APPEAL TO "BIRDS."

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

APPEAL TO "BIRDS."

CANDIDATE WANTS A HEARING

MR. ADEANE'S CAMPAIGN.

OPENED to rowdy meeting.

Mr. Frank Adeane, the official Reform candidate for Auckland West, did not have much opportunity to explain his policy in his opening address to the electors at Leys Institute, last evening, as a section of the audience was consistently interjecting, with the result that the meeting resolved itself into a bright and breezy, but good-humoured entertainment. The candidate, after being briefly introduced to a packed hall by the chairman, Mr. G. G. Sheirlaw, mentioned that he was born in Gis borne 42 years ago, had lived almost all his life in Auckland, been 18J years in Ponsonby, and had 6pent some years abroad, visiting almost all the countries of the world. For the first time he was entering into a political contest and he wanted to make it clear at the outset that he was not in anyway tied to the Reform party, although he had been honoured by being selected as Reform's official candidate. "No hard and fast pledge has been asked of me," said Mr. Adeane, "and all I have promised is to support the Government on a no-con-fidence motion. I want you all to realise that if you elect me you will have a man in Parliament whose interests will be the interests of you all."

Interjections began to come from the back of the hall with annoying persistency to the candidate, who had previously told his audience that he had been suffering with laryngitis, which accounted for his voice not being so good as he wished. Assisting the "Cocky." The Reform Government had gone into power with the object first of all of doing all possible for the farmer. It was realised that the best had not been done for the farmers, and in support of Reform's good work the production in 1928, compared with 1912, had increased by nine times the amount of 1912. The increase in. population for the same period was 20 per cent. "Though I did not think so at the time, I realise now that the Government was doing its best for the 'cocky.' We are passing through hard times, but we have turned the corner."

A Voice: A pretty long corner. Give us your policy. The Candidate: My policy is the policy of the Reform Government, and you know that. The United party, by a majority of one, has chosen this young man (Sir Joseph Ward) — this young baronet of 20 years ago—to lead it. The people have yelled at hi™ the same as some of you are yelling at me to-night. He has no policy, but is simply against the Government.

"Aw, go hon." "All right, I'll go on, but wait till the hyenas have finished cackling at the back."

Then followed interjections from several parts of the hall, and the chairman was busily indicating by pointing his finger just which members of the audience he wanted to sit down.

Mr. Adeane: These birds, if I had my voice right, would not be taking me on like this. (Laughter.) The amounts paid in old age pensions in 1912 was £406,256, and in 1928 £968,000, and the widows' pensions increased from £1963 in 1912 to £302,766 in 1928 under the Reform Government. Under the Liberal Government the amount paid in old age and widows' pensions during the five years, 1907 to 1912, was £2,120,000, and under Reform for the five years, 1923 to 1928, £6,763,000. Unfortunately True. "What about unemployment?" asked someone at the doorway. "I suppose I will be told we have swelled the ranks of the unemployed by encouraging and assisting immigrants," answered the candidate. "Unfortunately it is true. This is a bad country for the unskilled labourer to come to. There are many who are here who should never have come out. The best immigrant is the baby born here. (Laughter).

A Lady: We have nothing to feed them on.

Mr. Adeane: I want you to understand me. It costs perhaps £20 or £30 to bring an immigrant out here. I think that money should be spent on the mothers here at child birth, providing for the mother and her child.

A remark n ade by somebody at the back of the hall caused loud laughter, and for a minute cr so there was an uproar, the chairman frantically beckoning to two stalwart constables to put "him" out. Mr. Adeane: I would not have credited that a man could hire a hall and that 60 rotten sports would not give a man with a bad voice a chance. It is mob rule. A Voicfc: Mob rule is hard. Mr. Adeane. Well, mob rule I say it is. The national debt, £248,760,486, worked out at £172 7/ per head of population. It seemed an awful lot of money, but £80,000,000 was necessary tc pay for the war, and £40,000,000 went in soldiers' repatriation and settling the returned soldier on the land.

A Voice: It settled him all right. The candidate said that when the men returned, from all sides the cry to the Government was, "You must give the soldiers land; you must provide houses." The Government did it—at e point of the bayonet. Land was bought and the soldieis were told it was not worth the money and now they 'arere squealing. Many who went on the land were counter-jumpers or bootmakers. "These are the birds who are now squealing," said Mr. Adeane, "but there were many good farmers and they are doing well." All along there had been a steady stream of good-na'; red interjections, but when they began to come along at machine gun speed, the candidate remarked, "I know some of you are having a great joke and sa/ing He is a poor coot.' I have nothing to fear, and I think when the poll closes in a month's time I won't be far from the top." He knew there were thousands of men in the Dominion unemployed and that there were wive? and children not getting enough to eat. Should he be successful at the poll he would leave no stone unturned to remedy such a state of affairs.

In answei to questions the candidate said on the licensing question he was in favour of a two-issue ballot and bare majority verdict. He also favoured compulsory military training. He did not think 9/ a day for single and 12/ for married men a living wage, but it was not unreasonable as relief payment. A vote of thanks and confidence vu accorded the candidate.