THE OAMARU ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17749, 28 April 1923, Page 14

THE OAMARU ELECTION.

MR MASSEY'S CAMPAIGN. ADDRESS TO PUKEURI . FREEZING WORKERS. (spzciai, to "the pbess.") OAMARU, April 27. A visit to the Pukeuri freezing works was included in the Prime Minister's itinerary to-day. Mr Massey, who was accompanied by the Hon. E. P. Lee, arrived at the works just as the whistle sounded for the ceasing of work for luncheon. The party visited the large killing room of the works, where it was learned that the men employed had killed and dressed on one day recently 3012 sheep, the average working out at 80 sheep a man a day. A little later the men gathered in'the yard, and on their behalf, Mr E. Applegarth welcomed the Prime Minister and party. A splendid reception was given to Mr Massey, who, before he commenced to speak and at the conclusion of his- address, was warmly applauded. The men also carried with cheers a vote of thanks and confidence in the Government. . Mr Massey said he was very pleased io have an opportunity of addressing them for a few minutes with regard to the industry in which they were engaged. These works and the other freezing works throughoutthe Dominion had done very well this year, and had saved the situation for everyone who was interested in the prosperity and welfare of the country as a whole. A good deal of thw was due to the , efforts of the workers, and, as the head ' of the 1 Government, he wanted to thank them for what they had done. He had heard about the way they had picked up the work and he hoped they would go on until they became employers- themselves or at least two or three grades higher. The industry was a very important one, and he was glad to say a very good season had been experienced. . No less than 113,000 sheep had been put through this season, and there was a large number to be put through yet. This was a very fine record, but there was plenty of room for an extension of the industry and for the men, as far as their particular work was concerned. The Government had done its best to promote the welfare of the \ freezing industry. There was a particularly good demand for our- products, and the country had been able to send more away and bring more money into the country than in any previous _ year. The Government had been doing its best in other directions in connexion with the industry. They had heard about the trouble- in regard to prices and the difficulties that had faced the producers. The Board of Control, which was set up a little before this time last year, had done splendid work and had been successful in bringing about a substant'al reduct'on in freight on frozen meat, which was equal to securing an advance in prices. The reduction in freights amounted to £575,000 a year. The Government was working for the development of the country as a whole, and it proposed to continue on those lines. The Government had done its level best for the country as a whole, and had managed to assist in securing a return to prosperity. The country was never more prosperous than it was at present. The Government wanted everyone to share in that prosperity. One of the men present asked if a man who had undergone detention in the. army was entitled to receive back pay. Mr Massey:' I think so. The questioner said he had not received hia attention and the Prime Minister promised that the matter would be investigated. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Massey for the way he had addressed the men was carried by acclamation, and the gathering dispersed after giving three hearty cheers for the Prime Minister; Subsequently Mr Massey addressed a meeting of settlers in the Pukeuri Publio Hall. There was a good at-

tendance. In the course of his speech Mr Massey made reference to some published remarks of Mr Wilford that he (Mr Wilford) had said that the Prime Minister had stated that he would have to go to the dbuntry if Mr Macmillan had not been returned for the Tauranga eeat. "I said," continued Mr Massey, "that if we lost the Tauranga contest, the Government would have had a majority of only one and that I would not attempt to carry on, but I said also that if Mr Macmillan were elected, I would-have a majority of three, and that X would endeavour to carry on. I stated further, that the House, constituted as it was with three parties, its proceedings may develop into a wrangle, that the business of the country would be stopped and that a dissolution mav result. Personally, I did not want a dissolution, and preferred to try to carry on with a majority of three. lApplause.; . , . i Mr Massey' referred to it being almost an impossiblity for any party keeping all its supporters m the He-use on any flitting day, and-remarked that when the debates were taking place during the last short session preceding the test divisions, the whole of tne members remained in . the .House throughout, which, in his Parliamentary experience of twenty-nine years, was a record. The question for the electors to decide now was, whether the Government was to be strengthened to enable it to carry on without difficulty its legislative programme for the benefit of the people and he advised them to think seriously over the matter before casting their votes. (Applause.) "I don't know what would happen," said Mr Massey, "if tbe present Government were to withdraw and you got a Government that was not so good. (Applause.) I am very glad to have been in office —to have assisted the country through its trouble. Nobody, excepting my colleagues and the head officers of the Treasury, knows what we have been through, and it was very pleasing to me to have announced a surplus of £1,315,000. I hope soon we will be able to get back .the penny postage, reduce freights on our railways and in one or two other directions! (Applause.) I hope also to be able to push on the State industries and complete several of our railway lines " The frig line connecting Canterbury with Westland was now almost completed. In fact it would be m full working order in a few weeks. All that now remained to be done was to adiust certain matters m regard to tne electric engines for the tunnels. "What I am after ladies and gentlemen is revenue, and the more I get the easier will ft fee for the Government to lift some of the burdens which the war and the slump have placed on the people." (Applause.) A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was moved. Before the motion was put to the meeting, Mr G. R. Hunter, a member of the audience, referred to some remarks made bv the chairman of the meeting, Mr\Miirray, at the meeting held in the hall on Saturday last. Mr Murjbv had stated or alleged that the labour troubles of the past were due to the influence of the Liberal and Labour organisation. He knew that gevonty-five per cent, of the men who ■tood to the .freezing company and had J helped it were Liberal and Labour. v Vie Chairman. 1 I made my statement I

