"ON HIS OWN MERITS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 13

"ON HIS OWN MERITS."

MR. MASSEY'S CANDIDATURE.

POLICY SPEECH AT AKA AKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

PUKEKOHE, this day.

The official Reform candidate for the Franklin'seat, Mr. J. N. Massey, opened his campaign, at Aka Aka last evening, when he addressed 92 electors. Mr. H. P. Garland presided.

The candidate asked that it be distinctly understood that he was not entering the political arena hoping benefit from the reputation of his father, the late Prime Minister. He • asked that he be judged on his merits. Mr. Massey described as contemptible an article appearing in the official organ of the Country party, which stated that "the leading political party in New Zealand is not hesitating 'to put in the dirt,' to change the issue from principles to personal factors as in Frankton, where the party seeks to exploit the popularity of the name of its late Leader." He said he was pledged, if elected, to support the Reform Government on a want of confidence motion, but on all other questions he reserved the right to vote as his judgment and conscience directed.

The candidate reviewed the activities of the Government during its term of office, and contended that since 1922 the land holdings had increased from 84,899 to 85,734 in 1927. He said he believed tbat most of New Zealand's present troubles were caused by inflated land values, created by the high price ruling for butterfat a few years back, when the people joined in a mad gamble for land, and ignored warnings that New Zealand at the time was living in a fool's paradise. He believed that the borrowing policy expounded by the Leader of the United party would create another boom and end in disaster.

Mr. Massey admitted that the land question was one of the biggest problems the Government has to face, and the solution of settlement on the land and the drift to the towns seemed to be bound up with the task of providing better facilities, good roads, cheap electric power and better returns for money invested and labour expended. The Government must obtain for the farmer money and farming requirements at the lowest possible cost. It was not to be expected that money could be borrowed on false securities.

Replying to the contention of the Country party candidate that the Farmer's Union was responsible for the introduction of the petrol tax, and the Nauru Island concessions, Mr. Massey said the New Zealand Counties Association was the body instrumental in forcing the Government to pass the Petrol Tax Act, while the late Prime Minister was responsible for securing the Nauru concessions.

The candidate concluded by saying that if returned he would endeavour to relieve the rural community of some of the present burdensome local taxation, particularly the hospital levy, which had increased in Franklin from £1100 in 1914 to about £7000 for the current year. There were no questions, and the candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.