THE ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18507, 8 October 1925, Page 11

THE ELECTIONS.

KAIAPOI ELECTORATE. MR W. BROCK'S CAMPAIGN. The Reform candidate for the Kaiapoi electorate., Mr V\". Brock, opened his campaign at the Marshland Hall last nigh-.. Mr G. Pilkingtou presided. The chairman. in introducing the candidate, said that, Mr Brock was favourably known to nearly all Marshland resident?. Mr Brock was not new to political campaigning, because he had previously contested a Parliamentary election, and had gained invaluahk experience on thai, occasion. Mr Brock said ho knew that, Marshland residents were busy people, bur wore uotcd for their capacity for thinking, and for choosing the right man. Referring to his previous election experience, he said be had stood soiiic 1:0 year.- ago in the Liberal interests. Probably he would bo ''twitted" because of that fact during the present election. They must, consider, hoivever, the policy which he advocated then. It was practically the same as was held "ov the Reform Party now. The Liberal Party was dying, ho said, and the country was nr present cursed with throe parties. Of these, the. Liberals had done a good deal of "window dressing."' but the Labour Party, which v,-,is usually somewhat, bombastic, had baen vcrv collet.. Speaking of the Nationalist. Party, Mr Brock said it was very difficult to distinguish between the policy of that Party and the. Reform platform. In fact, the policies were so similar that one required to look at the label to see which was which. Why. then, had the Nationalists not amalgamated* with the Reform Party when they had the opportunity to do so? The Primo Minister, said Mr Brock, was an exceptionally able man. He had "i-nved himself n fine soldier and' a statesman, both of which characteristics were valuable a.ssefs in a •Prime Minister. He was also a straightforward man and as such was bound to meet opposition. Seform Legislation. _ Referring to humanitarian legislation placed on the Statute book by the Reform Party, Mr Brock told how old age pensions had been increased, as well as military pensions, and pensions for tho blind. Other beneficent legislation had been the factory and mining laws and these were such that even the Labour Party had had to acknowledge what had been done in this direction. Education had been, extended and during the last session the Child Welfare "let had been parsed. Dental clinics had been- set up, and ho understood that in a. short time there would bo more dental nurses sent out into the. country, and children right throughout the Dominion would receive attention instead of merely in the main centres as was the case at present. There was room for congratulation, he said, on tho state of the country'* present prosperity.' Speaking of the Dominion's indebtedness, ho said that war loan charges formed tho bulk of the deficit in this direction, and for such costs there could bo no attendant, revenue to balance the ledger. 'Our national indebtedness was increasing at a rate of £5,000.000 a year, hut of this, charges for telephone extension, hydro-electric development, etc., could not be objected to. The main increases in our debt could bo justified, hut he considered that requests for railway extensions should be very carefully examined, and he contended a -wise system of roading would, better meet the purpose for tho country's development. The Government, bad been very severely criticised for tho increase in tho public debt, some politicians stated that such .indebtedness had not increased, to such an extent under the Liberal regime. However, were those people who criticised ,so much ready to reduce the services which were increasing this public debt.. 0

