ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19448, 23 October 1928, Page 11

ELECTIONS.

.^yTCE&TON. g jO f^mpbell iSaH'fJ originally intended - having many m**-- nJfothat electorate. Ima&ut ©Sg Chamber of ifr-ws ,abour reprer W. T. Candidate, was vas published h> announced Sect that ho ; if a Reform efore decided of the depud, "and now intend to go. M l ® *n•h 1 have reMinister (Mr isHI sidered'there i of^successj fjfcy n oT the withdrawing. it tlm \ ouk } would be a or-opponents Mr Beanland .hmere, Burning ■ ec ". Va JS , would meet idles. fsure for the irliament for • i. supporter or , because he t Party w. aS uld lead the perous times few ; w ? ' j lot . and read | uicity of the i while .-What For the worKfor business ,at deal—far uagme. It j ling for the' for a largo 9 that which eader. of the Ward. Such i r solve our • two, work unemployed, boom for a is.- night folwould have period of dehad aJ.return fort: leen. To en- j ustry j ut as one of expressed it must haye atry' on the ent :had ads a sum. tor March," 1928, i;en million advanced to ince of oyer need. to'local of' the ,Hutt intly: "if it on' and sym;er, the Hutt er 'have gone aentv,housed ppy aiid copng conditions snd. yet the eSroxjtery to rernment did . Tbe Hutt in the settlei, -it, must be lure. njent.had ad* er £22,000,000, O,<X)O was adeved that this The appoiiitof the.Main .operation of me went on, -Councils, and Dominion, of h at the* prelertake in the maintenance. »-to- be ■ yei'y listricts could . for the. roads to-day. Up "to tail been coniseadam road, bituminous rote ,road. The d on tliis con,ooft The Govilso £2,560,000 id we of the > enter Parlia- > SJouth Wand t)f expenditure otoring -public iiercial lorries y the tax on ) provided. Of must pay the tas inevitable; •otli town and tether- in this mon end—the it: of the Does. 68,000,000 had m«r tariff. A irrpvehuepur-•rtioa-wasfor our seeondarv retnained that 'le .-wanted for ts "of >nld be,-and if be stiU further ■U- would be" a .people. - <f.\Ve industries "nail -holdings ifl goods," said riU be kept i, BntiA Pomhi J* had, it waf MnffJhadpasa bul wpulc

bring it baok to-prosperity*.again. If, on the other hand, a Labour Government was returned to power, then be believed that the condition of the country would very soon be as bad as that which existed in Queensland to-day. The Labour Party had levelled a good deal of criticism at the Reform Government on account of its doing so much business by Orders-in-Council. He had had a good deal of experience on the Christchurch City Council, but he had never known a Ciiy Council conducted in such an unbusinesslike manner as the present Council. All questions for consideration by the Council were settled prior to the Council meeting by the Labour caucus, and its decisions were simply carried by the steam-roller method which it adopted. The result was that the Opposition members had no chance of conducting the business on recognised municipal lines. When, they realised that questions coming before the Council for consideration had already been decided, and in some cases, work had actually been carried out before tenders had been accepted, it made them lose faith in the honesty of purpose of Labour leaders. He was iq a position to know these things, and would say without any hesitation that if the Laboiir Party captured the Government of this country, the same state of affairs would exist in regard to our national government as existed on the Christchurch City Council to-day. If, on the'other hand, the United Party was returned to power, with its huge spending programme, New Zealand would see something akin to the experienco of .Victoria when the Gillies Government was in power—a huge borrowing policy, a period of boom, then a shoal of bankruptcies. "Let New Zealand make no mistake; we are emerging from a period of depression, and prospects for the future look very bright," said Mr Beanland. "Let us stick to the ship which has weathered the storm and which will surely bear us safely into the calm waters of prosperity." He hoped there would be a straightr out fight