IMMIGRATION PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 226, 23 September 1936, Page 18

IMMIGRATION PLAN.

"STANDS CONDEMNED/' ,MR. OSBORNE'S CRITICISM. UNEMPLOYMENT QUESTION, j Immigration and unemployment were j matters which Mr. A. G. Osborne, Labour candidate for Manuka u, dealt with at St. Oswald's Hall last night. Mr. R. G. Barnes presided over an attendance of about 70, and the candidate was given a good hearing. The qjily new policy enunciated so far by the National candidate, Mr. Doidge, was his immigration scheme, which stood condemned from previous experience. said Mr. Osborne. He had no unkind feelings towards the assisted immigrants of a. decade ago, but nevertheless they had come out influenced by the misleading propaganda of the then Government, and as a result hundreds of other workers were put out of employment. Mr. Doidge, lie added, wanted to reintroduce that scheme even while there was still a balance of the existing unemployed to be absorbed. Speaking of Mr. Doidge's claim to represent all political opinion outside the Labour party, Mr. Osborne said that on recent happenings the National candidate could not justify his claim to have the support of the independent members in the House. The majority of them had voted with the Government. "I refuse to enter into a contest of personalities," Mr. Oshorne \vcnt on, "and if I can win Manukau only by attacking : political opponents, then I have no desire to be your member." Mr. Doidge, he stated, had entered upon a campaign of vicious, bitter and unjustified attack's on members of the Labour Administration. Further, Mr. Doidge had consistently refused to face up to facts. He had continued to misrepresent the unemployment position, while recent returns, Mr. Osborne stated, showed that there were 2-1,000. less men registered than there were 12 months ago. In the course of- his address Mr. Osborne mentioned Mr. Doidge's claims regarding the "New Nationals" as a new party with a new policy, a new leader and new ideals'; The policy so far had not been disclosed; the ideals seemed to be to launch as much destructive- criticism as possible; and, as to the new leader-—well, perhaps, said Mr. Osborne, ilr. Doidge was too modest to mention who he thought that would be. A vote of confidence was declared carried by a majority on the voices. li> an address to about 200 people at 1 Ellerslie, Mr. Osborne said that Mr. : Doidge was preaching jingoism and attacking the League of Nations. The only way to stop war was to support : the League, as had been done by the ; Government. Speaking of the National candidate's claims that the farmers were ■ dissatisfied with the'. guaranteed price, ; Mr. Osborne said he believed 99 per cent i of them would support the Government : should there be an election next month. ; A vote of confidence was carried on a show of hands, with one dissentient.