“OWES NOT ANY MAN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 10

“OWES NOT ANY MAN”

A HAPPY CANDIDATE SEEING A HAYSTACK “What are we going to build?’* dramatically declared Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, former journalist and lecturer, In the course of an impassioned appeal delivered with considerable melodramatic force, at Point Chevalier last night. Mr. Stallworthy is a candidate for the City Council. “Pay your debts first?’* suggested a ratepayer. The inference was, of course, municipally. But Mr. Stallworthy took it personally. “I am in the happy position, ladies and gentlemen,” he declared, “of owing no man anything except love ! m The statment was greeted with laughter and good-humoured banter. Concerning a persistent interjector, Bn Irishman, Mr. Stallworthy was advised not to “pull him by the tail.’* “LET HIM GO ON!” “As far as I can see,” replied the candidate, “he is bald!” “There are problems to settle ” The Irishman: “But you are not going to settle down!” (Laughter.) “Oh, let him go on,** pleaded a voice. “Don’t spoil it?” It was essential, continued Mr. Stallworthy, that the ratepayers should first know the character of a candidate. Ability, he insisted, came •econd. “We know your’s already!” suggested an interjector. “Oh,” said the candidate, obviously nonplussed, and again taking his adversary seriously. “Oh!”

The audience rocked. Quickly recovering, however, Mr. Stallworthy said: “Then why did you come to this meeting?” Dilating upon the fact that 20 boys In an Auckland schoolroom had solemnly declared that they had never seen a haystack, Mr. Stallworthy paused and added, “Oh, it is too awful!” The voice (facetiously): Yes, just think what they have missed. (Laughter.) AT “LAKE WINNEPEG.” The candidate recalled American experiences, and mentioned that “in Chicago, on the shores of ‘Lake Winnepeg,’ milliops of pounds worth of railway lines had been removed and boulevards laid down!” The municipal tendency these days, he proceeded, was to continually call upon the Government. “This spoonfeeding policy is no good,” said Mr. Stallworthy. “It is bad for us, and time will show it!” The candidate told the story of a Scotsman who walked in order to save his tram fare. But when he declared that he saved it for “a nobler purpose,” the audience again rocked. “For Johnnie Walker?” inquired'\he Irishman. Point Chevalier thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Stallwortliy’s maiden address. Apparently Mr. Stallworthy enjoyed it just as much. He accepted the banter and interruptions in excellent spirit.