MRS. BAUME AT REMUERA.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 281, 26 November 1919, Page 9

MRS. BAUME AT REMUERA.

A COMPREHENSIVE DISCOVERY EDUOATION THE KEYNOTE. Of a large number of political questions dealt with by Mre. F. E. Banmc, Independent Liberal candidate for Parnell, at her meeting in St. Mark's Hall, Remuera, last evening, education 'held pride of place. Mr. C. Leek, Mayor of Newmarket, presided over an orderly ■meeting of some 300 people, his opening i remarks consisting of an appeal for a fair hearing- for Mrs. Baume. Mra. Baume launched her address by a general survey of affairs as they stood lin 'New Zealand at present. "We must," she declared, "realise that the present age is one of specialisation in every branch— even in legislation. We need financiers, economists, and business men who are in touch with the innumerable facets of I legislation. We also want practical 1 farmers. 'Nor must we forget the cduca-j tioniste, the specialists in one of the most vital branches. We need euch men las representatives of moderate Labour— the index of the class who do the most .in assisting production." The speaker ! went on to say that there were such problems as social legislation, and the housing question to be dealb with. In all j these discussions was needed the woman's pont of view. "11 anyone had told mc five years ago that by this time a woman , would have felt herself capable of taking ! the step that is now being taken," said Mrs. Baume, "I should have hardly believed it possible. But the years of war sacrifice have revolutionised all our prejudices, with the result that a great number of things haye to go into the melting-pot, including' all systems of government. Some of the things that have gone into the pot will come out purified and ready for use, amongst which is woman's new sense of responsibility." COST OF LIVING. Mts. Baume also dealt with the cost of living. It was easy, she said, for politicians to talk glibly about what they would do in thie respect—they did not seem to realise that the greatest livin<r financiers and statesmen were occupied : with this problem at present. It seemed i to be forgotten that this inflated cost of! necessities wae not purely local, but extended throughout the world. Production had been vastly decreased, and industry had been.diverted. It hardly seemed; possible to bring about a normal state 1 for at least four or five years, and the' most that we could do was to lessen the burden of the increased cost for those] who were the most heavily laden by it.! "Labour eeeke to alter this," went on the'! speaker, "by the increasing of wages.! That seems to 'be quite useless, as th«» cost of necessities rises in accordance with the increased rates. An admirable way of assistance, however, is that of aiding the man who is most severely penalised—the man with the large family.. [f the State were to undertake the up- . keep of the babies, it would be the surest ' method of co-operation." This, she said, seemed to be an entirely sound scheme, economically, and one in which everyone l would share alike. EDUCATION. Mrs. Baume touched briefly upon profiteering, and then attacked th« problem of education, which, she said, "is the problem in which I am most keenly interested, and that one on which I may be allowed to speak with a cartain amonnt of authority." She referred to the recent awakening from the apathy which the public had shown to matters educational for so long, and to the attitude taJcen b}' the Minister of Education in connection with the appeals from the graded list. The speaker also pointed out the existing anomaly of most ■stringent factory laws, and no regulation of the number of children who night be crowded into a class-room. AGRICULTURE AND IMMIGRATION. i Agriculture, with a plea for a Cnair of Agriculture at the local University, and more agricultural colleges, social reform, including an old age pension iree from the email property disqualification, and the needs of capital and labour were then disposed of. Mrs. Baume advocated a I sound immigration policy, and spoke at some length upon the domestic problem, touching upon that of housing. The subject of party governmenl found the speaker very emphatic. "Party should no longer play the part that it has done previously. We want a fusion of t'ae best minds in the country for the sake of New Zealand. In any case, if you were to place the planks of the two political platforms side by side, I doubt that you would see so vast a difference between them. 1 am a Liberal because the Liberals have always done so much for the country. (Applause.) But I would reserve for myself the right to choose the best man as leader irrespective of his party. After all, measures count more than party, and country more than either. Mrs. Baume concluded hy saying: "If man and woman work, together for the good of the Sta'.e, that] , State must prosper. (Applause.) ' Question time brought little of note, save a question of whether or no tlie J Lilberals would ally themselves witir I Labour against 'Reform. Mrs. Banmo answered: "I am not in communication, with the Liberal party on points of party behaviour. They have never told mc what they would do. But I stato noiv that I refuse to go into the lobby with I the Extreme Labour party." i The meeting closed with a hearty vote of confidence in and thanks to Mrs. Baume.

MR. DICKS,ON_AT EPSOM. The Government candidate for Parncll, Mr. J. S. Dickson, delivered an address to an audience of between 250 and 300 electors at St. Georgess Hall, Epsom, last evening, Mr. J.»B. Paterson presiding. The speaker, who was given a good hearing by all save a few interjectors at the back of the hall, dealt again with the legislative measures put on tiie Statute Book at the last session, and as at his first meeting, demanded what the extreme Labour section had done to win the war. He expressed the opinion that the electors would return Mr. Massey and the Reform party to power as the only people capable of forming a strong government. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried amid hearty applause, a no-confidence amendment being heavily defeated.

WAIMARINO. PIOPIO, this day. After addressing a number of meetings after leaving Waitara, Mr. W. T. Jen-? nings had a favourable reception from a well-a)ttended meeting at Piopio last night. At all places the candidate has had favourable receptions. A returned soldier presided at Reruit, and a lady proposed a vote of confidence in the member at Okoke. Though settlers are busy shearing, ploughing and milking, Hie jneetings are well attended.