HOWLED DOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 October 1938, Page 4

HOWLED DOWN

MR HAMILTON REFUSED A HEARING HOSTILE SECTION OF CROWD IN WELLINGTON. "BEATEN—BUT WILL FIGHT AGAIN.” . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The National Party leader, the Hon Adam Hamilton, and candidates both successful and unsuccessful for Wellington city and suburban electorates, addressed the crowds in the streets from the balcony of “The Dominion” building after the results of the poll were known. The Minister of Health, the Hon P. Fraser, and the Minister of Public Works, the Hon Pt. Semple, received enthusiastic ovations. They acclaimed the ballot as an endorsement of Government policy. A hostile section of the crowd, however, refused a hearing to Mr Hamilton and several other National Party speakers. Mr Hamilton bravely delivered his speech in the teeth of determined efforts to drown his voice. 4

“We are beaten tonight, but we will continue to work and we will fight again,” he said. A NOISY MULTITUDE. When, late in the evening, Mr Hamilton appeared on the balcony, looking weary and drawn, ne Was greeted by a rowdy outburst of shouting and booing from the crowd. For a minute he stood looking down at the people in the street, from time to time waving his arm for silence. Eventually he spoke into the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen ....” he said. But a louder wave of noise broke about the balcony; Mr Hamilton’s voice was drowned, in spite of the amplifiers. Four times he attempted to speak, but was refused a hearing. Finally, ignoring the tumult, he courageously delivered his address under these disheartening circumstances. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, the fight is over,” he said. “I must congratulate Mr Savage and his party on his 1 decisive win. • ' “We have tried to place the issues as we see them before the peOplO.-We did our best, and the electors have decided that for another term of office they desire a Labour Government. • We bow to tne will of the people. I sometimes say that no man has fully experienced public life until he has won and lost an election. It is a good thing to have a decisive result. “I can only say that I hope the people of New Zealand will prosper —for the good of our country and the welfare of our people transcends, any personal desires or ambitions. The people of New Zealand have made their decision and I wish them well. CANDIDATES THANKED. “May I say a word of congratulation to those members of the National Party who have been returned, arid to those who have fallen in the fight may- I be permitted to say ‘Thank you for the gallant fight you have put up.’ “We are beaten tonight, but we will continue to work, and, will fight again. We have moved up from 19 members to what, at present looks like 26. I wish sincerely to thank all those who have worked and voted on our side. To my own electors in Wallace "I want to say from the bottom of my heart ‘Thank you for the confidence you have reposed in me. Ladies and gentlemen, goodnight!” At no stage of Mr Hamilton’s speech did the noise from the street abate. Looking down at the crowd, one could discern seething whirlpools where isolated National supporters struggled to persuade those around them to give their party leader a hearing.