UNITED PARTY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19466, 13 November 1928, Page 15

UNITED PARTY.

LEADER'S APPEAL FOR SUPPORT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELSORAJC.) INVERCARGILL, November 12. The Leader of the United Party, Sir Joseph Ward, has issued the following appeal to the people of New Zealand : "We are now on the eve of a General Election, and I confidently ask the people of the Doniinion seriously to consider the policy of the United Party. By your votes on Wednesday •you will be asked to decide whether the exodus from the lands in the interior is to continue, the unemployed problem to become more acute, and the financial stringency to increase, or whether J you will boldly adopt the policy enunciated b3' me which will ensure to settlers and workers the necessary finance on long dated, easy, and safe terms, give a fresh impetus to settlement, '• open up new avenues of employment, I and generally stimulate enterprise and I production so that the demand will be able to absorb the country's unemployed and prevent serious troubles arising therefrom which were greater last year than at any time during the last 35 years. 'Tor some, time now it has been generally admitted that a change in government was necessary by large numbers of business men, fanners, ami workers. I would strongly recommend them not to lose this opportunity of helping to restore a substantial financial condition and so improve the opportunities for people by their own efforts greatly to better their position. The United Party consists of people of all classes —Liberal, National. Reform, and Labour. The United Party is much more widely supnorted than our opponents. I regard this election as one of the most momentous in our history and confidently await the issue." STATE ADVANCES. CANDIDATE MISREPRESENTED. [THE PEESS Special Service.] HAWERA, November 12. Seeking to show that Mr H. G. Dickie, Reform member for Patea, was opposed to Government advances to settlers, Mr R. Masters, Dominion president ot I the United Party, made an astounding assertion at a United rally on Friday evening, when he attributed to Mr Dickie a statement made in Parliament by Mr W. A. Veitch, a prominent member of the United Party, in which the latter criticised the Government advances policy. Apparently few of the audience of 600 noticed the audacity of Mr Masters?s claim as only one interjector called ''You're wrong," but reference to; "Hansard" shows that, whether intentional or merely as a result of being misinformed, the United Party president totally misrepresented the facts. During his address in Hawera on October 29th, Mr Dickie, in commenting upon the opinions expressed' at Hawera during the previous week by Mr Veitch, enquired as to how the latter could reconcile his approval of the United Party programme with his statement concerning State Advances during the Address-in-Reply debate in the last Parliament. Mr Dickie quoted from "Hansard" and said that Mr Veitch, in commenting on the Rural, Credits Act, had said: "There is nothing I am so deeply concerned about as the rapid growth of State interference with investment in finance and industry. Last session I drew attention to the grave danger that is already developing, namely, that in connexion with the State Advances Department alone there are on an average over 515 mortgages to the Crown in each electorate in New Zealand, and the day . will come when, like everybody else, they will organise and we shall have an organisation of State mortgagors. If every one of these men has his own vote and that of his wife, that will mean a thousand votes in each electorate, and with that tremendous voting power they can demand almost any concession and get it. I am pointing out one of the dangers of the Socialism of ■the-'Reform Party. If we add to the number of State mortgagors already mentioned the mortgagors to other departments of the State, we find a very serious_position developing." At Hawera on Friday Mr Masters said he should like to show the attitude of the member for Patea concerning State advances, and quoted the above statement with the exception of jhe first sentence, as having been made in the House by Mr Dickie. "Mr Dickie's statement." said Mr Masters, 'is to the effect that no more money should be lent out of the State Advances Office." A "Star" reporter, who wished to be sure of the position, interviewed Mr Masters after the meeting. In reply to the suggestion that a mistake may have occurred, Mr Masters replied definitely that the statement had been made by-Mr Dickie and he allowed the reporter to check his report with the notes used by him. In spite of that assurance, reference to "Hansard," vol. 212. page 207. as quoted by Mr Dickie shows that the