WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1928, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LABOUR PARTY

MBS YOUNG’S “DISCLOSURES."’

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON. November 6

As was inevitable from the first announcement of her intention to disclose from the public platform the infamy of the Labour Party, Mrs Margaret Young found it impossible to obtain a hearing from the overflowing audience that confronted her in the Century Hall last night. Probably nine-tenths of the big crowd packed into the hall were ready enough to listen to what she had to say on her selected subject; hut the remaining one-tenth practically took charge of the proceedings and did not allow the Independent Labour candidate for Wellington Central to utter more than a sentence or two without encountering deafening interruptions. If these tactics had the countenance of Official Labour then Official Labour adopted a most unfortunate means of silencing its critic. Probaby Mr IT. E. Holland, the leader of the Labour Opposition, will have something to say on the subject at his meeting at Petone this evening. Meanwhile further comment may lie reserved; but it is due to the community that the responsibility for such an exhibition should lie placed upon the right shoulders.

HASTY CONCLUSIONS

The “Dominion” in its zeal for Reifonn takes it for granted that Labour as a whole was responsible for the disgraceful proceedings. “Mrs M. Young, the Independent Labour candidate for Wellington Central seat,” it says, “ last evening proved her case. She had stated at the preliminary meeting that under the present leaders of the Labour-Socialist Party individual members were not allowed to have opinions of their own. And she added that if they disagreed with the leaders they were branded as traitors. Her charge was substantiated by the cowardly attempt made last night to prevent her putting her case before the public. It was a disgraceful exhibition on the part of those who, resenting her appearance in the field against Nil Peter Fraser, heckled and badgered and insulted her as she endeavoured to explain the reasons 'for her candidature.” Criticism of this kind is, of course, unfair to the Labour Party generally,. and in a measure to Mrs Young herself. Nine-tenths of the audience, as already stated, would luue been glad to hear what the lady had to say.

LEADER OF THE UNITED PARTY

Sir Joseph Ward left for the South last night, not looking so robust as his friends could have wished, but still wonderfully cheerful and alert. His eye trouble appears to have disappeared altogether and he describes himself as being “as fit as a fiddle.” He had been much amused, he said just before his departure, by the criticism that had been levelled against his financial proposals. Dozens of the lending financiers among his political opponents, some of them Labour and sonic of them Reform, had made conflicting prophecies conqernipg his scheme; but none of them, it seemed to him, had taken the trouble to understand even its most essential features, r l lie Prune Mipjster, himself, had been supplied with four or five different versions of the scheme and bad passed them oil to his audiences quite impartially. 'lbis. Sir Joseph went on to say. added to his regret that his medical adviser bad kept liipi at home, on account ol eye trouble, at a time when he would have liked to lie getting about the country. His business at the moment was to make up for lost tjme. INTEREST!NG CONTEST.

Perhaps the most interesting election contest in the Wellington province is that going on in the Hurt constituency where Mr T. M. Wilford, who has been in possession of the seat for thirty-two years, is opposed by Air W. Nash, a Labour candidate of quite exceptional ability and personality. Air Wilford, of course, is one of the old Liberal stalwarts, now figuring in the United Party, and still holding the confidence of a largo section of ti)e electors and keeping his foot on the “ soft pedal. Air Nash was his opponent at the last general election, when he was on bis way to London by the insistent order of his doctor. Even at this disadvantage he defeated Air Nash by the substantial majority of 1794. Since then, however, the boundaries of tbe electorate have been changed to the advantage of Air Nash and the Labour candidato has shown himself to be an exceptionally well informed and effective speaker. It is certain that he will press his more experienced opponentvery closely and not unlikely that lie will defeat him.