THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17609, 11 November 1922, Page 18

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR MASSEY'S TOUR. SPEECHES IN TARANAKI DISTRICT. (sI'ECUI, to "the press.") STRATFORD, November 10. The drtiry pool was one of the matters mentioned by the Prime Minister at Inglewood to-day. Mr Massey said that he wanted the people connected with -Ji© dairy industry to make up their uiinds about the scheme. The details of the 11:11 that had been put before Par!lament could bo altered. He was inviting the farmers to consider the jnderlyii.g principle, which was simply the right oi the people engaged in the industrv u, have effective control of the ■•rile and distribution of their produce. L" thev did not want that control the i heme need not proceed. The Government was not going to exercise any authority in the handling of dairy produce. The proposed Dairy Board would represent the industry, and ho was quite willing that the Government i-iiould not be represented on tiie Board at all. If it was considered that the Dairy Board should have the same meagre of financial backing that had been given by the Government to the Meat Hoard, "he was prepared to ask Parliament to provide the legislative authority. The Meat Board had not required »ny Government support so far, and he did not think that it was going to require it in the future. Turning to Parliamentary matters, Air Massey invited the farmers to confider the "plain, undisputed facts that there had been negotiations between .■representatives of the Liberals and of the self-avowed revolutionary socialists 3f the Extreme Labour Party. I* was suite time that the Liber Leader (Mr WUford) had declared that he alone was responsible for the negotiations, but a party must be bound by the actions of its chosen leader. Mr "VVilford had been willing to make an arrangement with the. revolutionary socialists in order to put the Reform Government out of office, and his intermediaries had been the two strongest single taxers in the Dominion. The Labour Leader (Mr Holland), had said in the House that the Liberals wore trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, and Tie bad made it perfectly clear that if the Labour Party helped the Liberals it was going to dictate the policy. That policy would be nationalisation and confiscation, the policy that had wrecked Russia. Mr Massey said he wanted the elector* to realise what a dangerous situation would be created if the Government was not given a definite majority in the new Parliament; "Tho first reference to land monopoly will be found in. the Scriptures," said Mr Massey. "Famine came to Egypt, and Joseph, who was a financier, had stored up grain. He sold (rrain to the people as long as they had ; money to buy. Then, when they had no monev he "bought them land and paid fop it with grain. He nationalised the land of Egypt four thousand years ago, and Egypt has not got over it to this day.'* SIR JOSEPH WARD AND - WELLINGTON NORTH. (sntcilL to "the raws.') WELLINGTON",' November 10. The following advertisement appears. IB tb-nightj's "Post":— "' <; . ' Urgent—Electoral notice to the electors of Wellington North. Electors desirous qt being represented by Sir Joseph Ward in Parliament are urged, to. sign a written request to him at okce. Copies of the request can be seen and signed 'at' the following places:—(l) Mrs Jackson's refresh.iant'rooms, Hotel Cecil Building; (2) and ' polishing offices, No. 10 Woodward engst; $)?-* 4 Ne?r Zealand Times" (4) Galvin'and ' fltopany'r''tobacconist shop)' Manners «tt*eK J Aiy'persomdesirous of obtainlira signatures to the request may obtain a the purpose from the ■etota^ M •..-. Joseph ?»aa reee|v«dinuni'eß^ s iß>4 cbrdialrequeßts 1 to stand farther 'districts since he refmed to'ebtttest the InvercargiU' seat. Cps that 'Test and ' • eMJ^J|wi»^^,rpatp«e.d l b4ni4o good healthl .There are, ■ however, several ,„ eoisiderations Which niake him. still paste befow'taking ion'again the re- , spWbmtie*.Wworries° of public J§ft J ' The has,: however, beltane rery irresistible — sh£t-he ahjnld consent to allow his bibs to for nomination.''' f &eantfia»sv a - petition '■'- asking ■ Sir JOfepb Ward t? stand .for' Wellington |lsxth-will be available for signature, fad'it will probably depend upon tiie fenmber' of signatures" attached to it Wether 'or not he will accede to thefequeet. '.'