KAIPARA ELECTORATE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 December 1919, Page 2

KAIPARA ELECTORATE.

LABOUR CANDIDATE AT

HELENSVILLE.

The official Labour candidate- -, „ for Kaipara, Mr A. Gregory, adyji^^jj dressed a fairly large gathering fa| of electors in the Lyric Theatre fijM last evening, and was accorded^ ~J||| moderately peaceful hearing. The candidate experienced some diffi- ~f% culty in securing a chairman, but % v finally prevailed upon Mr Noon, a - visitor, to fill the position. /' - The candidate spoke at length $$ on the Labour Party's platform, ,f enumerating the many reforms ,/. which it was proposed to bring about when the party was return-- .^,*V - ed to power, which would happen '^i» on the 17th December next, if, the speaker said, the electors "put V it there" (indicating a spot near ik< the corner of the table, and pre- ■» - sumably meaning a ballot-box) on that eventful day. Frequent references to " put it there " caught the fancy of a section of the audience, who joined in the refrain. The candidate spoke severely on the methods of land agent, coal mine owners, and profiteers in general, asserting that the wbrker was being robbed and exploited to allow these gentry to. "joy-ride" over the world. Condemnation of the present Government for many , things was expressed, and at the | conclusion of his address the candidate added a final "put it there." The chairman, roused from his < reverie, invited questions, and a largo number —sensibleand otherwise —inundated the speaker, who answered most of them unsatis- '^| factorily, being inclined, to talk himself away from a direct answer. In replying to a query as to whether he would support Fraser, Semple and Co., the candidate said he supported the party platform. He was also a prolrb^—> bitionist, but on this question advised the electors to vote as their consciences dictated. A motion i"That a vote of thanks be accorded the candidate, and that this meeting treats him as a joke," was opposed by an amend- -'*' ment that a vote of confidence be accorded the present member/Mr •• Coates. Owing to the chairman's ; impatience to leave, neither the *-* motion or amendment was seconded or carried.