"THE BIG STICK"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 5

"THE BIG STICK"

REFORM RULE CRITICISED LABOUR MAN IN ROSKILL An allegation that the Refbrm Party wielded the ‘big stick” upon its followers was made by Mr. A. S. Richards. Labour candidate for Roskill. who addressed an open-air meeting at the corner of Onslow Road and The Drive. Epsom, last evening. In differentiating among the political factions, Mr. Richards said the Reform Party had its supporters under its thumb. The country, he said, was controlled by a “commercial autocracy.” This class was supported by the United Party, and he called upon his listeners to cast their votes for Reform or Labour as being the only two true parties. They could not look for independent action by the United Party in Parliament, as it would vote with the Government to defeat Labour Mr. Richard's views upon militarism, strongly expressed, aroused some lire among the audience, several interjectors opposing his views upon military training. It was not right, the candidate said, that boys should be placed beneath the “dominant claw of militarism.” A Voice: That is nonsense! You might fight if someone chased you with a bayonet. Mr. Richards declared that Reform candidates were brought under “the big stick” if they did not obey. A Voice: I know another party which does that. too. A section of the audience voiced loud protests when the chairman proclaimed the district to be caie of “respectable middle class people.” “Upper class!” they shouted, amid the chairman’s explanation that in society, as elsewhere, there were levels.