PACKING-CASE ADDRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 486, 16 October 1928, Page 7

PACKING-CASE ADDRESS

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE HECKLED CROWD ENJOYS ITSELF Standing on a packing case under a lamp-post in Wellington Street last evening, Mr. James Joiner introduced himself to Auckland Central electors as an Independent candidate for the seat. About 100 people listened to a short address from him and then enjoyed themselves thoroughly by asking him questions, most of them irrelevant. Mr. Joiner explained that he was not making a policy speech. He would make that properly in a hall when he had heard Sir Joseph Ward in the Town Hall. He came forward at the request of a number of poor people in the Auckland Central electorate, merely to assure electors that he really was going to the poll. The candidate gave details of his early history, but was interrupted by a voice demanding his platform. “I am entitled to give you this as a preliminary,” Mr. Joiner answered. “It’s entitled to rain soon,” replied the interrupter. The speaker proceeded to say that he had found he could not subscribe to the Labour platform for he felt that, in practice, it could not be carried out. He was in favour of the Bible in schools and prohibition. As he had been in business in the central district for 20 years he felt that he was entitled to regard himself as a fitting candidate for that area. Then he spoke about the extravagance of the public and the waste of money on motor-cars, gramophones, “powders for faces and all that sort of thing.” When question-time came the candidate was asked to give his opinions on subjects ranging from the feasibility of whitewashing Albert Park to the possibility of providing all fishing boats with glass bottoms. Finally, when Mr. Joiner got down from his box, announcing that he w'ould see hi-s audience again some other night, a vote of “confidence but no thanks” was proposed and cari'ied, no-one voting either for or against.