"DEEDS, NOT WORDS"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 10

" DEEDS, NOT WORDS"

THE UNITED POLICY

SPEECH BY MR. RANSOM

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evoning Post.")

WAIPUKUEAU, This Day.

"Deeds, not words," was the keynote of the address delivered to the Waipawa electors by the Acting-Prime Minister (the-Hon. E. A. Ransom) last evening. Mr. Eansom, who was speaking in support of Mr. A. E. Jull, the United Party candidate for the Waipawa byelection, issued a vigorous reply to the statements of the Opposition Leader (Mr. Coates), and endeavoured to convince his large audience that the United Government since it camo into office h,ad practised what Reform had preached.

Admitting that the United Government was in a minority, the ActingPrirno Minister claimed that without the support of the majority of the House it could not have placed its legislation on the Statute Book. INfo legislation yet brought forward by the United Government had been defeated. "Instead of this sweeping statement of unsatisfactory legislation, let Mr. Coates or any other opponent of the United Party say which Act he would repeal, and in what particular," challenged Mr. Ransom. '' The results to date show a keen demand for land," he continued. "This applies particularly to undeveloped lands." TAXING THE WEALTHY. A full explanation of the Government's land and income tax measures was given by the speaker,- who stressed the point that under the new legislation the wealthier individuals who previously evaded payment were nok being made to contribute their fair share. He gave details to prove, that farmers ously evaded payment were now being taxed beyond their ability to pay, and in many cases were exempt. Land settlement was fully dealt with by Mr. Ransoni, who claimed that last year's legislatibn brought new hope- for settlers who had not sufficient security, for State Advances opportunities had been created for the experienced man with a little capital. The real test of the Government's settlement policy was the number of new holdings, not the cost figures. ' "Befovm talked about _a policy of developing the unproductive Crown lands," said Mr. Eansom; "United is practising it." The • importance of establishing new industries, such_ as the growing of Irish hemp and linen, as advocated by Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, was stressed by the speaker. "What was. the Reform .way of balancing the Budget?" asked Mr. Ransom. "Their way was to fall back on the reserves and accumulated surpluses, otherwise it was to live riotously on your capital regardless of your income." He deplored tho action of a section of the Opposition in'blocking the Government from giving £350,000 to the backblocks districts for road metalling through preventing the imposition of an extra threepence of petrol duty. NOT IN STATE OF EMERGENCY. "Mr. Coates and others said this country should be declared in a state of emergency," Mr. Kansom continued. "It is not done, nor anything like it.. From the Prime Minister downwards, every person with the welfare of the Dominion at heart, deplores our administrators making such statements. ' . . Sir Otto Niemeyer says the country is not iv a state of emergency. I myself claim that it is not iii such a bad condition as in 1921 and 1922. We have not had to place a moratorium on mortgages yet, and I hope we never will. Wo must fill responsible positions with men who have confidence in the country, and apparently the Reformers have not got that confidence." The meeting,'which was presided over by Mr. B. M'Leau, Mayor of Waipukurau, closed with the passing of a motion expressing thanks to the speaker and confidence in the United Party, and pledging itself to support Mr. Jull at the forthcoming by-election.