?".',. , , v iJpCAL MEETINGS. lb David-'Jqnes addressed the electoi&at Ws&enVand Kiri Kiri on Monday .evening. The attendance was ' candidate' dealt \with tho jrij£k;ldbne by-the Government during Usf torm of office, and its policy for ffiefdture. Votes of thanks *and eonpjence in Mr Jones were .pasßed unaniinqusly. ,Mr Jones, addressed a large f§* on Tuesday g. J Mr John Smith occupied air. At the conclusion Mr McTnoyedj "That this meeting has oed J ipnfide'nee in'Mr Jones as J|ttlr-.representative," and 1 in the Govirtjnent.lor its effective administra- . flaV through a difficult period.'' This SSJtion- was 'earned unanimously. Buddo addressed the electors - itlOhoka on Thursday evening.- The leather was wet, but the attendance pj' fairly good. A vote of thanks W&jjissedpfo the speaker. ff§rbe|s%lsjy meeting of the Bangiora ,Jj©Bunittee'o| the Reform Party, held Jore |?ednesday, was the largest and . of ,the series. The filled, and flye «* 4uw 'members" were added to the com- •' 'llli*<§» *■* a P ol °Sy on behalf of Mr ]ag|#pi was 1 received. The secretary »|noned-WeHsnsinegs done during the .^lfiSP&^aihg-: -arrangements made at Bangiora on fhat the three can- ,\ »b WILFOBD'S CAMPAIGN. >< .<m*BS ASSOCIATION BBU •' tT. U. !^fora; i l*adervof the a-Labo"ur J Party, addressea;meet\afr*vMis at LDe^npjKW"*o- - the Opm candidates, , H.« >,BurE.^.iMortont ! * |^;fa^d tt. ' - . - , *l»

OPTIMISM JUSTIFIED. MB MASSEY'S ADDBESS AT STBATFOBD. (special TO "the press.") STRATFORD, November 10. The largest hall in Stratford proved altogether too small for the electors who wished to hear the Prime Minister this evening. The hall was packed to the doors before the hour fixed for the opening of the meeting, and scores of people were standing outside in the rain to see him enter. Mr Massey was given a great reception within the building. He had done a heavy day's work already, but that did not prevent him speaking with his customary vigour for over an hour and a half. Mr Massey explained the financial position from the Government's point of view, and predicted that the public accounts would show a tremendous improvement during the next six months. The effect of the Government's drastic reduction of expenditure was being shown now in the accounts, and the danger of a big deficit at the end of the financial year had been removed. The continued rise in the price of produce, and the excellent work of the Meat Producers' Board in reducing charges and costs were changing the situation from the point of view of the producers generally, and he felt fully justified now in being optimistic. The public debt had grown to a sum of about £200,000,000. The increase had been unavoidable, and the Opposition candidates who mentioned it without saying that it was a result of the war were scarcely being honest with the electors. Two points he would emphasise in connexion with the debt. One was that about half the debt was owed to New Zealanders, and the interest was paid in this country, and circulated here. The second point was that the Dominion, had solid assets to put against every penny of the public debt, apart from the war debt. He noticed that some of his opponents were saying that he had dissipated the accumulated surpluses of the war years. That was not the case. Most of the money had_ been used to provide for the repatriation of the soldiers. Was anybody going to say that the Government should have failed to give these men the assistance that they needed to get on to farms and into homes and businesses? The money had been properly used to help those men, and it had not been dissipated, in any case, because the soldiers were paying it I back. The final loss would be small. A very hearty vote of thanks and confidence in the Reform Party, and in Mr Massey as Prime Minister, was carried unanimously amidst great applause. THE CAMPAIGN ON THE WEST COAST. NOTES AND COMMENTS. WESTLAND. (special to "the press.") GREYMOTJTH, November 10. Proof that Mr J. Steer, the Reform candidate for Westland, is making good, is suggested by the fact that recently some of his opponents hinted he waß of' German descent, an absurd statement which he easily refuted. At a recent meeting, he produced evidence of his English descent on both sides, and as his two sons, Mb sons-in-law, and numerous relatives served at the front, he soon silenced his would-be detractors. Mr Steere Iras had good receptions at the various meetings he has addrossed, and any pessimism vprevailitig is not in the Reform .camp. The Liberal candidate, Mr Seddon, M.P., has also been busy all this week, and is finding his experience of previous, contests very useful. 111-health delayed the active opening of the Labour candidate's campaign, but his various district committees are working for him. Mr J. D. Lynch (Independent) has addressed several public gatherings, l and was quite candid as to his position. Summarised it was this: Are the electors prepared to give him practical support as well as their votes? He was eager to stand, but could not do so unaided. His policy is mainly '(.the Coast first, last, and all the time." Motaeka,

