A LIVELY TWO HOURS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 11

A LIVELY TWO HOURS

MR. FLETCHER HECKLED “JOBS WAITING FOR ALL” A packed hall; a long-haired man waving his fists and yelling from the gallery; women screaming; men jumping up and then sitting down, unable to make themselves heard; both men and women engaged in private arguments; cries of “Shut up,” “Sit down,” “Leave Harry Holland alone,” etc. Above it all, a slightly built man looking down from the platform and smiling grimly. No. not a Sydney watersiders’ strike meeting; merely one of the many bright moments at the Empress Theatre last evening when Mr. J. S.' Fletcher, United Party candidate for Grey Lynn, spoke to a crowded audience for nearly two hours. There was a strong opposing element, but the candidate handled it well Mr. A. A. Piesse presided. The tone of the meeting was recorded right at the start when mention of the name of the leader of the Labour Party drew loud applause. This was followed by still louder applause when the candidate referred to Sir Joseph Ward as the financial genius who stood head and shoulders above the leaders of the other two parties. “We are to be returned to power,” said Mr. Fletcher. “No, you are not,” screamed a woman from the body of the hall, to be followed by general uproar. Continuing, the speaker said that it was intended to extend the benefit of Flock House to New Zealand boys. This remark was misinterpreted by a section of the audience and in the general uproar which followed there were loud cries of “Too many boys in the country now,” ’“Keep the Homies out,” “£1 a week,” etc. “Ladies and gentlemen,” stated the speaker, “there are many men in this audience who, if their boys could earn £1 a week, would cry ‘Hallelujah.’” Uproar ensued, during a lull in which a little man in the corner was heard to say, “Garn, you don’t want us to join the Sallies, do yer?” “Under this system the boys would be sent to school ” A Voice: “What, a two-up school?” “No, this is not a gamble. It’s a certainty. The United Party will make it so.” (Loud applause and upuproar.) A Voice: When are you going to do it? “After the 14th, when we are returned to the Treasury benches.” (Loud applause and cries of “Not on your life.”) A lively hour followed, with questions, during which the candidate delivered some straight talk on Bolshevism. At several periods JVTr. Fletcher was unable to make himself heard, men and women jumping up in all parts of the hall and carrying on private arguments among themselves. At the conclusion, a vote of thanks and confidence was Carried with loud applause, during which not one dissenting voice was heard. This was followed, however, by loud cheers for “Harry Holland.” A counter round of cheers for the United Party left small groups still arguing in the hall.