ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 9

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

LIBERAL REVIVAL.

MR. J. B. DONALD OPENS FIRE.

CITY EAST CANDIDATE.

RECEIVES THANKS AND

CONFIDENCE.

A good impression was made at St. Andrew's Hall last night by Mr. J. B. Donald, the United party's choice for City East, and at the close of a gocd meeting the candidate received an enthusiastic vote of thanks and confidencc from a full meeting. Dr. W. H. Horton, who presided, pointed out that until recently the electorate had for years returned a Liberal man, and had sent Cabinet Ministers to Parliament, notably Mr. F. E. Baume and Sir Arthur Myers

Mr. Donald, after paying a tribute to the memory of Sir Arthur Myers, said that both the Coates party and the Labour party went about saying there were only two parties in the field today. As a matter of fact there was only one, and that was the United party, which had the true interests of the public at heart. The United party stood for freedom for all, a free Parliament, and a free people. Its motto was "Trust the people and let the people rule." With regard to freedom for all, the candidate did not hold with deportation without a fair trial. He did not say who was rigrht or wrong in the Samoan nffair, but he said emphatically it was not right to deport any man or woman without proper trial. If such things were permitted no one know when it might be his turn next. Eternal vigilance was the price of liberty, and the people should be jealous of their right to British justice. Refuses to Give Pledges. With regard to the second point in the United party's motto, a free Parliament, he said that once a free Parliament was destroyed representative government was doomed. He understood that every Labour candidate signed his resignation before he went to Parliament, and could be recalled if he did not please his party. No man who merely obeyed the party whip was free, and he could not properly represent the people. Every man entering Parliament should be absolutely free. The candidate said he had been asked during the past few days to sign declarations saying he would support such and such a thing, but he absolutely refused, and insisted upon going to Parliament a free man, if he were elected, and judge when he had heard both sides of the question.

As for the third part of the party's motto, if the people were not free, there would not be a free Parliament. All legislation should aim at the freedom of the people. According to British justice a man was supposed to be innocent until proved guilty, but that was rot so under certain parts of the Police Offences Act. The candidate strongly condemned the Board of Trade Act. which unwarrantably interfered with the libertv of the subject. The United partv believed in trusting the neonle. and lie would be in favour of hrinsrine into force either preferential votine or the second ballot. The prpient system had simnlv resulted in the Coates jwrtv heinw able to keen in power, .though thev aetunllv represented a minority of the electors. The United party was out to see that th» will of the people prevailed (Applause.) "A Big Surprise." He felt sure the United party could pull the country out of the slough of despond in which it had been for the past three years owing to the mismanagement and misgovernment of the Coates party—he did not say the Reform party, because the Coates Government did notj really represent the Reform party. The United party was composed of men out for the best interests 'of all, they were proud of their leader, Sir Joseph Ward, and would give the Coates party a big surprise on November 14 next.

Mr. Donald went on to criticise the Coates Government policy and deeds.

Touching on unemployment Mr. Donald said charitv was not the solution. One reason for the present state of affairs was the loss of between two and three millions sterling owing to the passing of the Dairv Control Act. The men in charge of the Government did not realise that in trying to please a •rction thev were bringing disaster on the rountrv. It was only natural that the British buyers would not be coerced into bujing any particular brand of produce, and so boycotted New Zealand butter and bought foreign. That loss on the top of times not too good was largely responsible for the present state of affairs. As Sir Joseph Ward had already suggested, the finishing of our main railways would give work for many men, others should be nlaced on the land, and road work would absorb others. As regarded immigration, the candidate thought it madness to go on bringing out neople when there was so much unemplovment. If Sir Joseph Ward's proposals were carried out then the country would be in a position to absorb a number of immigrant?" but not till then. Would Vote Reform Out. At question time Mr. Donald said be intended to touch on other subjects— what one of the questioners called "social subjects," such as licensing, insurance, etc.—at subsequent meetings.

He expressed himself in favour of increasing the old age pension to £1 a week, and would not penalise a man who had £100 in the bank.

Asked if he would support a vote of want of confidence in the Coates Government, even though moved by the Labour party, the candidate said he would certainly oust the present Government. (Applause.) When an elector asked if he would then vote to put the Labour party on the Treasury Benches, the candidate said the United party was pledged to vote against the present Government, but beyond that it could not pledge itself. Personally the candidate did not favour the Bible in schools, but thought it was a matter that should go before the people in the form of a referendum.

Asked to define his position on the licensing question, Mr. Donald said he was a prohibitionist, and not ashamed of it; he favoured a two-issue ballot paper, the bare majority, and a six-year tenure. The liquor question should certainly be settled by referendum, and not by Parliament.

The meeting passed a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate and also in the United party, a hostile amendment being supported by some half-dozen voices only.