CAMPAIGN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 32, 1 November 1928, Page 12

CAMPAIGN NOTES

Repeating Denied Charges. •’All the charges levelled by Dlr. Ibflland against the Government are charges which were replied to again and again in the House during the session, but Dlr. Holland carefully suppresses any reference to the complete answers that were made to his charges.’’—The Dlinister of Finance (Hon. W. D. Stewart). A Little Flutter.

For the past two general elections the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. 8. Williams) has been returned to Parliar ment unopposed for the Bay of Plenty seat. This year he has had to undertake a campaign. At one of his recent meetings there came a hill in the questioning, prompting the chairman to ask whether anybody had any further questions to put to the candidate.

“Yes, go for it,” a voice from the audience pleaded. “For eight years we haven’t had a flutter with a candidate, so we're going to let him go until we’ve had one this time.”

Why Buy from America? “Our secondary industries arc lying dormant. The only thing is to settle the people on the land and pay attention to the development of secondary industries. Last year we sent 10 millions to America, and we are eight millions on the wrong side of the ledger with that nation. Dlost of the things we bought from America we could manufacture, for at the exhibition one could see things made in New Zealand which would compare more than favourably with things manufactured in other parts of the world. If we have the materials and the men, and we can develop our resources, harness our power, and build up our own industries, why should we send ten millions to America?” —Dlr. R. Semple at Lyall Bay last night. “Neither Shall He Eat.”

“I have as much contempt for the street corner loafer as I have for the stock exchange gambler. Neither is of any use to any nation, and to them I would apply the Biblical law, he that does not work, neither shall" he eat. The people worth while are those who milk, repair, sow, reap, think, and do other things that are necessary for the good of the community.”—Dlr. R. Semple at Lyall Bay last night. Labour and Religion.

Discussing the Labour Socialist Party and religion at his meeting at Remuera, Dlr. J. W. Yarnall, Labour candidate for Parnell, said (according to an Auckland paper) that, although he could not vouch for it, he had always understood Mr. Ilolland was at one time an officer of the Salvation Army. Dlr. J. W. Jordan, in Manukau, was a Methodist preacher, and Dlr. Lee Dlartin, in Raglan, another Labour M.P., was also a man of strong religious convictions. “That is the answer to the question, ‘What has the Labour Party got to do with religion?’ ” said Dlr. Yarnaik _ “I say the party is definitely a religious body and there are as large numbFr of men in the movement in New Zealand who are religious as there are at Home. „ . “If I am elected to Parliament at this election you will have an ex-parson as well,” he added. Shackled Hand and Foot. “Dleinbers of the Labour Party are subject to recall, and if they do not vote with the party on every occasion they have, to sign a form of resignation which has been written out for them. Labour members are shackled hand and foot, and dare not even criticise any action of the party.”—Mr. A. M. Samuel, Reform candidate for Thames.

Monument to Premier. “Those houses,” said the official Reform candidate for Wellington East, Dlr. 1. Forsyth, when referring to the housing scheme at the Hutt in an address at Lyall Bay last night, “are a standing monument to the work of the Prime Dlinister and the present Government in an effort to solve the housing problem. The Government provided the opportunity to secure a home, and the workers did not fail to grasp it when offered them.” The candidate said his remarks in reference to the houses at the Hutt applied with equal force to those at Miramar.

Mr. F. J. Lysnar—Auckland Central. A last-minute nomination for the Auckland Central seat was Dlr. F. J. Lysnar, who is standing in the Reform interests. Dlr. Lysnar is a brother of Dlr. W. D. Lysnar, the retiring member for Gisborne, and was born in the electorate to which he is now offering his services. Most of his experience has been gained in Gisborne, where he has been chairman of the Cook County Council and Gisborne Harbour Board. He was also 14 years a governor of the Gisborne High School Board and 16 years on the Hospital Board in the same town. He is a life member of the Gisborne Racing Club. Though retaining interest in farming through his Waioru sheep run, Dlr. Lysnar is now more closely connected with Auckland Central, having been a resident of Parnell for the past two years. Upon the death of the Hon. W. D. S. Dlaedonald, Dlr. Lysnar unsuccessfully contested the Bay of Plenty seat against the lion. K. 8. Williams.

A Strike a Fortnight. “In Queensland, where there has been a Labour Government, there have been 135 strikes in five years—one a fortnight 1 That is the state of things where Labour rules!” —Dlr. Dlartin Luckie at Newtown on Tuesday. The “Free Lance” in Parliament.

