SUBURBS ELECTORATE.

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

SUBURBS ELECTORATE.

MR. MASON'S CRITICISMS.

A strong criticism of the Government was made by Mr. H. 6. R. Mason at the Avondale Town Hall last night in support of his candidature for the Suburbs seat. There was an attendance of about 300. The meeting was most orderly, and at the conclusion of his address the candidate was accorded a vote of t.Wny ff and confidence.

Dealing with the question of unemployment, Mr. Mason said the "Miniatur of Labour had denied that there was unemployment, but the facts had shown that there was great distress throughout the length and breadth of the land, and the Government could not get out of its responsibility for what had happened. It had been said years ago that if the Reform Government came into power, there would be soup kitchens all over the country before they were ousted. That prediction had come true. Immigration was largely responsible, and it was only after strong representations had been made to the Government that a cessation of unrestricted immigration had been decided upon. It was not fair to the men and women who had been brought out that they should come to a strange land under false promises and find themselves stranded. Attractive advertisements had been distributed *11 over the Old Country stating that land and work were easily obtainable in New Zealand, but the trusting immigrant was soon disillusioned, and there were hundreds who wished they had never been induced to come over the sea. As far as land was concerned, there had been re-aggregation of estates under the present Government, and thousands of farmers had walked off their holdings. There should be- closer settlement, and the Labour Party would deal with this important question in a statesmanlike manner if returned to power. The candidate severely criticised Sir James Gunson in regard to the transport problem. Last election had conclusively demonstrated that the Labour Party was the official Opposition. Mr. Mason answered a number of questions to the apparent satisfaction of the meeting.