall, hostilo section of! the audience, was enabled by dint of a powerful voice and a still more "powerful" patien:e, lo enunciate fully the planks <f his platform. After answering a number of questions and ignoring others, the candidate was accorded n vole of no confidonco by the hostile section of his audience.