SOME LiVELY SALLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 242, 13 October 1925, Page 8

SOME LiVELY SALLIES.

MR. POTTER AT EPSOM.

GOVERNMENT BELAUDED.

"KEEP THE CRADLE FULL." There was a good deal of interjection on the part of electors who plainly had no sympathy with* the Government, at Mr. Vivian H. Potter's meeting at the Regent Theatre, Epsom, last night. These were in a minority, however, and some of the vigorous retorts of the member for Roskill pleased the overwhelming majority of a crowded audience. At the conclusion of his address the candidate answered several questions, and a motion of thanks and of confidence in the Coates Administration was carried after an amendment to the effect that Mr. Potter had been long enough in Parliament and that it was time Roskill changed its representative had been thunderingly "Noed."

Mr. Potter said he considered this was going to be one of the most important elections yet fought in New Zealand. England had been invaded by a certain element, which had now permeated Australia and was also showing itself in New Zealand. This Dominion was fortunate in having as its leader Mr. Coates, who was destined to guide this country for the next few years. (Applause.) He had proved wonderfully successful as an administrator of three State Departments. The Reform party had indisputably most ably administered the affairs of the country for the past twelve or thirteen years. As for the National party, mourners were now gathered around its grave—and there was not a man among them who was fitted to lead the House. Then there was the Labour party, of which more would be said anon.

Reform was not to blame- for the failure to bring about fusion, said Mr. Potter. The Liberals (now "Nationals") agreed with the Reform party right up to the critical point. Then they wanted to have the Cabinet reconstructed— right at the time when the Public Works statement and the Estimates were coming down. "A Strong Man." Referring to the seamen's strike, the candidate said it was a good thing that the country had a strong man as Prime Minister to say that the boats must sail. _ They had enough loyal and strong men in New Zealand to smash any strike which threatened the prosperity of the country and the community. (Applause.) In the matter of taxation Mr. Potter declared that the working people of New Zealand got a fairer deal than the people of any other part of the British Empire. A voice: Rot! Mr. Potter: It might be rot, but figures speak for themselves and facts are not rot. Continuing, the candidate quoted the national debt, and gave figures to show that a very large percentage of the money borrowed had been spent on reproductive public works. Six millions had been spent on education, and though this was not immediately productive, it would in the future benefit the country through the increased knowledge of its youth, and the increased capability of the young New Zealander to assist in the development of >the country. "Most Forward Country." He claimed that, considering its limited population, New Zealand was to-day the most forward country in the world. The great prosperity of the country was shown by the enormously increased amount of Savings Bank and other deposits, from which the people of the Dominion drew £4,000,000 annually in interest. Wβ were a wonderful country and a wonderful people —but we had some wonderful agitators and exaggerators in it.

Mr. Potter claimed that no country in the world was so good to "the bottom dog" as New Zealand, which did not demand any income tax from a man earning under £300 a year. Added to this, there was the further exemption of £50 for each child under the age of 18. Figures were quoted by the candidate to show that in the matter of taxation the wage-earners of Great Britain and Australia were not nearly so well off as those in New Zealand.

Replying to criticisms that large estates were not being cut up and that land aggregation was going on, Mr. Potter said that some of the larger estates were absolutely unfit to be cut up into small areas. State Advances Department.

Despite all the thousands of loans for housing granted by the State Advances Department, thousands of applications were still unsatisfied. But it was a question of money—where were they to get the money from? However, it was hoped that the applications up to March last would be granted in another six months, and fresh money was being borrowed. This money, however, could not be loaned at less interest than the Government had to pay for it, and it had to be remembered that the Government was now paying 4J per cent for its money. The State Advances Department had done wonders in the way of providing money for housing 'the workers. It was the greatest bank in the world— not even excepting the Bank of England—for it had the £550,000,000 wealth of New Zealand to back it.

Touching upon civil servants' superannuation, the candidate declared to an interjector that if he had his way he would compel every man in every kind of employment to contribute to a superannuation scheme—a declaration which was applauded.

Bawbies and Babies,

"You can't save and keep the cradle full," cried a voice from the gallery. "You keep the cradle full, aiid the Government will do the rest," advised Mr. Potter, amid laughter.

Another elector interjected that the Government was cutting down soldiers' pensions every year.

"I daresay, my friend, that you are getting what you are entitled to, instead of what you think you ought to get— and no doubt there is a vast difference," retorted the candidate.

Education, Post and Telegraphs, Railways, and Agriculture were subjects which were each briefly reviewed by Mr. Potter, with the object of showing that the Reform Government was making a success of each of these activities. The candidate declared himself in favour of a vigorous policy of immigration, especially from the provinces of England, Scotland, and Ireland, to bring in people who would be game to go out into the bush and carve out homes.

W/hilst engaged in criticism of the Labour party Mr. Potter was subjected to a good deal of interjection. "Some of you people," said the candidate, "would go down to the corner and be persuaded by the soap-box orator that a brick's a lemon—and you'd take the brick home and try and make a drink out of it." (Laughter.)