ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 3

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

ROTORUA ELECTORATE.

UNITED PARTY CANDIDATE.

THE FAILURE OF REFORM.

MILLIONS SUNK IN FARMS,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

ROTORUA, Saturday,

A large and enthusiastic meeting of the United party was held at the King's Theatre last night, when the United party candidate for the electorate deliveied a stirring address. Mr. Clinkard stated that he had fought the electorate twice before in the interest of the Liberal party and had not been successful, but the first time he had not sufficient time to do himself justice, and the secand time, three years ago, it was all "Coates and Confidence." He could assure the electors that this time there would not be so much confidence if there were Coates. (Laughter.) His chief opponent, Mr. Hoekly, had referred to the advantage of an extension of the life of Parliament to four or five years, as the first session was lost to the new member, but with this assertion he (the speaker) could not agree. He could assure the electors that if he was returned to Parliament he would not be useless during the first session at all events. Abandoned farms had bpen brought about by the ill-advised policy of the Reform party. When Sir Joseph Ward went out of office he left seventeen million pounds in the treasury which, with accretions, had swelled to twenty-two millions. This sum demoralised the Reform party, as in 1918 thirteen millions were spent on land at £6 14/ per acre; in 1920 43 millions were spent at £11 10/ per acre; in 1921 54 millions were snent at £11 19/ per acre; in 1923 15 millions were spent at £0 14/6 per acre, and this price was practically the same as in 1918. Many returned soldiers and others abandoned their farms, and a total of £5.000.000 was lost to the country. This would not have happened if the advice of Sir Joseph Ward had been followed.

With regard to the emigration policy of the Government, Mr. Clinkard said that 41.000 assisted emigrants had been brought into the country, whereas the people in New Zealand should have had the first consideration and not the people in England. (Applause.)

With regard to finance the increase in expenditure within the past nine years had been 79 millions, and if they took the population of New Zealand and divided the number into this sum each person was entitled to £55. Upon this basis Eotorua should have received £290,000. but it was not receiving a moiety of what it was entitled to. as, for instance, the bath buildings, which were falling to pieces, and for which sums of money often appeared on the Estimates, but were not spent. Now they were told that experiments were beiner carried out to ascertain the best building material that could be used. (La lighter.)

The candidate dealt extensively with Sir Joseph Ward's speech at Auckland and stated that the bold proposals and heroic measures contained therein were the only way to national salvation.

Questions were asked and answered, and n vnte of thanks and was carried by acclamation. The andience throughout was most armypclative. and bursts of applause followed the speaker's brisk denunciation of the T?cform party.