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that the complaint was:
"Probably prompted because the Premier is placing high priority on winning the state seats of Manly and Wakehurst."
Our opponents had blundered by appearing to attack the Leagues Club, which had previously been neutral, and in giving the function valuable free publicity. Our ticket sales soared.
Right up to the last minute there was talk of legal steps being taken to prevent the dinner going ahead. But on the night, a burly police inspector made it clear that he was standing at the entrance of the club to escort the Premier, not to arrest him.
The candidates waited with the club directors in their downstairs boardroom: where the drinks were on the house. At seven o'clock, right on time, the Premier and his wife Jill arrived and were ushered in to meet us. It was the first time that I had spoken to him. He grinned and said, "hello Alan", as if we were old friends. Then we went upstairs in a phalanx, to a tumultuous welcome in the dining room.
The place was packed with six hundred people, well beyond its normal capacity. At the sight of the Wrans there was a gasp and then thunderous applause. The crowd parted and we swept forward to the long official table. Here we were greeted by party officials, including the General Secretary of the N.S.W. Branch,