MR. DONALD HITS HARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 5

MR. DONALD HITS HARD.

UNITED PARTY'S AIM. FAIR DEAL FOR ALL. ''The United party tries to give everyone a fair deal and administer the affairs of the country without fear or favour," eaid Mr. A. Donald, the official United party candidate in his address; to workers at the Public Works camp, St. Helier's, last evening. The chairman was Mr. J. Costello, and also on the platform was Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P. The meeting was a very happy one for Mr. Donald, who received occasional applause during hie address, and never once was any of his statements challenged. As in previous addressee to electors Mr. Donald strongly emphasised the good work done by the United party during the short period it had been in office and he laid particular stress upon the fact that though the affairs of the Dominion weie in a lamentable mess and the national account showed a big deficit when the United party took over the reins, already the deficit had been wiped off and the national account was showing a small surplus. "You, as workers, should remember .with gratitude that since the United party took over the wages on relief works were increased from 9/ and 12/ a day to 14/. As I am not Minister for Public Works I cannot say what will be done in future in the way of providing work for the unemployed, but I can assure you the party will do its best to meet the position. Constructive public works will go on so long as the United party is in office. " Gross Extravagance." The candidate said a lot had been heard about the so-called gross extravagance of Sir Joseph Ward in borrowing ""£70.000,000. Where was the money coming from to carry on a constructive policy if it was not to be borrowed? In ten years the Reform Government had borrowed £75,000,000. In five years £11,000,000 had been spent on railways and only 135 miles of lines laid. A considerable sum had been spent on the erection of palatial railway stations. Auckland could have done without its new palatial station, or could have waited a few years. For a Government to spend thousands of pounds on such structures when they could have been delayed, was only carrying out a policy of the grossest extravagance. Scandalous Waste. Mr. Donald threw the spotlight on some land transactions by the Reform Government. He mentioned one instance where Reform paid between £25,000 and £30,000 for a block of land which the vendor had purchased for £4000. "If that isn't a scandalous waste and' extravagance then I don't know what it is," said Mr. Donald. "And," he added, "those men responsible for that deal are still in Parliament and ask you to support their candidate. How can you support a party who will come along and try to pull your leg by saying that the £75,000,000 borrowed was "well spent?"

Another Blunder. The Soldiers , Land Settlement Scheme was another of Reform's blunders, and the present Prime Minister was the one man able and courageous enough to declare the scheme doomed to failure. But Reform took no heed of Sir Joseph, and the scheme was launched, and as Sir Joseph predicted has proved a failure. "Reform landed u≤ in the mud. They made it and left it, but we have pulled the ship of State out of the mud on to dry land. Showing a Surplus. ''The L'uited party did not reduce employees or wages," said Mr. Donald, "but preferred to make those men pay who could best afford it. For the first time for many years the big landowners of Xew Zealand are paying their proper share of taxation, and by doing this the Government is now able to show a surplus in the national account instead of the deficit Reform left." Mr. Munns was very brief in supporting Mr. Donald's candidature. He said that 'no working man true to himself could support Reform. "Reform cares nothing for you," said the speaker, "and if you could see things as I see them, and I see them from the inside of Parliament, you could not give a single vote to the pa"rty that has betrayed you." He strongly urged those present to support Mr. Donald. A Voice: Is he as good as Jordan? Mr. Munns'. I believe he will be. He is the same colour. Few questions were asked and these Mr. Donald answered satisfactorily and without hesitation. The candidate said it was the usual thing at meetings to pass a vote of thanks or confidence or perhaps no confidence in the candidate, but he preferred his audiences not to do anything of the sort, and to leave it to voting day. However, the request was not heed?d and those present accorded a vote of confidence in him.