ON THE HUSTINGS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 58, 2 December 1919, Page 8

ON THE HUSTINGS

THE HUTT SEAT

MR. PRITCHARI) AT PETONE In the Empire Theatre, Petone, last night Mi'j D. K. Pritchard, official Labour candidate for the Jlutt electorate, addressed a crowded meeting of electors. Mr. A. Scholfield, president of the local branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, was in the chair, and in opening referred to the fact that the Welfare League, by means of 'a scries of newspaper articles, was giving the Labour Party a good trouncing. It would bo very interesting to know who was behind the Welfare League, and in this connection ho challenged thut body to publish its balance-sheet and so disclose who.was financing it. The usual allegations of misrepresentation of the Labour Party's progrnmmo were made by the chairman, who, ibeforo resuming his seat, indulged in some abuse of the Press.

In tho course of his address Mr. Pritchard said that he had watched Mr. Rishworth, tho Reform candidate, very closely (luring his occupancy of the Mayoral chair. Ho had watched him still closer during tho present campaign. As a result of his observations he had crnno to the conclusion that Mr; Rwhworlh was "a gentleman well worthy to cross swords wilh." Mr. Rislnvorth washout to light a clean and honourable fight. While he (Mr. Pritchnrd) 'realised that his opponent probably believed in all the views he advocated, and that us a gentleman in private life he was everything to bo admired, it had to be remembered that Mr. Riah worth was a Tory and as such ho would fight him lo the last ditch. As to> the Liberal candidate he would havo n certain question put to him at his (Mr. Wilford's) meeting on Thursday. Passing on, and in referring to his political views the candidate said his party favoured proportional representation, Tho Liberal Party had consistently refused t<; Agitato for this reform. The initiative, tho referendum, and the recall, which wore described as the political safety valve, were next commended to tho audience- by Mr. Pritchard, who took Mr. Wilford (the Literal candidate) severely to task for his statement that ho did not understand what tlio Labour Party meant in this connection. Tho referendum was merely the means of expressing the wish of the people in matters of national import. Tho Lnlxrar Party also stood for the abolition of tho Legislative Council, the removal of tho political disabilities on women, and urned full political rights for all Stato employees. In this connection, if Sir Joseph Ward nationalised all the industries he had promised to, he would politically disqualify nearly all tlio electors in the country.

Touching <"n tho land question, Mr. Pritchard said that Labour stood for tho conßTvat'on of tho national endowments. To-day there were only the bnrh mountain videos and mountain tops left out of tho Crown lands the State once held. The Mavey Government had Twirled with much - of this. If Mr. Mas?ey only dared,, in the face of tho growing tide of public opinion, he would purt with the educational reserves tomorrow and hand them over to tho wimtters. Any land acquired by tho Government should never be sold, but should be leased at ■ a fair vental, which wi« the only fair and enc-cevful way In promote- settlement in the country. The candidate also challenged the right of land owners to tako unto themselves tho unearned increment cf their holdings. The Lnbonr Party was the only party that stood for tho roliirn of community-created valiirs to the State. No leg'timate spttlrmpnt could go on v.-liilo thf ivi>=enf land rambling and lnnd-exploitntrn wore allowed to continue, ns at present. The tenant's absolute riilit to impnvcnifiit- w-.m ;< plunk in tho L:\bour Parly's nlatform, and another one was improved roadinjr of estates by- mp:i,n.s of n-n inerrnsp. in the graduated land tox on large holdings. ■\t present f>7l people held 15J million , iicre.s. The Lubnuv Parly did not stond for the ooufixation of private cstales. 'I'll" Li'ioral a.n;i Vofmn Parties living in tho prp-Yictorian age. The Lol-'mr Parly was Hie only proi?res?!ve party and n's fuich it favoured the immedintn institution of Stato fnnns to jrrov the people's food supply, with pnrtieiilar refnreiKO to wh«ot. In urir'ii" lmnkip" rrforms. Mr. PrTtchard stated that flt tho outbiTOk of the war thorp was tlirce-ciimrlers of i> imllion _ wtJi of paper nionpy in New Zp.ilnnd. To-day H>.- country was flooded with seven nillions of nnver enrreney. and tho Government had giiarantewl that if any bonk doing business in New /'Kiloiid failed Hip State would foot Hip bil . Among other refomis the candidnto mlvowtpd th" nationalisation of the mediral service of the eonntrv. and n rpor»anifnfion of Hip Pn'bVc TImHIi Ilpnartinpnt. The trouble was that the legislator-: \w\ Veen legislating for pigs and not for the babies. . , Tho candidate, who received a go"<l hearing, nnnwered a number of questions nt tho - conclusion of his address.