NOISY MEETING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1938, Page 7

NOISY MEETING

MR 0. C. MAZENGARB HECKLED LAST NIGHT INTERJECTIONS FROM SMALL SECTION. CONFIDENCE IN NATIONAL PARTY Mr O. C. Mazengarb, National Party candidate for Wellington Suburbs, was subjected to a fairly consistent barrage of interjections during his address in the Opera House last night. He accepted the position calmlj' and remained on good-humoured terms with his audience throughout. The heckling came from a small section of the large audience and appeared to be more or less organised. The first signs of the approaching storm came when the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, in introducing Mr Mazengarb, said: “I have told him that we in Masterton are prepared to hear what the other man has to say even if we do not agree with what he says.” “He will get a good hearing as long as he tells the truth,” came from the back of the hall. When Mr Mazengarb was discussing the probable causes of the depression, calls came of: “Give us your policy!” and Mr Jordan was constrained to remark: “One at a time please.” Mr Mazengarb referred to the ’statement of Mr W. J.' Jordan, New Zealand High Commissioner that: “Only the very foolish would say that the Government was to blame for the depression,” and a woman, who was to be a consistent interjector all night, said: “Yes, but you had a lot to do with it.”

“Is it possible to insulate New Zealand against the effects of a slump in othei’ parts of the world-” asked Mr Mazengarb, and a voice answered, “Not if the Nationalists get in.” Mr Mazengarb said: “You cannot rely on the simple promises of people who tell you to trust them and there will be no slump.” (Laughter and cries of: “We have heard that on the radio.”) Mr Mazengarb: “You have not heard me on the wireless, but you soon will and then I will have the wood on you because you will not be able to interject.” A voice: “But we will be able to turn you off.” Mr Mazengarb crossed swords with several interjectors who persisted in

asking for his policy and then the lone woman’s voice came from the back: “You had us in fowlhouses during the depression.” The interjections then became so bad that Mr Jordan, after appealing for a fair hearing for the speaker,' said: “If the interjections continue then I will take other steps.” A voice: “He is going to get all he wants.” Mr Mazengarb: “If a section of the audience thought that a barrage of

interjections would put me off the thread of my argument they can see by now that they, have signally failed.” A voice: “Well, we will keep it up.” Mr Jordan: “You try it on.” Mr Mazengarb: “If any loose balls come up this way I will hit them to the boundary.” A voice: ■ “Well, what is the chairman making all the row about?” ' Mr Jordan: “You keep quiet.” “You can’t bluff me,” came the reply, and when Mr Jordan added, “This is not your meeting,” someone called out, “No, but we were invited to it.” Quiet reigned among the backbenchers for about ten minutes, but when Mr Mazengarb said something about a lot of money going out of the country there was loud laughter. “Surely that is not a laughing matter,” remarked the speaker, to which the lady friend replied: “That is all we are allowed to do while Sergeant Doggett is here.” When Mr Mazengarb passed on to deal with conditions in New South Wales under the Lang Government, there were cries of “Give us New Zealand,” “Leave the Aussies alone” and “They can look after themselves.” When he mentioned factory production in Australia Mr Mazengarb was asked: “What about child labour over there?” and he replied: “I do not know anything about child labour in Australia and neither do you because there isn’t any.” “Have you ever been there?” he was asked, and when he replied in the affirmative he was told to “go over again.”

Mr Mazengarb was greeted with

ironical cheers when he stated that he would deal with points of his policy and later he was told to “come off it” and that there “is plenty of wind outside.” “The Shylocks of London” and “the people of New Zealand starved so that they might get their pound of flesh” greeted a statement by Mr Mazengarb to the effect that the National Party pledged strict adherence to Great Britain. Mr Mazengarb said it was the policy of the National Party to pay the highest possible W’age to workers and an interjector said: “Oh, you are going to give them some work.” Mr. Mazengarb: “I am hoping that a lot of people will be able to go out and get work for' themselves.” When a man in the body of the hall questioned the veracity of a statement by the speaker, Mr Mazengarb said: “If I am wrong on any legal point I have a man alongside of me (indicating Mr Jordan), who will put me right." A voice: “And you have a couple of demons (policemen) at the door.” At the conclusion of his address Mr Mazengarb answered questions for over three-quarters of an hour. There was again a fair amount of goodhumoured interjection, while Mr Jordan had to call several questioners to order for making lengthy speeches.

Mr J. M. James moveu a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Mazengarb for his instructive and interesting address and expressing confidence in the National Party and the Masterton candidate. Mr J. Bennington created a diversion by seconding the first part of the motion pro forma and then stating that Mr Mazengarb was “as game as Ned Kelly to come to Masterton with such a policy.” There were cries of “Time” and “Sit down,” but Mr Bennington moved that “This meeting of Masterton electors has no confidence in the Party that Mr Mazengarb represents.” Mr Jordan did not put the amended motion to the meeting and Mr James’s original motion was carried amidst loud and continued applause. When Mr Mazengarb asked all to stand up who supported Mr Irving, all but a small minority stood and sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and loudly applauded.

oomeone called for three cheers for “Mick” Savage but the cry went unanswered.