A DECORATIVE ITEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 258, 31 October 1928, Page 9

A DECORATIVE ITEM.

MR, MASON AT HOBSONVILLE

"The Reform land policy, expounded hy the Prime Minister, is the best I have heard so far," declared a questioner last night at a meeting addressed by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Labour candidal for Auckland Suburbs.

The candidate jumped to his feet and rapped back vigorously: "Then it is a great pity Mr. Coates did not put it into execution during the past three years, instead of bringing it out at the las minute to decorate his electioneering programme!" (Applause and foot stamping.)

The candidate gave an outline of his own party's policy, contrasting it with Reform's apathy respecting unemployment. It was futile for Mr. Coates to bring down a so-called land policy on the eve of the election, when the Government had failed to do anything during PMt years, when they had a wonderful opportunity. "Is not the immigration trouble »n economic trouble?" was a query ®t question time. Mr. Mason replied that it was . impossible to separate the political and economic factors. Politics were to guide •conomic conditions and provide correctives. The least the Government could have done was to try to alleviate and dispel the depression, but it had been •pathetic to a degree. Mr. Mason waa accorded a vote of confidence.