statement was made by Mr Veitch on July Ist, 1927. Mr Dickie's attitude concerning loans to settlers was indicated at his October meeting, when he read his own remarks in the House on July 7th concerning the State Advances OflW as recorded in the same volume of "Hansard," nage 820, as follows:—"Although we have been lending money at a greater rate than ever before in the history of the office, it is still snowed under with applications. I suggest to the Minister for Finance that it would be a cood thing if we could raise £2,000 000 tomorrow to clear up those arrears." MR KYLE AND REFORM PARTY. MISCONCEPTION CLEARED UP. "On a no-confidenc« jhotion, lam with the Government every time," said . Mr H. S. S. Kyle, Reform candidate for Riccarton, to a representative of The Pbesj yesterday. The statement was made for the purpose of removing any misunderstanding as to Mr Kyle's attitude on a noconfidence motion in the Reform Government. Some remarks made by Mr Kyle at his meeting in the Waimairi •■■'"hopl, Papanui, on Friday night were iiv/i rightly apprehended, he stated, and consequently were not correctly reported. "1 was asked," Mr Kyle said, "if the Reform Party went back so numerically weak that it could not form a Government, wonld 1 support the United Party or the Labour Party. My reply was jn jocular vein. I said that such a contingency was impossible, but in the event of the impossible taking place I would reserve to myself the right to decide. As I had been criticising Sir Joseph Ward's millions policy and showing up the fallacies of the Labour platform, my adherence to the Reform Party ought to have been evident to i everyone." ,

COMBINED MEETING.

REFORM POLICY EXPLAINED. Messrs H. Holland and W. H. Manhire, Reform candidates for Christchurch North and Christchurch South respectively, addressed a combined meeting last evening in the Durham street Methodist schoolroom. Mr ; A. D. Hassall presided over a large attendance. Mr Holland said the meeting was the s twenty-first he had addressed, so that he was coming of age that evening. Dealing with unemployment, he said that people had stated the Government was paying low wages on relief works in order to reduce the general standard. ■Voices: So it is. Mr Holland: I deny it absolutely, and you know it is not true. Interjections were numerous when the candidate criticised the performance of Labour Parties in office, but there were frequent bursts of applause. "On Wednesday Mr Holland and I are going to be returned at the head of the poll for Christchurch North and South respectively," said Mr Manhire. He criticised the Labour aim of nationalisation of industry. The Arbitration Court, he said, should take a wider view and refrain from imposing so many restrictions on industry. The United Party was likely to have its last diversion next session, as some of its members were pledged to support a Labour no-confidence motion and others to vote against it. Then, he prophesied, the best of the United members would join the Reformers. In reply to questions, Mr Holland said Mr Sterling had more than.saved the whole of his salary for five years to come, and the Government was perfectly justified in making the appointment. The tariff brought down in 1927 was calculated to frive adequate protection to the secondary industries. Reasonable protection should be given any industry which could supply the requirements of the Dominiin. He was not in favour of a Tariff Board. The candidate said he was against equal salaries for male and female school teachers. In reply to a lady, Mr Man- j hire said his candidature for Christchurch South was announced before that of Mr C. S. McCully. Mr Holland said he did not see why wool kings should be exempted from income tax. The Minister for Justice had under consideration the strengthening of the women police force. He favoured an invalids' pension. He cpuld not credit statements. that men were being dismissed at the Addington Workshops to make openings for immigrants. Mr A. W'lHams moved a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidates. It was seconded by Mr G. E. Franklin. The motion was carried on the voices, and three cheers were given for Mr Holland, with countercheers for Mr Archer. LABOUR POLICY. | MRS M'COMBS AT KAIAPOI. Speaking at the Grand Theatre, Kaiapoi, last night, Mrs E. B. McCombs said that the Labour Party had put forward a constructive and comprehensive programme for the consideration of the electors on this occasion. The programme covered fourteen main points, and constituted a summary of the legislation which the Labour Party will enact if returned to power. Fourteen Points. (1) Closer settlement, (2) extension of State Advances Office, .