between Reform and Labou for Lyttclton, and if this was the case, with the position improved since tno last election for the Government Pari/v, the seat could "bo won. " Questions. In reply to . a question Mr Beanlatid said he was a Conservative to the backbone, and would support the Govern nient-every time on motions. He was in favour of what it. liaa done in regard to the railways. lam not altogether in favour of the in-Schools, Bill," said -Mr Eeanlan."There are many difficulties and 1 can c say. how I would vote. The Nelson system seems better. Speaking broadly, I -.am not in favour of the Bible-iu-Sehools Bill." ' , , , l Mr J. W. Graham read a statement outlining what he stated was the Public Works Department's programme or past present, and future works, t' 1 ® undertakings in all cases being carried out by day labour, which cost more than the tenders of - contractors. tie asked Mr Beanland if lie was in favour of this most unfair and inefficient system. The candidate said he was opposed to this policy, and believed the work should be done by private enterprise, wherever possible. Replying to ; urther questions by Mr R. M. Laing, the candidate said he was a supporter ot New Zealand's full participation in the League of Nations and the International Labour Office. He would like to go further into those questions being given a complete answer. Ho bad lost nomination for the Kaiapoi seat because of his stand on the licensing question. "I am a Prohibitionist and a two-issue man,'' he. said, "but I am not in favour of bare majority." Asked if~he was jn favour of tlie extension of tne Parliamentary term, Mr Beanland said h© was if it was going to.be in the interests' of the 'country. He certainly was in-favour of the extension of the term for local bodies. "I am inclined to be in favour, of the four years' term for Parliament," he said. Borrow as little as "possible was' his policy,. He did not belierftftiir nursing and spoon-feeding an industry once it had beefj. given a •start. He would not vote for the abolition of .the Arb'itr'ation Crnirt, as he believed that not onTv -3kL it protect the worker, but also the employer. " The Rev. W. Baumber lnoved a vote of'thanks to Mr Beanland. "He is the type ,of man to make a good member for this district." he said. • Mr J G. A-. Gilchrist, who, seconded the motion, expressed similar sentiments. The motion Tvas carried unani-' mouslv. ' '

[Extended report published by arrangement.] CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH. REFORM CANDIDATE. MR W. MANHIRE'S ADDRESS. < : ' Mr W. Manhire, the Reform candidate for the Christchurch South seat, opened his. campaign, last night in the Selwyn street Methodist Sunday' School Hall,' Mr iW. J. Edwards presiding over a fair'attendarice. The chairman said that the Manhire family was one that was-Well known iri the district, but Mr W.- Manhire was the first of them to seek Parliamentary honours. The candidate said that there were three Parties seeking the suffrages of the electors,' and. he understood that the greatest objection to the Reform Party was "its supposed Conservatism. Well, he considered that Conservatism, was as dead as Julius Cajsar. No sensible Government would seek to work against the interests of the working nian, nor would the Reform Party. He thought there was no difference between the Reform Party and the United Palrty. It was an utter impossibility for either the United Party or the Labour Party to get a majority in the House.' He that after the election' those of the United ' Party who went back would coalesce with the Reformers.' Sooner or later those Parties would unite into > a great Liberal Party. The Labour Party would never be allowed to govern the country while they advocated _ the nationalisation of the means -f distribution, and exchange. The Reform Government had given the workers every consideration. • . Pensions Expenditure. Mr Manhiro said that the Liberal Government in six years had spent £2,130,251 on pensions, a yearly average of £334.714, while the Reform Party from 1923-28 spent £6.691,000 on ! pensions, a