“SHORTY” AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 651, 1 May 1929, Page 7

“SHORTY” AGAIN

NOT A FAIR THING SAYS MR. RAILDON PREACHING IN PARKS City Central electors clapped Mr. George Baildon vigorously last evening when he concluded his candidature for the mayoralty. But among those present were: “Shorty,” the inimitable. The Grizzled Man, “Darkie,” and A Tramways Man. These four took the dullness off an extremely quiet meeting. Indeed, Mr. Baildon hinted to Sliorty at an early stage that he would be removed from the meeting unless he kept silent. “Look here, Shorty,” said Mr. Baildon, after Shorty 7 had asked several rapid-fire questions, “you must keep quiet. How can I get through my address? It’s not a fair thing.” Shorty rose to object, but at this stage. The Grizzled Man, a stickler for law and order, made his way toward Shorty 7 . “You can’t put me out.” said Shorty, defiantly*. Mr. Baildon: If you don’t keep quiet, you will go out. That’s just a tip for you We all know what you're like. “DARKI E” SPEAKS Here, “Darkie,” who had been hovering in the rear of the hall, made his only 7 contribution to the cross-talk of the meeting. “Hey 7, George,” he called to the candidate, “Shorty is much too big for y r ou.” Near the end, The Tramways Man took up the running. “I would like to know, Mr. Baildon, if you think that gambling is carried on in the tramways sheds at Freeman's Bay.” he said. “Mr. J. R. Lundon said at one of his meetings that gambling ; was so extensive there that some men made more than their wages. I taxed him with it the other night and lie j admitted he was going on hearsay. It’s i a slanderous inference.” Mr. Baildon: It’s the first I’ve heard of the gambling, and, recognising the authority 7, I don’t believe it. The Tramways Man had another question: Will you get legislation to stop religious cranks from speaking in public places? For instance, one man pollutes that little park near Grafton Bridge for three and a-half hours each Sunday 7. I say that is norhing short of blasphemy. Voices: Quite right. Mr. Baildon said he had placed the question of public preaching , in the hands of the police. There was no great objection to allowing the speakers to stay 7 in Quay Street, but he thought they 7 should not be allowed in the parks.