in a general way, simply because I realised that the Liberal and Labour organisations are at the back of the strikes. Mr Massey: I think it will be found that all the Liberals that have been helping the company are MasseyLiberals. (Laughter and applause.) Mr Hunter said thai that was all very well, but he could not change his riews. He was still an old Liberal. Mr Massoy: That is all right,. Mr Hunter, but you hare not kept pace with the times; think it over. (Laughter.) The motion, on being put to the meotHg, was carried unanimously. Address were also delivered at TCnuroo Hill. Mr Lee said that if the present Government could not carry on thev would have to depend on Mr Wilford. who would be under the control of .Mr Holland. It was left to them to decide who should l>e Prime Minister. There had never been a time in the history of the Oamaru electorate when the people had such power for good or evil as they had at'present. It was a question of good government and the choice of the electors on Tuesdav would either strengthen or weaken the Government. If they weakened, t£e power of the Government, they would probably cause another general election to be held. Mr Massey, who was received with loud applause, said he could not understand why it should have been stated that Mr Lee had not been a great success politically. He had worked with him for many years, both in Opposition and as a *linister, and no man could have done better in connexion with the different departments which he had controlled than Mr Lee had done.

Mr Massey then deilt with the general political position. He stated that everv .vote taken from his side hy the old Liberals would heln the Red Feds. While the Labour Party would assist to put the Government out, it would afterwards dictate to Mr Wilford or put him out. If the Liberals went on as they were now going they would pat Mr Holland on the Treasury benches. Under the present conditions they could not spare a Minister to attend Imperial Conferences. His present majority was rather small, but he thought he coidd manage with one of five, and it rested with the electors to give him that.

Mr Massey resumed his seat amidst hearty applause. A very hearty and sincere vote of thanks was passed to Mr Massey and Mr Lee for "their addresses, and a motion of continued "onfidenre in the Reform Administration, under Mr Massey's leadership, was a'so carried.

The proceedings terminated cheers for Mr Massev and Mr Lee, and the sinking of "For He's a Jollv Good FeTW» as a compliment to the Prime Minister. MR MACPHERSON'S MEETING. » (SPECIAI< TO "THI PBSSS.") OAMAEU, April 27. Mr J. A. Macpherson, the Liberal candidate, addressed a very large meeting at the Opera House. The candidate received a very cordial reception. The Mayor presided. Mr Macpherson said unfortunately he would have to deal with one or two names. In December the decision of the returning officer was in his favour. After the election Mr Lee secured a magisterial enquiry, aud his first duty in connexion with that was to pay 20 guineas into Court for the cost of the enquiry. He did so, and the enquiry was held. His (Mr Macpherson's) solicitor asked for expenses, but the j Magistrate, a capable and impartial man, who had been appointed by Mr. Lee himself, returned the money intact to Mr Lee. The cost of that enquiry ,was paid out of the Consolidated Fund, and was made a charge on the taxpayers of New Zealand. That showed the magnaminity of the ex-Minister of Justice. Mr Macpherson then said that he wanted to draw attention to the magnificent advertisement of the "pink pills type," from Sir John Findlay. He did not think one lady or gentlemen in that hall understood one word of it. He thought Sir John Findlay had forgotten the fact that he had thrown a very considerable slur on the election Court. -Sir John Findlay said that Mr Lee was returned by a majority of valid votes. Why was the gladiator of RefoTra in the electorate if what Sir John Findlay said was true? Did it not appear to them to be an absurdity? He (Mr Macpherson) accepted the decision without considering, for a moment, that anything i was wrong. Mr Macpherson then turned his attention to the sheets illustrating .the marking on the voting papers, which had caused all the trouble, and went into full details. Referring to the presence of the Prime Minister in the district, Mr Macpherson said that but a few years aco Mr Massey said interference by Ministers was morally wrong and was a corrupt practice. On another occasion Mr Massey had said that interference by Ministers, either for or against candidates, was the most objectionable interference. A few years ajzo. when a new party was formed by Mr Statham and others, the exMinister of Justice was a member of that Party. At that time Mr Massey described Mr Statham as nothing more nor less than a political wheelbarrow. Up till December 7th Mr Wilford was regarded with little favour by the Reform Press, but after that he was the man they wanted for the Speaker's chair. When Mr Wilford would not take the position, they discovered that Mr Statham was the ideal man, and he> was elected to the position. The ex-Minister of Justice dared not come down and tell his own story, like the speaker was doing. That 'was the action of a strong man. He (Mr Macpherson) left it to the electors to answer the question on May Ist. (Applause.) He would fight his own battles. Mr Macpherson strongly criticised the Reform Administration. He denounced the Reform propaganda. He said he disdained sympathy, but appealed to the electors not to be led astray by Mr sev saying that the defeat of Mr i«e" would mean another election. | A _vote of thanks and confidence was carried by an overwhelming majority.