yearly average-of £862,527. It might have been thought that, a Conservative Government would have been niggardly in the expenditure of .money . on pensions, but the proved the position to be different. With Regard to unemployment, the position was worse in Australia than in •\ew Zealand, and jt was also bad in U.S.A., the richest country in the world. It was, therefore, Unfair to blame the Government for. uperaploymcjit, which' was world-wide in its character. He did not think that'relief works were much good to remedv the position. The Prime Minister had stated that he expected the position to be ■ . in the near future, and no doyl.t tins would, take place. , it-had been suggested that shorter hours should be worked, but before is could be put into operation considratiQn would have to be given to the position-that-would arise by reason .of ■ e longer, hours, worked in other coun-

to have work for all at six hours a day than for only a certain number to be given work at eight hours a day. The question was a big one, however, and was international in character. It would, therefore, probably have to. be considered by the League of Nations. Labour-saving machinery accounted for a great deal of the unemployment in the United States. Statements had been made that thousands of people were going off the land in New Zealand, and that the trade of the Dominion was going, down. Mr Manhire quoted figures to show how the trade of the Dominion had gone ahead during tie regime of the Reform Party. He thought that the Government could minimise unemployment by the development of hydro-electric schemes. The railways were losing money every year. A voice: Mismanagement. Mr Manhire: Well, if it is due to mismanagement, the same thing must apply in other countries, because railways are losing money all over the world. "Electrify the Railways." Proceeding, Mr Manhire said that. if the railways were electrified the losses would be greatly reduced. New Zealand was wonderfully well endowed so far a,s water-power was concerned, and the Government should develop it to the fullest extent. Sir Joseph Ward had advocated the borrowing of £70,000,000 with which to develop the Dominion. While the expenditure of such a sum would probably give a fillip to the Dominion, care would have to be taken that the money was spent wisely, otherwise the Dominion might find itself in the slough of despond. He considered that the Government' should pay more attention to the question of extracting 1 oil from coal. With regard to a proposal to extend the' life of Parliament to four years, lie thought that this would be a mistake, as it would tend to cause people to lose their grip of politics, "which was something to be deprecated. Ho. considered that the present licensing issues . were fair, and he would favour their retention, on the ballot paper. Questions. Answering questions, Mr Manhire said lie was against the, introduction of the Bible in schools; _ there were other means of giving religious instruction than during school hours. . Ho would not, however, mind the Nelson system being introduced. • He was in favour of opening up secondary industries, so as to provide .employment for the young people who were growing up. He would be in favour of giving such industries protection, so that they could compete against goods produced in countries where the wages and standard of living were lower,than in the Dominion. He did not think that Mr Sterling, manager of the New Zealand Railways, should be paid £3500 a year for his services. , Had that gentleman given a guarantee that the railways could be made under his management to pay, Mr Manhir© would say that he was worth every penny of that salary, but not otherwise. ■ Mr Manhire expressed himself as absolutely dead against compulsory military training, but he believed that, a strong Navy was vital to the Empire. The chairman moved a vote of thanks' to the candidate, and asked for a seconder of the motion. "I will second it, although I am a , 'Red Fed.'"said a man in'the audi-! ence, amidst laughter the motion be-* ing carried unanimously.