Mr B. P. Hudson, Reform member for Motueka, addressed the electors at Beefton this week, and had a splendid reception. He had an easy task in upholding the Massey Government's pplicy dnring the past three years^ —and his audience was with him. He referred to the proposals to attract British capital to' develop Dominion mining, and said that Mr Newman, who was I retiring from Parliament, had asked .him if he, were returned to take his i (Newman's) place in Parliament in this matter, and he would have the greatest pleasure in doing so. During his eight years in Parliament he conscientiously felt that he had done his best in producing grants for the district. He would niost decidedly support a reasonable increase in totalisator licenses if it were in the. interests of good sport. He believed in good sport, and would assist it by every means: in his power. Boiler. Mr H. E. Holland began his campaign to retain the Buller seat in earnest this week, and it would be futile to deny that he has good pross pects of re-election. However, he will not have the walk-over predicted by his supporters, and already the odds I offered local sportsmen in his favour are dwindling. There were rumours l ! that his friends the Communists would oppose him, but at a meeting of Communut delegates from Blackball, Bunanga, and Bewanui atGreymouth, it was decided not to nominate a cani didate this time, owing to lack of financial support. Mr J. Menzies,,the Independent Reform candidate, is making | steady progress, and if the promises of ' Support already received materialise on December 7th, Mr Holland's majority will be small, if any. T2JVEBOABGILL. (MtKSS ASSOCIATION TELaOBAM.) INVERCARGILL, November 10. Mr F. G. Blake, who was standing for the Invercargill seat as a straightput supporter of the present ment, announces his withdrawal from the contest. FORTHCOMING MEETINGS. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes.... MJP V Reform candidate for EUesmere. will address the* electors at the Southbridgo Hall'on Tuesday evening, and will probably speak at Lakeside on t the following evening. Mr David Jones, M.P.> Reform candidate for Kaiapoi, will address the electors next week aa follows: —Monday, Swannanoa Hall; Tuesday, Oust Hall; Wednesday, Rangiora .Hall; Thursday, Kaiapoi Hall; Friday,Clarkville Ball; Coutts' Island School, Saturday. All meetings commence at 8 o'clock. ; , . Mr J. McCbmbs, M.P;, will meet

friends and supporters in tljp Oddfellows' Hall, Lyttelton, on Monday at 8.30 p.m. Mr J. A. McCullough, Labour fandi. date for Riccarton, will address the electors ae follows during the coming week:—Corner Sutherland and Torrens road, Hillmorten, Monday; Oransro Hall, Greendale, Tuesday; Memorial Hall, Danfield, Thursuay; HalsueU, Saturday. All meetings will commence at 8 p.m. Mr R. D. Martin, Independent candidate for Kaiapoi, will address the electors at Ascott Store, North Brighton, this evening at 7 o'clock, and at the Mairehau Hall at 8 o'clock. On Tuesday,next Mr Martin w'l 1 speak at Waikuku at 7 p.m., and at Woodend at 8 p.m., and he will give an address at Shirley Methodist Schoolroom on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The Hon. I>. Buddo, Liberal candidate for Kaianoi, will address the electors next week as follows: —Cust Institute Hall, Monday, at 8 p.m.; Marshland Hail, Tuesday, at 8 p.m.; Aylesbury School, Wednesday, at 7.15 p.m.; Halkett School, "Wednesday, at 830 p.m.; Kimberley School, Friday, at 7.15 p.m.; Darfield Hall, Friday, at 8.30 p.m.-; Courtenay School, Saturday, at 7.15 p.m.; Kirwee Hall, Saturday, at 8.30 p.m. Mr H. S. S. Kyle, Reform candidate for Riccarton, wil' addrww t'>A e'e at Whitecliffs and Glentunnel on Monday, and on Wednesday, 15th inst., ho will speak at Fendalton, in St„ Barnabas Schoolroom. 'The meetings previously advertised for Charinsr Cross and Greendale have been postponed owing to a prior engagement of the Hall, and will be held at a date to be advised later. Mrs A. E. Herbert, Independent candidate for Avon, will address the electors at the Oddfellows' Hall, Rolleston street, on Monday, at 8 p.m.