(3) -removal of deposit restrictions from Public Trust and Post Office Savings Bank, (4) national health insurance, (5) improved old age and widows' pensions, (6) workers' compensation as a national service, (7) full support and assistance to primary and secondary industries, (8) investigation of transport systems, (9) organisation of employment and unemployment, (10) regulation of immigration, in accordance with the demand for labour and land settlement, (11) restoration of wage and salary cuts, (12) maintenance of national school system with smaller classes and free requisites, (13) repeal of compulsory military service and reorganisation of the defence system, (14) full support to the League of Nations and outlawry of war. Wheat Industry. The Labour Party would give full support and assistance to the primary . and secondary industries of the Dominion. Many industries, including the wheat '' industry, could best be protected by means or a subsidy. The present method of a sliding scale of duty on wheat and flour is unsatisfactory to the farmers in that it does not guarantee a payable price in all circumstances. . The farmer has to haggle with the grain merchants and the millers, and the consumer is penalised. The best method would be for the Government to guarantee a payable price to the farmer and absolutely control the imports in accordance with the ascertained needs of the Dominion. In order to keep down the price of bread to the consumer, a subsidy would be necessary. Thus the farmer and the consumer would be guaranteed fair prices. The millers would not be able to dominate the position and there would be no necessity for wheat pools. Price of Bread. The Labour Party has always supported the idea of guaranteeing a fair price to the producer. The amount of the Government subsidy would have to be determined by the price fixed for milling wheat and the price fixed for bread. The duty at present collected would in effect be returned to the consumer. The fixing of prices would be a matter for experts. I am told by farmer friends who approve of the Labour Party's proposal that a payable price for wheat would be round about 6s per bushel, and in my opinion the price of bread should not exceed ninepence for the four pound loaf. At present the price of bread in New Zealand is very much dearer than it is in London, where the raw material has to be imported from the four corners of the earth. The Mayor, Mr C. E. RevelL, presided over a crowded meeting. The candidate, after answering a number of ques- : tions' was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. (Published by Arrangement.) MID-CANTERBURY. Mr R- W. Wightman, Independent candidate for Mid-Canterbury, addressed meetings of electors at Barr Hill on Friday. Mr Heywood was chairman. A vote of thanks, moved by Mr Jas. Bishop, was carried. Later the same evening the candidate addressed a large attendance at Lyndhurst. Mr Chas. Prebble was chairman.. After numerous questions had been answered Mr G. Kelly proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker, which was carried. On Saturday meetings were held at Leeston, where Mr R. McConneD was chairman, and a vote of thanks was carried on the motion of Mr Free. Later Mr Wi"htman addressed a gathering at Dunsandel, and was accorded a vote of thanks.

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.

An enthusiastic meeting ww addressed by Mr E. H. Andrews in Jelhcoe Hall last night, the gathering ending with cheers for the United candidate for Christchurch North and his leader, Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Andrews, after speaking for over an hour, answered ' a number of questions. The Eev. J. K. Archer, Labour candii date, held a combined meeting with Mr D. G. Sullivan, Labour candidate for Avon, last evening in Knox Schoolroom. Mr M. A.- Richards presided. The meeting was one of the largest of the campaign, the schoolroom being crowded to the doors. Mr Sullivan de-„ livered an address on the policy of the Labour Party, and on the arrival of Mr Archer, who had been assisting Mrs McCombs in Kaiapoi, left to address another meeting. Mr Archer, who was received with applause, dealt with aspects of the Labour programme and at the close of his address answered a number of questions. Mr Archer was accorded a unanimous* vote of thanks and confidence. CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH. Mr E. J. Howard addressed two wellattended meetings, one at the old Council Chambers, Barrington street, and the other at the Coronation Hall, Domain terrace, last evening. A motion of thanks and confidence was passed at both meetings. CHRISTCHURCH EAST. Mr H. T. Armstrong, Labour candidate, addressed a packed house last evening in the Hibernian Hall, Barbadoes street. Mr Langley presided. The . meeting was an enthusiastic one, and at the