THEEE-CORNEBED ' CONTESTS. REFORM SEATS AFFECTED. PROSPECTS IN WELLINGTON. ' [THE PRESS Special Service.]' .\ -—<— • WELLINGTON, October 22. . Thg contests for seats in. the Wellington, Hawke's Bay, .and Taranaki Provinces hold interesting possibilities, and there may be surprises when the numbers go up on polling night. A ding dong battle! ia being fought; out for the support of the Egmont constituency between the sitting Eeform member, the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Mr Hawken, and Mr C. A. Wilkinson, one of the thirteen Independent candidates. _ Dairy control, the' electric power availability rate, ,and the residence of the Minister, in Wellington are, it is stated, being-made the main issues of the battle. Mr Hawken opened his campaign in the outlying parts of his electorate, and reports.to hand show that he received more. support. In the larger places, particularly Eltham, Mr Wilkinson appears to have had a fairly good hearing so far, 'His' biggest handicap will probably be his Independent status. Although campaign meetings as a rule are not a true criterion, it would appear at present that the result of the election will be close; Mr E. Walter, the sitting Eeform member for Stratford, is also up against an Independent opponent, Mr W. -J. Poison, and although he makes no claim to the oratory possessed by the president- of the New. Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr Walter has so far more than held his own. The indications are that his constituents will again express confidence in him on November 14th. A triangular contest is taking place at New Plvmouth, where Mr C. E. Bellringer (Refom) is defending his seat against the United nominee, Mr fa. G-. Smith, whom he unseated in 19. 0, and Mr W. 0. Simpson, the Labour Socialist hopo. The Prohibition issue is likely to be an influence in the result in this electorate. Well-informed observers hold the opinion that in straight contest Mr Bellrmger would be "turn ed, but that the danger of the split vote upsetting ..calculations cannot be ig"ni sitting Biform member, lhe interests of the Lnited Party. Hawke's Bay Province. ' • Tn the Hike's Bay Province there w 4 ftalS."r"the i. I a straight-out fight Jir w™s thi x IS opposed to Mr. . (Un i tc d>. ft 0 " ejected 'that Mr Campbell will retain "the seat, in spite of the split V SiV George Hunter (Waipawa) should *1 his electorate aaainst Mr |fs Kent. t!>e tnikd candid.te tat "V" % Vr'T ,\/l!ansoin. deputy for Xorth T sland of the I, m tod Part v. &tows form} Mr J. Whittle (Labour). Mr Smith's chances of enter,ng the new Parliament as Pahiatuns representative are stated tn bo exceptionally bright. ' Wellington Province. The Waimarino election has produced two opponents to the sitting-mem-

} ber, Mr R. W. Smith (United), these being Mr F. Langstoue (Labour), sat in the 1922-1925 Parliament, ana Mr J. Georgetti, an Independent, bour supporters arc confident a i Langstone will bo sufficiently support to recapture the seat. . One of the most interesting contests in the entire election is take place for the Wanganui X latest information is that Mr .A* Veitch, president of the United Party s organisation, will have the fight of nis life to retain the confidence of tn electorate. Thoso who have been ioilowing the campaigns of the Reform candidate, Mr N. J. Lewis, and the Labour Socialist nominee, Mr W. J. Sogers, foreshadow increases in the Reform and Labour votes, and a substantial drop in the United vote. It is considered that the finish will be a very interesting one, and that TVauganui may have a new member. For the Rangitikei seat the sitting Reform member, Mr TV. S. Glenn, has as his opponents Mr F. Andrews (Labour) and Mr J. T. Hogan (Independent). His seat is not considered to be in jeopardy. Mr J. G. Eliott, Reform, Is defending the Oroua seat against Mr J. H. Cobbe (United). His performances in the last Parliament, which included the piloting through the Houso of the legislation providing for the establishment of the new bank, and an unceasing advocacy, for the provision and safeguarding. of regular and adequate supplies of fertiliser to the farmers, should stand Mr Eliott in good stead. If returned, it will occasion no surprise if Mr Eliott's next appointment is to ono of the Whipships. The three-cornered contest in Palmerston should not detract greatly from the substantial majority by which Mr J. A. Nash was returned to the last Parliament. He is opposed this time by Mr TV. Bromley and Mr C. A. Loughnan, the latter of whom, according to a recent reported utterance, would vote with the Labour Socialist Leader on a no-confidence motion if the "vote were I based on the principles he was in agreement with." I A surprise is predicted in some quarters from the four-cornered contest for the Manawatu seat, where the opponents of the sitting Reform member, Mr J. Linklater, include an Independent Reform candidate, Mr H. J. D. MeManaway, who some months ago declined the backing of the United Party; Public opinion, however, will have altered considerably in three years if a new representative is sent back to Parliament. Mr TV. H. Field (Reform) is considered to have every prospect of again retaining the Otaki seat. Some of his past supporters may vot'c for the Independent Labour candidate, Mr J. Purchase, but not such a percentage as will embarrass him in his polling against Mr 11. Dyson (Labour) and Mr A. B. Sievwright (United). Mr Field has represented Otaki for many years, and on behalf of his district he is probably the most indefatigable worker, in the House. In Wairarapa the Minister for Lands, Hon. Mr McLeod, should score ovor his only opponent, Colonel T. TV, AleDonald, but Mr G. It. Sykes, the sitting Reform member, may be harder pushed to trounce Mr B. Roberts (Labour) and Mr TV. Thompson (United) for the Masterton seat.