The political “free lance” has no place in the House to-day. according to the official Reform candidate for Wellington East. Dlr. T. Forsyth. “In Parliament.” he said, when speaking at Lyall Bay last night, "there is no room for the Independent. Out of SO members.there is one. lie is Dlr. Atmore, a very worthy man. but he gets nowhere. A “free lance" in Parliament eiinnot get anywhere, because he has no backing. He is a 50-50 man ; be keeps in the middle of the road and on either side; he is the class of man not wanted in the House to-day.’

Queensland v. New Zealand. Speaking on the question of unemployment, which he said was practically world-wide at the present time, Dlr. ’Dlartin Luckie at Newtown on Tuesday night said that probably New Zealand was better off than any other country—certainly better off than any of the Australian States. In New Zealand only one man in three hundred was unemployed, but in Queensland —where they had a Labour Government —there was one in every sixty unemployed. When challenged by one of the audience as to the correctness of his figures. Mr. Luckie mid that they were from official Commonwealth sources. A Statesmanlike Act.

“In calling together the Industrial Conference Dlr. Coates was responsible for a statesmanlike act.” said Dlr. Luckie at Newtown on Tuesday night. "His sole idea was to engender a spirit of co-ordination, co-operation and helpfulness that would bring employer and employee together to . their mutual advantage, and to kill the idea fostered by the Socialists that employer and employee are natural eneniies. If the Reform Government can bring that about it will have, done the finest thing ever accomplished in the history of the country.” Character!

“When the Socialists —if they ever get into power—have nationalised everything; when there arc no employers and we are all workers, who is to be the employer? There is only one—the Government. But the constitution of the Socialists provides that the conditions and wages of workers shall be controlled by the union concerned—-job control! So that the workers are to be their own employers and bosses, and as ail are to be treated equally the laziest man will get just as much ns the most energetic nnd skilful, reducing all to the dead level of dull mediocrity, and eliminating all those qualities of thrift, care, diligence and initiative that go to build up that most precious possession of nny country —any nation—character.”—Dlr. Dlartin Luckie (Reform candidate) at Newtown ou Tuesday. ,

Soldiers Helped. Some heckling of the Hon. O. J. Ilawken about the I’arihaka Settlement tuck place at his Rahotu meeting, but evidently (states the correspondent of an exchange) the Dlinister's influence exerted on behalf of the Parihaka settlers in the past has made him many friends among the returned soldiers. One of them rose from his seat and strongly supported the Dlinister in the contention' that the returned soldiers in the Parihaka Block had been well treated and given a good chance to make good. Three Years Dlorc.

“I shall not be standing again,” said Dlr. W. H. Field, DI.P. for Otaki. at his Weraroa meeting. "You will only hav« me for three years more.” Dlr. F. G. Roe: Five years, isn't it? Dlr. Field: I have always been in favour of four-year Parliaments, and if there is a chance of voting for that I shall certainly do so.” Dlr. Field added that he believed he was going to be returned by a handsome majority. He Lad grown old in the service of tiie electors, but he Jiad sufficient energy to serve three years more. A Belated Policy.

“A candidate should first of all satisfy himself that the policy of his party was in his opinion in the best ‘interests of New Zealand as a nation. Yet how could any of the United Party candidates have complied with that fundamental necessity when they were officially announced weeks before the United Party’s policy was formulated? They found now that it contained two planks only, the £70,000,000 scheme and the reduction of income taxation. In the figures given by Sir Joseph Ward the money could not be loaned out at the figure quoted except at a less. They, as farmers, did not ask for any such thing. All they asked for was a fair field and no favours. ■ But as farming was at present unprofitable it was no good loaning further sums until it was mde once more profitable. A reduction in income taxation meant putting more on another section, i.e., taking it off the man most able to pay and putting it on one less able to do so.”—Dlr. S. 11. Judd, Country Party candidate for Rotorua. ,

Mutual Helpfulness. At bis meeting at the Newtown Library Mr. Dlartin Luckie, Reform candidate for Wellington South, made a very strong point as "to the manner in which the Coates Government was endeavouring to bring about a better spirit between employer and employee, and instanced the calling together of the industrial conference. Socialism, said Dlr. Luckie, seemed to exist on stirring up strife and class hatred, which got no one anywhere, and often resulted in strikes, with attendant misery and poverty second only, to war. The Reform Party’s view was to bring the parties together, and by the exercise of tolerance and a spirit of helpfulness to bring about more amicable relations. The idea that employee "and employer were natural enemies was all wrong—they were really a complement to one another. (Applause.) If returned his chief aim would be to foster that spirit of mutual helpfulness instead of created wretchedness, misery and want by using the ugly weapon of the strike.