conclusion the candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. AVON. r Mr F. B. Hughes, Reform candidate for Avon, addressed a meeting ot about 400 electors at the Phillipstown Church School last night, Mr M. Clark presiding. Mr Hughes did not receive a very good hearing, many of the rowdy element being present. A number of questions were asked and the candidate received a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the meeting. Mr G. T. Baker, United candidate for Avon, addressed a large gathering at both Retreat road and Rolleston street on Saturday night. Mr Moore occupied the chair. Mr Baker explained the United Leader's policy and reviewed the past Liberal administration. A motion ot thanks and confidence was passed without dissent. Mr Sullivan addressed two wellattended meetings last evening. One was at the corner of Linwbod avenue and Rolleston street and the other at the old Richmond School playground. Mr"Sullivan was cheered at both meetings and was accorded votes of thanks. RICCARTON. Mr H. S. S. Kyle, Reform candidate for Riccarton, must have been pleased with the reception given him at the two open-air meetings he addressed last night. Seventy electors gathered to hear him at Bryndwr railway crossing, where he was given a particularly attentive hearing and a unanimous vote of'thanks. ..,!„.,;. Similar scenes were witnessed when he spoke later at Fendalton to about the same number of people. Mr Kyle dealt especially with his position regarding the licensing issue, deprecating what he termed "a scurrilous circular" going the rounds urging electors not to support a candidate who favoured the bare majority issue. He explained that he had stood by this ever since he had entered the political arena.. The bare majority issue was in the law as it stood at present and it was for the electors, not politicians, to decide what they were going to AS". He for one was not going to dictate to them on this question. Mr George H. Thompson (Labour) addressed a well attended meeting at the Riccarton Town Hall last evening, and received a vote of thanks. —— f^-~ KAIAPOI. Mr J. A. Flesher addressed a wellattended meeting of electors at the Belfast Hall last evening. The candidate received an excellent hearing and at the conclusion of the address a, vote of thanks was passed. Mr O. Norton was in the chair. Mr R. W. Hawke, United Party candidate, addressed meetings at West Eyreton and Kaiapoi on Friday, and was accorded a unanimous vote or thanks at each place. Mr R. Smith presided at the former and Mr H. VRevell (Mayor) at the latter. On Saturday, at Aylesbury and at Halkett meetings were also addressed, hearty votes of thanks being accorded the candidate. Mr F. Johnson occupied the chair at Aylesbury and Mr R. S. Roper at Halkett. . HURUNUI. y < The oldest resident cannot remember any political meeting in the Amuri district being so enthusiastic ns that . which was held last night at Rotherham when Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane, the Reform candidate, closed his cam- , Pa TThe' hall was packed and the accom- ( modation was not sufficient for those who had come long distances to give , Mr Macfarlane their assurance of support. Throughout the address of an hour and a half, during which the candidate dealt with a great range # of subjects, the audience showed their keen appreciation of the fact that he was moved by a strong sense of duty to take up the candidature. Both at tne start and the conclusion of the meet- • ing the audience rose and sang ror : He's a Jolly Good Fellow.'/ Mr J. S. Banks was in the cHair, and after a number of questions naa been answered the candidate receiveu ' a hearty vote of thanks on the motion , of Mr F. C. Chapman. j Mr Forbes gave an address to the electors at the Rangiora saleyards yesterday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr W. A. Rowse) presided. At the close of his address a number of questions •were replied to. • Mr Forbes stated that he would not vote to place Mr , H. E. Holland in power. Mr J. M»- j don moved and Mr R. Borland second- { ea a motion of thanks and confidence £ in Mr Forbes, and of confidence in Sir Joseph Ward as Leader of the_ United Party. The motion was carried. 1 Mr G. W. Forbes addressed a meeting at Parnassus on Saturday evening, Mr D Sheffield presiding over a fair attendance. At the conclusion of nis address the candidate answered a anm- i her of questions and "was accorded a « heartv vote of thanks on the motion or £ Mr T. Wilkinson iun. Later the same ■ evening Mr Forbes addressed a wen ( attended meeting in the Domett »«"'• ! Mr J. H. L. Hiatt presided. 1» t candidate received an attentive n ear * s ing, and after answering a. number or t questions, was accorded" a hearty vote ( e£ tiuuika.