City and Suburbs. Many hold the opinion that after No» yember 14th Hutt will have a new representative in Parliament, the expectation being that even in a straightout fight Mr W. Nash (Labour-Social-ist) will carry too many guns for, til© ! sitting United.member., Mr T. M., Wilj i'ord, who is also "father of ParliaI ment." The growth of industrial population in the Hutt Valley will certainly be a factor in Mr Nasn's favour, but Mr Wilford is a hard man to beat for this. seat. •The alteration made to the electoral, boundaries Will exercise some influence on the contest for Wellington Central. Both the sitting member, Mr P. Fraser (Lubour'SocialisU and the Reform Candidate, Mr D. Sloane, have devoted most of their' attention to organisation work, but both are reported to be ready to take the hustings in earnest. Mr Fraser will be a hard nut to crack, but Mr Sloane and his supporters have entered the tray with confidence, and they certainly iook like putting up a' stout fight. An unfortunate positioir exists in connexion with Wellington East, through the insistence of the Independent Reform candidate, Mr J. J. Clark, that he will go to the poll. Although • some of the supporters of the sitting •Reform member, Mr T.. Forsyth, are inclined to believe that Mr Clark will not poll sufficient votes to assist the Labour Socialist, nominee, Mr R. Semple, wellwishers of tlie_ Party contend that Mr Clark's continuance in the campaign will result in the seat being made a gift to Labour. They are hopeful that wiser counsels will prevail before polling diiy. The chances of the Labour-Socialist candidate for Wellington North, Mr C. H. Chapman, unseating Sir John Luke ■ are almost too. remote for discussion. Had Mr ll.' E.' Coombs again; been his opponent,' Sir John Luke might have had to look to his laurels. The result of the' contest for Wellington South inay be, a surprise. Realising that Mr J. Burns, ,the United candidate, has no prospect of winning the seat, the electors will no doubt divide their support between the sitting Labour-Social-ist member, Mr R McKeen, and the Reform candidate. Mr M. M. F. Lnckie.. It should be a close finish. The remaining Wellington seat in the suburbs should be retained with com* parative ease by the Minister for Education, the Hon. Mr Wright, whose most' serious opponent will bo the Labour nominee, Mr T. Brindle,

LABOUR LEADER. SPEECH AT TIMARU. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TlLEGfiilt.) TIMARU, October 22. Mr H. K. Holland, T.eader of the Opposition, addressed a largely attended and sympathetic meeting here tonight. He spoke vigorously for more than two hours enunciating the Labour Party's policy, and condemning the Coates Government. Mr Holland said that in the 1920 Elections the Reform Party led the electors to believe that they would enact legislation providing for an adc'cjuate family allowance. Mr Coates intimated that the Government won « provide £250,000 for this purpose, wnn« the Minister for Labour's promise wa| £260.000, which was the sum that would have to be made available. Having secured office on the strength o this and other promises, the Government so frarned its legislation, and so circumscribed the allowances that only £37,R-52 was paid out for tlie year 1927-28. This was £212,000 less than the amount indicated by tlie Minister, and £222.000 less than that covered by the promise of the Minister for Labour. Tli« Budget surplus tor the same year was £179,076. This as more than £42,000 less than the ditterence between the amount stated «>' the Minister for Labour and the laniy> allowances actuallv paid, so that tlie 1927-28 surplus appeared to represent the net result of the Government s broken promises--relating to family allowances. Had the 1925 promises been honoured the Minister for rinance would have shown a deficit of more than £40,000, instead of a surplus or £179,000. . . . At the conclusion of the meeting -« r Holland was thanked and cheered.'