r - ' Tanners' 3financc. Conld anyone say thai the favnier should bo a, favoured individual ? he asked, when referring to agricultural finance.. Very many schemes had been proposed to give cheap money to farmers. One of these was the Stat© Lank. They had one in Australia, and as far as he could see, this bank* had done no mora for the people than had the New Zealand banks. Another form was the agricultural ba.nk, and the Prime Minister was haying an enquiry made- into the possibilities of the scheme. If the,report on it were favourable, no douot "something would be done to give effect to the proposal, but the speaker considered th/ifc agricultural banks would not s*>lvo the problem. What would assist, however, iras the wide use of the system of State advances. Mr Brock considered that the present system of advancing money under this heading was an excellent one and that fuller use of it could bo made by farmers. Abuses had arisen, however. He had heard of farmers who were applying for State advances who had money of their own out on loan at seven per cent. The speaker considered that such cases should be dealt with somewhat harshly. ! TJnivorsal reunions. Some 20 years ago. said Mr Brock, be had advocated a system of universal p/nsions. -He considered that it would still be a good thins if such a suggestion were taken up by the State, and he thought that if the Reform Party remained in office it. would do something in this direction. In outlining the scheme, Mr Brock stated that a fund could be sen aside to assist, people of moderate means either in sickness or old age. If it were adopted, it- would make the live* of a great number of people much happier than they were at present. Referring to trade, the speaker said he was afraid the fortunes- of New Zealand were too much bound up m our exports, while not enough attention was given to local industries. They should assist 'their local manufacturers in every way possible. Th 6 wool trade he ! cave as an instance. Woollen mills in New' Zealand were working only about half-time. There was something very Tvronc there, because they all kneflthat New Zealand woollen goods were equal* to. ii not better than, similar -ooda' produced anywhere else in the world. He was afraid tbjit. some people wore inclined to pu' *.ase "shoddy"' material because of, r low -prices. To remedy that in Au T ".ha they had a protective tariff. and he considered that unless things improved here the Government might. h3ve to take •similar steps. Eeform Policy. I'i conclusion, Mr Brock said the Reform Party stood for sound constitutional government, a- poiiey w.nieh. made for the happiness and weuare or aU sect ; ons of the community. It eJso stood for lovalty to the Empire. In New Zetland they had a wv.ly wonderful counwv, and the only tn:ng wrong ■with it was the man harbouring envy towards his neighbour, and cherishing class hatred. These tended to spoil things. The late Mr Seddon had said New' Zealand was "God's own country." How true that was very few appeared to realise. If we were to realise it, our pel'cy should be service. Speaking of his own candidature. "Brock said he had plenty of time on his hands. He loved his country, and jjfhe «n4d do -anything in .the service

of that country V would bo only tc-o happy to do it. Ho wa *\ cc ' l ;'; l t; leave himself entirely y.i the l;^ the elector* on pollniz day. r.r-0 u had confidence in him and in b.:.-thc-v would return him. He his" hoaxers for r.ho kindly reception they bad g:v«n iniu. and v«;u--rawu r.i> statement that bo did not- repet- ii"'-' small attendance at- his incc-iiiis-Id roplv to a question a? to vrhetjer bf was in favour o\ B:bie- reading m spools, Mr Brock he was in tuvoiir of t>f T>iT-irnt. e.tate <-f thins.;, and he v-.uU. vote jinytbinc; v.->u"'d rlrr-r the order, if people wanted Bil'.ic reading tor children they could arrange i- r it ouinae school hour: i . _ ~ Another qur-srinnc- astced if I '' ie "speaker vrrc m iarour of the t.overn-nn-ur prnvldiup money for demal clmvs for country -crooU instead of the. 00--t home borne hv resident- ot tac locality. Mr Bro<:V snd that u the Government had t- nay ior a largo number of dental olicTsVd! -".--or the r.r.niurv it Vould cost a creat deal of money. L;> thoucht. hoT.-ev.M-. the*- wonld he- able, to pvoid in that direction '?" ha vine travelling clinics. M r Brock said, in to another question, that he- did not think it would do any good to reduce the dutv on Tohaco was a. luxury, and lie not-iced a vmi'icr of yonnj; men appeared to smoke more cigarettes tb.au were stw\ for them. A "heari-v vote of thanks to the speaker, moved hy Mr T). Coode, and seconded by Mr S. Marsh, wa.- carried unanimously, THINGS DONE. GOVERNMENT'S GOOD RECORD. (rass*; AasccrAriON' iz^zc-sIH-) AUCKLAND. October ?. The; Hon. R: F. Bollard, M.P. for Raglan, in a speech at Taupiri said that if the Government returned to office, the nest few years of its administra-. tioD would mako for greater progress than ever before in its history. Prudent finance liad always been a. feature of the Government's policy and the country's credit io-ilay was as good as that of the Mother Country. Last year's revenue, of £28,643,000 had .shown an. increase- of '£682.629 over thai of the preceding year. The expenditure was £LT,309,200, and a surplus of £1,243,300 was'shown at the end of t,ho year. New Zealand'e expenditure bore a. favourable comparison with thai, of ''any of the Australian States, Further money would ho available- for loans in the" "State Advances Department, shortly, and it would not be many montlifi before, arrears of applications were overtaken. The total amount. of the loans on March 31st la*t was £22.106.190.

