ELECTION HEAT

Evening Star, Issue 22455, 28 September 1936, Page 14

ELECTION HEAT

NATIONAL SUPPORTER ASSAULTED LABOUR CANDIDATE'S DISCLAIMER [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 26. The allegation that vicious blows were struck by two men who assaulted him at an open-air meeting at Ellerslie last night was made by Brian Kingston, member of the Chamber of Commerce and a well-known solicitor. Mr Kingston said that broadcasting speeches were being made from a motor truck equipped with five loud speakers to a crowd of upwards of 130, Two men attempted to pull from the truck a placard on which were the words “ Vote for Fred. Doidge.” Mr Kingston said that when he remonstrated he was punched by two men about the head, and when he tried to climb back on to the truck he was pulled down by three men. Mr Kingston sought police assistance, but by tbo time two constables had arrived his assailants had disappeared. When the scuffle took place Mr Doidge, the National candidate for the Manukau seat, was addressing meeting in another part of the electorate. A disclaimer on the part of the Labour Party in connection with the “ regrettable ’’ incident at Ellerslie, when Mr Brian Kingston was assaulted on Friday night was issued by Mr G. Osborne, Labour candidate in the Manukau by-election, in his campaign address at Te Papapa. “ I have made appeals from every platform during ray campaign asking Labour supporters to give my Nationalist opponent a fair and impartial hearing,” said Mr Osborne. “ I ask again that the same courtesy should be extended to the National campaign as to my own. Supporters should restrain from any hostility which would definitely injure the platform of the Government and of myself.”