LIVELY MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 14

LIVELY MEETING.

MR. DONALD POOL.

CAMPAIGN OPENED.

CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION.

Despite considerable interruption, persistent hecklinjr and on occasions noise and uproar. Mr. Donald Pool. National candidate for Eden, could not be "side tracked"' from the main line of his address to the electors at Gordon Road Hall, last evening. The hall was packed by about 300 people long before eight o'clock and the overplus crowded into the doorway and outride the building and remained throughout the proceedings. The candidate was subjected to a running fire of interjections from the time lie opened his address until he resumed his seat. He smiled through the ordeal and on no occasion showed any resentment. It was the finst time he had addressed a public meeting and he reifi\c<f" many congratulations from individual members of,the audience at the conclusion. The Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. K. J. Mills, presided.

"I have come forward as a young man because 1 think that the Government of this country requires young men to take their part in the national life of the country," said Mr. Pool amidst applttusc. ''Too long we have left it to the older men," he continued. "We have been concerned with our own intereist*! rather than the interests of the nation as a whole. Now the position is changed. New Zealand has reached a most important stage in her history, and this election will definitely decide whether the Dominion is to be a Socialistic country or whether we are to have British rule and British freedom." (Applause.) Fought on Principle. Mr. Pool said the election would be fought entirely on a question of principle—whether Socialism was to rule, or whether the country was to be governed democratically in the interests of all. "What does Socialism mean?" he asked. A Voice: Freedom. Mr. Poole: We have «i Labour Government in power, but who governs the country? ( hoi us of Voices: The people. Mr. Pool: _\'(,t the men elected to Parliament. A Voice: Not the money Lags. Who Governs? Mr. Pool: The National Libour Council governs the country. Your dutv is to elect a man who is unfettered to'put your views before Parliament and represent you in the House. To-day you have a Labour Council Ilo t elected by the people as n whole governing the country. Voices: Wait until after the election. Mr. Pool dealt, with Socialism at considerable length, and said that it was not unionism. Trades unions were fornied in the first place for the benefit of the workers; then came Socialism in J the form of the Fabian Society and Labour party. By attending meetings! of the unions regularly thev gained control, and the result was that a minority governed a majority.

Socialists have ridden on the back of union* from the beginning of the present century up to the prevent time" declared Mr. Pool. « Aa trade unionists I want you to realise that you are not Socialists. Socialism is a , )arasite of trade unionism." (Applause; and a voice: "It's a lie.")

Mr. Pool M id that tinder Labour rule businesses would disappear and com plete socialisation of industry would be the ?r»Y b °"-- W, l at H '°" ld ha PPen to the trade unions then? The worker would be faced with the posiUon of State. g ° n,y ° ne e »P%er-the

onJolfti Btat f empnt , «»«* considerable oppos.tmn from the Labour section of the audience. There were crieT o ami ° w" aßhe< L the Arbitration Court" and We would pet better money" lou insult the intelligence of* your

onfe, I a »r al > the Airman and or lei was restored, Mr. Pool said that "hen the State had full control of industry lt would ueci(le fhe he paid and the hours to be worked \oices: l<orty a week. Social Security. Discussing the Government's Social Security Act, Mr. Pool, i„ B areast*c vein, asked whether its scope was sufficiently wide. "What about the ihn „t™' r C BRid ' adding " How alw »t shout „,g for your cobbers?" Uproar greeted his remarks, and when the atmosphere was calmer, he asked: £ ti, 0 t r'' Cy * etti "* the ,uo " c > ironi? The Government was budgeting for a shortage of £8.000,000 in connection with social security. "There are more workers on the income list now than ever before," he added. Loud cheers and laughter greeted this statement, a voice above the din being heard to say, "That's a beauty." "Is this Santa Claus?" interjected an auditor when Mr. Pool recounted the social services the National party was prepared to extend to the people Another inter jector objected to the statement that women would not be required to pay the wages tax. "Why not, they are earning more than us," said the interjector. Mr. Pool criticised the high cost of living and the position of the defence lorees. The country was deficient in military strength to fight against a landing force, he maintained. Three thousand efficient fighting men was insufficient. There must be a force strong enough to send overseas to help the Empire if necessary. There was not one modern rifle in New Zealand. "We are not defended," he continued. "Tbe women and children are defenceless" He suggested that New Zealand should place herself in the same position as in 1914, when there were 20,000 men in the forces.

Voices: Compulsion. Mr. Pool: There were volunteers in 1914.

Mr. Pool said that in the event of war the National party would mobilise the resources of New Zealand, both in men and money, and no person would be allowed to exploit his fellow citizen. Pressed at question time to say whether a National Government would conscript wealth in the event of war, • Mr. Pool said war was a special meaJ sure and wealth would be conscripted. • In reply to another question, the candi- ' date said the National party would - abolish the Fair Rents Act, not for ' j the purpose of placing a further burden t on the tenants, but to encourage 1 private enterprise to build houses. » The meeting closed with a vote of - thanks to the candidate, carried by acclamation.