Catcalls and Cheers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 1

Catcalls and Cheers

MR. COATES WEATHERS STORM Te Awamutu Pandemonium (Special to THE SUN) r_ ,„ . , . te AWAMUTU, To-day. •Ei electrical storm which visited Te Awamutu on Thursday was a mere thunderclap compared with the storm experienced last evening when the Prime Minister, the Hon. „ . ■ Coates, essayed to address a crowded meeting of Waitomo electors.

Bedlam ruled from the start and culminated in an extraordinary scene a little over an hour later. Immediately after the start Mr. Coates said there were only two parties in the contest. Reform and Labour, an observation which caused uproar, in which three cheers were called for the United Party, followed by cfountercheers. When order was somewhat restored a man interjected that he had always been a Reformer, but was ri *C* ° or “ Joe y” Ward this time. Mr. Coates: I cannot be held responsible for a man slipping. MR. COATES MAKES A SLIP

An amusing slip a little later occasioned another uproar. “It is the Government’s duty to look to the future,” declared Mr. Coates. “Those who come after us must pay for our mismanagement.” Roars of laughter greeted the slip, while interjections came thick and fast.

Feeling .by this time was running very high in the audience. which seemed to be composed of three distinct sections. Thereafter the meeting was one series of banter, interjection after interjection being fired at the Prime Minister, while catcalls and cheers for the rival leaders resounded throughout the building. A further heated wrangle took place over the dairy control, while land settlement produced a crop of interjections. The uproar at this stage was of considerable duration, the chairman having great difficulty in restraining the audience from continued demonstrations, hostile remarks and cheers for Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Holland being met with speedy retorts by Reform supporters. “YOU ARE ALL GASSING”

Things became very mixed, and Mr. Coates remarked, “You are all gassing, and do not know what you are

talking about.'’ This remark acted like kerosene on a fire, and the flames burned brightly for some time, till Mr. Coates seized an opportune moment and urged the electors to return Mr. Rolleston for Waitomo, Mr. Seavill for Raglan, and Mr. Reid for Waikato, the Prime Minister resuming his seat amid loud and prolonged applause. A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed, and an amendment of “no faith in the Government.” The chairman ignored the amendment amid pandemonium, and declared the motion carried. With further applause, yells and interjections immediately the crowded hall became a seething, cheering mass. Cheers for Mr. Coates, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Holland followed one another till the respective supporters were hoarse, and it was a long time before the excitement died down and the crowd dispersed. It was quite the most remarkable and noisy political meeting ever held in Te Awamutu. At Cambridge the Prime Minister was given a great reception, the front of the theatre being lit with coloured lights with the word, “Welcome,” and loud applause greeting Mr. and Mrs. Coates on their arrival. His address, on the lines of former ones, was given an attentive hearing, and at the conclusion a motion of thanks and confidence, and pledging support for Mr. D. S. Reid, the present Reform members, was carried unanimously amid applause. CALL AT TE KU»TI

En route to New Plymouth from Te Awamutu to-day the Prime Minister made a halt at Te Kuiti to address a large crowd in the main street. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. Blackman, extended a welcome to Mr. Coates. After dealing with various subjects. Mr. Coates praised Mr. Rolleston’s good work, and said no man could have done more for the district. Later the party left by car for New Plymouth.