CAMPAIGN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 15

CAMPAIGN NOTES

Money For a War A reference at question time to the international crisis drew an immediate response from a big section of the crowd at the election meeting of Mr K. Armour, National candidate for Christchurch East. “You ask where the _ money is coming from for the Social Security Bill,” said a questioner, “Well, tell me where is the money coming from to send me, and thousands like me, away to fight overseas in the next few days?” The question was greeted with cheers. Mr Armour’s reply that if the National Party came to power the money would come from conscription of the resources of the wealthy had a very mixed reception, with a number of jeers. . Mr Armour retorted that it seemed a perfectly reasonable reply, and added that if the money did not come from that source, it would be got from the same source as always, the pockets of the people. He added that he himself was prepared to be one of the first to go, whether or not wealth was conscripted. Are you deaf?” asked an interjector. Waterfront Labour “There is, definitely, a ‘go Vow’ policy on the waterfront and, as .New Zealand has to live on the exportation of and profit from primary products, it is time we attended to it,” said Mr A. N. Grigg (National), in his address to Mid-Canterbury electors at Horoxata. A ship’s officer recently took figures of loading at various ports. The loadings an hour were:—Lyttelton, 15 tons; Gisborne; 10 tons; Auckland, 6 tons; Sydney, 30 tons; and at island ports, with native labour, 20 tons. “If the Socialist Government will not put it right, put in a government that will do so.” was the advice he gave, amid applause. Dictatorial Powers The powers given the Minister for Industries and Commerce under the ' Industrial Efficiency Act were criticised as “dictatorial” by Mr Hiram Hunter, National candidate for Avon, in an address at the Bromley School last evening. Under the act there was no right of appeal beyond the Minister, he said, and although industries now came voluntarily under the act, they would be compelled to do so if Labour got into power for another term. Formerly, no such powers had been given, and citizens had the right of recourse to the courts, and if they were not satisfied, could go on to the Appeal Cburt, and ultimately to the Privy Council. Under this act, that right was taken away. “This means giving a Minister the power of a dictator,” he said. “It is an evil* It is the first time it has been done in New Zealand, and we do not stand for tyranny. That is one of the steps towards Socialism.” Not Socialism The citing by Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., in a recent address, of the State insurance departments, the railways, and other State activities as examples of Socialism existing in New Zealand before the Labour Government was in power, was criticised by Mr Hiram Hunter, National candidate for Avon, in an address at the Bromley School last evening. “Mr Lee said that these and other Government enterprises were Socialism, but he was wrong, and he must have known he was wrong,” said Mr Hunter. “They are not Socialism, but State capitalism, which is a very different thing.” Mr Hunter considered that Mr Lee was endeavouring to lead the people into thinking that if these things were Socialism, they could do with more of it. Maintenance'of Wages Co-operation and profit-sharing in industry were instanced by Mr A. N. Grigg (National) last night as means by • which costs could ~be reduced without any lowering of wages. Replying to' a Hororata elector’s question, Mr Grigg said that with full co-operation and as high as possible " production a man, production could be increased without reducing wages. “We believe we are correct in stating that it can be done,” he said. Opposition and Social Security In reply to a question at his meeting at Sumner last evening, Mr I. J. Wilson. National candidate for Lyttelton. said that the Opposition did not vote against the Social Security Bill, as a division had not been taken. National members voted, however, for certain amendments, including the exclusion of the tax on women, young people under 20, and relief and sustenance workers. They also stood out for the keeping of separate accounts for the superannuation part of the bill and the other benefits included in it. Labour in the Slump During the slump years, the Government had been faced with the greatest crisis in the history of New Zealand, and it was no wonder mistakes were made, said Mr Hiram Hunter, National candidate for Avon, in an address at the Bromley School last evening. “What would the Labour Party have done?” he asked. “Even the ‘MaoriJand Worker’—the Labour newspaper —reduced the wages of its employees by taking off the 10 per cent, cut and increasing the hours of work. If the Labour Party had been in power during the slump, it would have made a far worse mess of things.” The Mayor Criticised ’ Strong criticism of , the action, of • the Mayor, Mr R. M, Macfarlane, in making “slighting reflections” on National Party candidates at the meeting addressed in the city this week by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. - Savage, was made by Mr K. Armour,' National candidate for Christchurch East, last night. Contending that Mr Macfarlane was at the jneeting as Mayor of the city, and that he was speaking as Mayor, Mr Armour described the Mayor’s remarks as "utterly out of place.”. Another comment made by Mr Armour did not find favour with a section of the crowd. Mr Armour said he had a good deal of experience with crowds, and he had heard much smaller crowds make a much more enthusiastic demonstration than the 8000 had given Mr Savage. Local Body Amalgamation “Although some economy may result from amalgamation, the National Party believes that the counties should be allowed to conduct their affairs as at present,” said Mr A. N. Grigg (National) at Hororata last night. He considered that too much from above was not desirable, and that the ratepayers should be encouraged to take an interest in the conduct of their local bodies. The National Anthem Impressions of his visit to the meeting in the city on Tuesday night addressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, took up much of the election address of Mr K. Armour, National candidate for Christchurch East last night. They were not always appreciated by a section of bis audience. “Hitting below the belt” was the description several interjectors gave of a statement by Mr Armour that he thought the National Anthem had been probably only played by accident. Mr Armour recalled a newspaper paragraph which he said had declared that the Labour Party Easter conference had finished with “The Red Flag” in place of the National Anthem. No Dismissals “Definitely no,” was the reply given by Mr A. N. Grigg (National) to a question, at Hororata last night, whether be would subscribe to the dismissal of men during a depression-

No Wages Reduction A definite assurance that the National Party, if it became the next Government, would not interfere with the Arbitration Court in its decisions over wages was given by Mr S. G. Holland. National candidate for Christchurch North, in answering a question at his meeting in the St. James’ Theatre last evening. “You say you will not reduce wages. Will you give us a definite idea whether you will raise them?” a man asked Mr Holland. Mr Holland: The National Party is committed irrevocably to a policy that there will be no cutting of wages or pensions. Where the fixing of wages Is left to the Arbitration Court, we will leave that to the Court too. If the Court wents to raise wages, we will make no objection whatever." Broadcasting Licences The information that the Broadcasting Board recommended a reduction in the licence fee from' 25s to 20s shortly before it was abolished by the Labour Government was given by Mr A. N. Grigg (National candidate for Mid-Canterbury) to Hororata electors last night. The board, he said, saw huge piles of money accumulating, which they did not require. Since that recommendation was made the number of licences had doubled. Therefore, it was easy to reduce the fee to 19s, as the National Party proposed. The Money Box A warning to those who might expect the National Party, if returned, to introduce immediately huge reductions in taxation was given by Mr A. N. Grigg, the National candidate for Mid-Canterbury, at Hororata last night. “You should give us a chance to have a look into the money box," he said, “I have an idea not much is left, and we will have to save a bit harder before we can do anything in the way of progressive legislation." "Tlines of Emergency” “Are the ‘Socialist party* members always conscientious objectors in times of national This question, asked by Mr K. Armour, National candidate for Christchurch East, last night, drew a storm of interjections from a big section of his audience. Others applauded it. Mr Armour said he based it on the action of the “‘Socialists” in rejecting an invitation to join in saving the country when the depression first struck it in 1931.