A Challenge. Dlr. R. Semple has written as follows to Dlr. 11. DI. Campbell. DI.P., Reform candidate for Hawke’s Bay:—

"Dear .Sir, —In tiie "Hawke's Bay Herald’ on Saturday, October 27, you are reported as having stated at one of your meetings in Hastings, ‘that Dlr. Semple, only last month, was writing to the Wellington newspapers and signing himself on behalf of the New Zealand Communists.’ A similar statement appeared in “The Dominion’ of yesterday. October 30. I take strong exception to your statement, and submit, Sir, that you are not playing the game. I challenge you to produce the article that you allege that I wrote on behalf of the Communists with my signature attached. If you can produce such an article then I am prepared to forfeit fifty pounds to the Wellington Hospital. If you fail to produce the article, then you should do likewise, and apologise in every paper iu which the lie appears. If you are a gentleman, you will not hesitate to accept my challenge.—(Signed) R. Semple.” Small Holdings.

Replying to a questionnaire issued by the Dlasterton Small Holdings Association, Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P., states that he strongly approves the policy of the Government in regard to the development of small holdings near populous centres, and that if returned to the House he will do his utmost to have effect given to the proposal on the outskirts of Mastertoll. He adds that he is of the opinion that a scheme somewhat similar to the Flock House scheme should be instituted, so that boys desirous of following farm, pursuits may be trained on the right lines. An admirable place for this, he states, would be Penrose Farm, which is still m possession of the Crown.

Stray Shots from Hustings. Dlaintaining that the United Party was a revival of old Liberalism, Dlr. G. Dfunns, United candidate for Roskill, was challenged by a questioner why party had changed its name.. Dlr. Munns answered that some of the candidates did not wish to change the name, but they were outvoted

Discussing the United Party’s borrowing proposal at his meeting at Georgetown. Mr. S. M. Macalister, Reform candidate for Invercargill, lik<me« it to the popular jazz song about r itty Million Frenchmen can’t go wrong. it appears,” remarked Mr. Macalister amid laughter, “that seventy million sovereigns caift go wrong.”

“Decidedly—go for them, was the unqualified reply of Dlr. A. E. Ansell, Reform candidate for Chalmers, when asked if he was in favour of a tax on bachelors.

Sir Joseph Ward, according to Dlr. G. H Thompson. Riccarton, initiated the policy of legislative rest. “That, comments a writer in the “Christchurch Sun,” “must have been after the electors of Awarua gave him the idea.”

“I was in the Labour ranks for three months several years ago, but I could not submit to their policy of “pulling down. —Dlr G. C. Dlunns, United candidate for Roskill.

“The United Party candidates seemed to have been overwhelmed by the stupendous nature of the borrowing policy and had done little else since Sir Joseph Ward’s policy speech but explain away the proposal.”—Dlr. J. A. Lee. Labour, Auckland East, discussing the Ward millions.

“A lady wishes me to ask whether you believe in a tax on bachelors.” said a male member of the audience at a meeting addressed by Dlr. G. H. Thompson, Labour candidate for Riccarton. “As a married man of long standing, I nn answer that question in the negative, said Dlr. Thompson, amid laughter. "But don’t misunderstand me,” he added.

Difficulties reminiscent of politics in the early days have been experienced by Mr E. DlcGregor, United Party candidate for Hauriiki, during a week spent in canvassing the electors of the Coromandel district. Mr. DlcGregor was about 20 miles from Coromandel on the second day of his canvass when an axle of his n otor-car broke. In order to reach Coromandel he had to ride, five miles in a cream-wagou and walk lu miles along a rough road.

“Give us your policy!” was shouted at the Prime Dlinister before he had spoken for two minutes to his giant audience in (lie Auckland Town Hall. “Well, I just want to keep you guessing for a while.” said Dlr Coates. “You see," he continued confidentially, “some people understand very little plain English. I want to work you up in kindergarten fashion, so I am leading you nice and gently through the local nuestious.’l