Appreciative reference to the work of the Post and Telegraph office was made by'the speaker, who said that the Government, by its corn-age and determination to run the postal service in the best interests of the public, had placed the country in tho van of Empire progress. Mr Coates's enterprise and energy had "been reflected in the improved position of tho country's railways, which were now successfully competing with motors apd giving tho people efficient service. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Bollard was carried with enthusiasm, MR COATES'S INFLUENCE (press issoaj-Tiofr izxxdni.it.) ■WHAKATANJS, October 7, Mr F. F. Hockly, Reform candidate, addressed tho electors hero last night, the speech being well received. H$ said that he was a strong supporter of Mr Coates, who had infused a new spirit into the Departments under his control. Mr Hockly strongly opposed the Labour Party. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

MR CORRIGAN AT EAWERA* f (FS3BB ASBOCUXDOK TIXXGB.AJ*.) HAWERA., October 7. Mr J. R. Corrigan, Nationalist candidate for Patea, opened his campaign yesterday before a crowded audienceHe received a good hearing till question time, when some hot words were exchanged. A motion favouring the formation oi a. Nationalist Government was carried, while an amendment urging all decentmen and women to vote tho National Party out of existence was lost. The candidate dealt exhaustively with the fusion negotiations and advocated doing away with Party government and setting up a national, stable, strong Government which would work in the interests of all people. END OF THREE PARTIES ? } (FESBS iSSOaiTTOJf TELEGRAM-) , DUNEDIN, October 7. Mr Fred Waite, the Reform candidate for tho Clutha seat, addressed a meeting last night at Lawrence. He said that politics in this country were in a. stato of flux, and ho ventured to say that as the result of fusion between tho. Reform Party and tho Nationalists, there would bo only two parties in the new Paxliament, a. strong Government, under Mr Coates's Party, and the Labour Party in Opposition under Mr Holland. He. strongly condemned the policy of the Labour Party, which, ho asserted, was closely alhed to Bolshevist ideas of the Russians. NATIONALIST FOR EGMONT. SrEErS ASSOCUriOH TS&EGEAIL) ELTHAM. October 7. Mr W. C. Green, of Rahotu, agreed to-day to contest Egmont as a Nationalist. He and Mr Hawken are the only candidates. MR BRINDLE'S POINT OF VIEW. vraiss Assocurcoir tzlegeam.) NELSON. October 7. ' Mi- T. Brindle. president of the New Zealand Labour Party, who is the Labour candidate lor the* Nelson seat, opened his campaicn before a large audience in the Theatre Royal bit evening. Ho contended that the shipping companies were still making rig profit?, and at the same time they j wanted to cut down tho wages of the I seamen. A vote of thanks was'carried by acclamation. ELECTION DAY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4. ! j (iFBa+J, 10 "TES ,J2.*35.."j ' AUCKLAND, October ?. Cimc-iity as to the date of the coni- J ing general elections was satisfied by the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs, when addressing his constituents at Taupiri. Tn the course or his speech. Mr Bollard remarked | that the date selected for the elections S"as Kovember -ithj,

MR J. MASSEY'S OPENING SPEECH..