riccarton electorate. H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., Reform , candidate for Riccarton, addressed a | large and enthusiastic meeting at I Prebbleton last evening. Mr A. Gal- | lagher presided. ! After the meeting, manv questions were asked, and the candidate was given a hearty vote of thanks." ELECTION NOTICES. Mr Tuiti Macdonald will address meetings as follows:—Tuahiwi, to-day; I Christchurch, to-morrow; "Wairewa, ! Thursday; Tauinutu, Friday. Mr D. G. Sullivan will address electors at the Oddfellows' Hall, Rolleston street, on Thursday at 8 p.m.; Bromley School, Friday. _ Mr J. McCombs will address meetings as follows:—Purau, to-day, 7.15 p.m.., Charteris Bay, 8.30 p.m.; Teddington, to-morrow, 7.15 p.m., Governor's Bay, 8.30 p.m. Mr G. W. Forbes will address electors at Fernside School to-night, 7 p.m., Cust Hall, 8.30 p.m.; Ashley School, to-morrow, 7 p.m., Rangiora Town Hall, 8.30 p.m.; Oxford Hall, Thursday, 8 p.m. Mr L. B. C. Macfarlanc will address meetings as follows:—Cheviot, tonight, 8 o'clock; Spotswood, to-morrow, 8 p.m.; Medbury, Thursday. 7 p.m., Peaks, 8.30 p.m.; Scargill, "Friday, 8 p.m.; Charlton, Monday, 7 p.m., Oxford, 8.30 p.m. Mr H. Holland will deliver addresses as follows: —Winton street Hall, to-mor-row, 8 p.m.; Rugby street Methodist School, Thursday, 8 p.m.; corner Bealey avenue and Park terrace, Friday, 8 p.m.; Papanui Town Hall, Monday, 8 p.m. Mr J. K. Archer will open his campaign in St. Matthew's Schoolroom on Thursday, 8 p.m.; corner Brown's and Innea roads, Friday, 7.15 p.m., St. Andrew's square, 8.15 p.m.; corner May's and Brett's roads, Saturday, 7.15 p.m., Presbyterian Schoolroom, Papanui, 8 p.m. Mr F. B. Hughes will meet lady supporters in the committee rooms, opposite the Linwood Library, to-morrow, 2.30 p.m. Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., will open his campaign in the Sydenham Football Hall, Thursday, 8 p.m. Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., will address meetings as follows: —Gaiety Hall, Papanui, to-night, 8 o'clock; Spreydon School, to-morrow, 8 p.m.; St. Barnabas Schoolroom, Fendalton, Thursday, 8 p.m.; Springston South Hall, Friday* 8 p.m. A further meeting of supporters will be held in the Riccarton Town Hall (annexe) to-morrow, at 7.45 p.m. A meeting of the supporters of Mr George fl. Thompson will be held in the Church Schoolroom, Strowan road, to-morrow, at 8 p.m.; Spreydon School, Thursday, 8 p.m. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., will address the electors at Addington School to-morrow night, at 7.45 o'clock. . Mrs E. R. McCombs will • address meetings as follows:—Coutts Island, to-night, 7.15 o'clock, Clarkville, 8.30 p.m.; to-morrow, Swannanoa 7.15, Eyreton 8.30. Mr C. Morgan Williams will address meetings as follows: —Leeston Public Hall, to-night, 8 o'clock; Southbridge Public Hall, to-morrow, 8 p.m.; Sedgemere Public HaH, Thursday, 7 ■p.m., Lakeside Public Hall, 8.30 p.m. Mr D. Jones, M.P., will deliver addresses as follows:—Hamnstead Hall, to-night, 8 o'clock; Barrhil] . School, to-morrow, 7 p.m., Lauriston, 8.30 p.m.; Methven Hall. Thursday. 8 p.m. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., will speak in the Choral Hall to-night.