OPEN AIR POLITICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3342, 21 November 1919, Page 2

OPEN AIR POLITICS.

SPEECH FROM FRUIT BOX,

BANANAS AND “B'ULT.SHEVII{S. ’ ’

The burlesque side of the election (.:.nipaign made its appeai'an.v=»3 cu 'l‘l-esday evening, when Mr I. Joiner, :1 declared lcandiidatc .for Aue'{Ll.n-'1 Central “on his own initiative,” addressed an open-air gathering in We!~’;ington Street, nppesilte :St.- James’ Hall. The candidate, who is a fruit dealer, spoke, not from the proverbial soap-box, but from la. banana case. The meeting, -at its commencement, comprised about fifty persons, but later on the free entertainment attracted an audience of about two hundred. A “chairman” was elected at the opening of the proceedings, and from time to time he iattempted to. exercise authority over the meeting by -balancing hirn-self on {the niinitaure platform alongside the ‘candidate, and appealing for a fair hearing for Mr Joiner. The duties of the “chair” proved somewhat difiicult, and towards the end of the meeting an assistant “chairman” was appointed to share the onerous task of keeping order. Mr Joiner was assailed throughout by a running fire of interjections relative to '3. wide variety of subjects, ranging from bananas to Home Rule, and t_he statement of his “policy” was -necessariliy "disjointed. ‘At lthe outset he was; challenged to declare his party leanings. “Where do you stand‘~.?” demanded an ardent Labourite. “On a banana box!” came from another voice in the crowd. “In the main I support Mr Massey,” was the candidate’s reply. “Well, then, you’re finished,” exclaimed the questioner in a tone that implied that, in

his opinion, at least, not_hillg more need be said,

Tho candiidate proceeded to dilate upon divers affairs of Stale, but he had got no further than “the time hascomo when something will have to be‘ done.” whenhe was assailed with a fuSil'9.de of questions, such as, “Are you in favour of licensing two-up scliools ” and “If the butchers are summoned for striking, don’t you think St. Matthew’s choir should be ‘had up,’ too?” Questions in regard to the totalisator and the licensing of boc-kmakers also were poured in, but the budding politician parried these by blandly explaining that he “only gambled in fruit.” . ’

An elector Wanted to know if the candidaie was in favour of putting a tunnel under Renegiora Plains, and another, if 'the candidate thought ft advisable if the Main ‘Trunk tinain stopped at Waiheke, instéad of Newmarket. “Are you in favour of incl~easing_.the size of paint pots?” was another question hurled at Mr Joiner. A soldier complained thaf, in -addition to the Govel'nnlent.’s desiring to put returned men on pumice land, they were equally '&nXio.fiS to put them un« der it, and what, "therefore. was Mr

Joiner going to do regarding the mat fer?

It was in vain that the chairman protested that “this was not question time." The stream of interrogations continued to flow. ‘ Inform|ation was sought as to the candidate’s views in regard to the liquor question. Mr Joiner indicated a preference for prohibition, at point upon which apparently in confliet with his chairman, who nevertheless raised roars of derisive laughter, “No, we don’t want ‘any drinking persons or beer here!” Deeming that ‘tender ground had been reached, a questioner adroitly changed the subject by asking, “Are you a Bullshevik?” “No, nor‘ a cowshevik either,” was the candidate’s emphatic reply. Questions in ‘regard to’ the cost of living, and especially the price of bananas, helped to‘ keep the meeting in nierriment; but at this stage the chairman ’s difiiculties seemed ‘to be increasing. “I ‘move that we get la. new chairman,” came from a disgruntled elector, but Ia compromise was effected by the appointment of an assistant chairman. The subsequent doublebarrelled efiorts to ‘maintain order gave a new zest -to the entertainment. .

A question as to how much Mr Joiner would take to wit'hdraw in favour of another candidate elicited a statement that he was not open to bribery. A query regarding the fall in the birthrate was answered, but the speaker did notzwsucceed in throwinvg much new light upon the problem. The fol'lll'atiotl of a committee to promote. Mr J0i1101"s interests was nmoted, but the gathering dispe_rse"d with a vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried amidst. ironical cheers and ap‘plause.