<raSß3 ASSOCU.TIOH "iSiZOaAH,) AUCKLAND, October 7. Mr John Massey, Government candidate for Manukau, opened his campaign at Maugere to-night. Ho said he had been chosen by the Party to eontest tho seat which was unfortunately lost at the last election. It was thought, that as ho was well-known in the district, having resided there since boyhood, ho would have an opportunity of winning it back. Nothing would have induced "him to stand had it not been the home district of his late brother and himself." He was a Prohibitionist, favoured the Bible-in-State cchools and believed in the _ ultimate subdivision of large estates into oneman farms capablo by scientific fanning of supporting one family. The candidate was accorded ii voto of thanks and confidence. MR TALBOT AT TEMUKA. (PBXS3 ASSOCIATION TBLZOEAM.)-TIMAR-TJ, October I, Mr C. J. Talbot,'National candidate for the Temuka seat., opened his campaign to-night at Temuka,, when he addressed a largo audience., and was given a cordial reception. He announced himself as a strong supporter of fusion. He favoured universal superannuation on a contributary basis, and a. State monopoly of accident mI surance. Ho said Reform had beaten all records in ttie ras.tter of borrowing, and condemned Reform's costly administration. Tho public debt was increasing too fa£fc for the slowly increasing population. He favoured leasehold against freehold, and would resist any attempt to convert endowment lands into freehold. Taxation was too heavy. Under a capable Administration it should be reduced. The present incidence of taxation was most unfair. He advocated setting up a Pubhc Works Committee to examine the Publio Works estimates, so that the South Island would get a. fair share of public money. He claimed that Reform wV»s not worthy of support, as indicated by its failures and broken promises: The National Party stood for economy, businesslike methods, and humanitarian legislation. ' He was given a vote of thanks and confidence. ELLESMERE SEAT, MR D. JONES'S CANDIDATURE. tA well-3±tended meeting of the members of Mr Da.vid Jones's committees in the EUesmer6 electorate was held in the Chamber of Commerce, yesterday afternoon, over fifty members of the candidate's committees being present. Mr Watson Kime, of Springston, prs•sided. " Reports were made regarding tho work being done by the different subcommittees throughout the district, and it was stated that in every part of the electorate feeling was becoming veryenthusiastic towards Mr Jones's candidature, and the different committees were very hopeful of Mr Jones's success. The meeting, which waa most enthusiastic in character,* was addressed bv Mr Jones, Mr E. C Huie, president of the Canterburv Divisional Executive of the Reform Party, and Mr G. Livingstone, the secretary. Gratification was expressed with the thoroughness of tho Reform Party's organisation of the electorate. Mr Da-id Jones addressed the electors of Eliesmero at Irwell on Monday evening. There was a larrre attendi :iTice. "ifr J. Brooks presidc-d. A vote j of thanks to the speaker was proposed bv Mr S. Gibson and seconded by 3lr i J. Schmack and carried. I ' RICCARTON SEAT. A very large meeting of supporters of Mr H. S.' S. Kyle, Reform candidate for Riecarton, was held in Hanna's store, Riecarton road, last night. Progress reports were received from dinerem parts of the electorate, organisation was discussed, and Tarious committees tvsra get ujjw

AVON SEAT.

SELECTION OF REFORM CANDIDATE. A meeting of supporters of the Reform Party in tho Avon electorate has been convened for to-morrow evening in the Chamber of Commerce for the pur r . poso of arranging for. the selection of a candidate in tho Reform interests for tho seat, MR LYONS AT: CASHMERE. The Cashmere Hills Schoolroom was packed last evening to.hear au address bv Mr M. E- Lyons, Reform candidate for the Lytteltorr scat. Mr W. Recce occupied the chair, and tho candidate spoke for an hour and a quarter on questions of the day, mainly oh. the lines of tho speech delivered at Sumner on the previous evening. A unanimous vote of thanks.and confidence was accorded the candidate. CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH. Mr H. G. Ell addressed two meetings last night, receiving a.n attentive hearing at both. Tho first meeting was at, 7 o'clock at the corner of Stiicklaud street and Somerfield street, and the, other at the corner of Barrington and Howard streets. To-night Mr Ell will speak at the corner of Spencer street and Clifton street, Addington, at 7 o'clock, and at 8 o'clock at tho corner of Harman Gtreet and Park road. LYTTELTON SEAT. Mr J. McCombs will address the electors m the Lyttelton Oddfellows' Hall to-morrow night. The Mayor of Lvtteltou (Mr F. E. Sutton) will preside.: SOUTHERN MAORI. Mr H. W. Uru. M.P., Reform candidate for tho Southern Maori seat, held a meeting at Rupaki on Tuesday night. Mr E. Manihera presided. v The speaker outlined tho work dono by Parliament, and explained the-vari-ous amendments in tho Native Land Acts, which should be beneficial to the Maoris. He also spoke on the wort done, in regard to the Ngaitahu claim and of tho interest of the- Prime Minister, who, boing tho Native Minister, was doing all he could to uplift the Maori race. Mr Urn touched on the various grants which were obtained for trie different kiingas. A3 there were several candidates, he sskod the peoplo to stand by the present Government. A few questions were asked, and a trote of thanks and confidence was passed.