GENERAL ELECTION: NOTES AND POINTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 304, 18 September 1943, Page 8

GENERAL ELECTION: NOTES AND POINTS

“A socializing Act dressed up. in khaki."—A description of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act. by Mr. K. J. Ilolyoake (National, Pahiatua).

** . * “Sipping their cocktails in hotel lounges women bemoan the price of eggs. They would be better at home doing their washing!" —Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour, AA’estland).

If young men are good enough to be required to fight for their country they should have the right to take part in its political and civil life —Aircraft man C. G. Scrimgeour (Independent, AA’ellington Central) in reply to a question at a recent meeting.

"If you are elected will we see you again before the next election?” asked an elector of Mr. 11. H. Barker (National, Gisborne), at Nuhaka. Mr. Barker replied: “Whether I am elected or not 1 won’t be able to get round the electorate again quick enough to. renew the many fine friendships I have made during the campaign.” * ff *

“The National Party say they believe in the right of security and the relief of want.” said Mr. L. G. Lowry (Labour, Otaki), speaking at Levin on Thursday night. “Well, ask yourselves.” he added, “do they believe in it? If they do, it’s about time they got into the Labour Government.”

"Had the Labour Party kept faith with the electors, and honoured its pledges given in 1935 and renewed in 1938, we would not have been opposing them today,” said Private T. Lyon (Democratic Labour. Gisborne), speaking at Muriwai. “We are contesting this election-on principles on which the Labour Party has for some strange reason turned its back.”

“The National Party is a strong party with good candidates and an able and courageous leader.” said Mr. C. Al. Bowden (National, Wellington AA’est). in an election address in Kelburn. “There is a clear indication in its policy that it is its intention to assist in establishing a new order. This new order, founded on Christian principles, is coming. There is a great deal more serious thought being given to . these things today and a. realization that things are being ordained for us. More people are coming to realize that there is a Divine Providence that shapes our ends. The National Party stands for this new Christian order and is prepared to face up to certain moral and social issues calling for attention in this country.” * « #

The Industrial Emergency Regulations should hare been applied to the members of the National Party who walked out of the AA’ar Council, said Mr. A. E. Armstrong (Labour, Napier), speaking at Richmond Block. They' should have then been directed to the next most essential work, and, failing doing this, prosecuted and given the month’s jail they were so anxious that the miners should serve. From what all the National candidates, including the leaders, were saying about the war effort and its mismanagement, it was surprising they did not find a better excuse for leaving the AVar Council than wanting to jr«il the miners. Those who knew Messrs. Holland and Polson would realize, however, that it had to be the miners or the watersiders or some other good National hobby horse. —“Dominion” Special Service.

“There are those who say the demand for social justice should be hushed till the war is over. Exactly the reverse is true. Sincere efforts to find progressive solutions will bring great strength to our cause. Remember, the opponents of social change always urge delay because of some present crisis. It is the old excuse —but it must not be permitted today. After the war will mean 'too late and too little.’”—Aircraftman C. G. Scrimgeour (Independent, AA’ellington Central). s ♦

Dealing with housing at a recent meeting. 'Mr. N. P. Croft (National, Hutt) said that according to official figures the State received £974,802 in rent for new .State rental houses during the past year. The expense amounted to £968,546. which included depreciation, ' £174,512, and maintenance, £208,559. That meant that anyone paying, say. 30/- a week rent paid approximately 6/- a week on account of depreciation and another 6/- a week for keeping the home in repair. Nobody could say that on the average the owner of a home spent £3O a year in keeping his home in good condition. Also included in the total of £968,540 were “management expenses” £60,376 and “losses and vacant tenancies" £48,740, for which the tenant at present paid. Insur-, once accounted for £83,424. rates £135,399/ and interest £257,236. “You are paying for your Imines now and you don’t realize it.” said Mr. Croft. “The only difference between renting from the State and buying youf own home is that you pay more, but never get the title.” « * #

A questioner who claimed that the Internal Marketing Division had "robbed” aim of his business, and that the Government had not given him compensation for the loss of his business, was given a lively time at an election meeting addressed by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, at Napier. A big section of the audience “howled’ the questioner down as he persisted, and eventually a police officer warned him that he must resume bis seat.

"Our political parties try to convince us that the decrease in our population is the result of spiritual causes, but I don't believe it.” said Mr. W. J. Crawford (Independent, Otaki) in an address to electors. "The fact, that our birthrate has been falling for the last 20 years is a vote of no-confidence in both National and Labour, People today are as keen as ever to have a family, but children have gone out of fashion because of the uncertain economic outlook.”- —“Dontinion” Special Service.

The sole qualification of too many members appeared to be that they could talk for an hour in the House without contributing anything .material to the debate, said Mr. 31. S. Spence (National, Napier), speaking at Port Ahuriri. He said he thought that the introduction of radio had contributed to the length of speeches. While it. was necessary for the people to know what was going on in Parliament, it would be much better if members were considerably less verbose than they were at present. He also .considered that there were not enough businessmen in Parliament. —"Dominion” Special Service.

The issue before electors; —ami it had special application to Napier— was National or Labour, said Mr. A. H. Armstrong (Labour, Napier), speaking at Richmond Block. There was no room for rail-sitters and those trying to pick out all the good points, and emphasize the faults of both the National and Labour Parties in an endeavour to curry favour with the middle section of voters. —“Dominion” Special Service. * * *

There was room in New Zealand for a great forestry industry, said Mr. ,'L 11. Winter. D.C.M., (Independent New Order, Hawke's Bay) speaking at Hastings. Governments had made the mistake of trying to grow meat and wool on light land. Instead these areas should be planted to begin a considerable industry devoted to timber products like fibre and pulp. A new system of planting was required. Mention tree planting now to some, seasonal workers and they wanted to shoot.

One of the advantages of a National Government as constituted in England was that members of the Conservative Party would get a very close insight into the point of view of members of Ihe Labour Party, and vice versa, said Mr. M. S. Spence (National. Napier), speaking at Port. Ahuriri. This would be a distinct advantage in the post-war era, he added, and would materially help in the planning of the New Order. —“Dominion” Special Service. » * »

A government was likened to a family by Air. A. Lowe (Labour, Waipawa), speaking at Hastings last night. The wise parent used physical force, where necessary. praise and ridicule in their proper sphere and example and guidance where" these coin'd operate., A wise government. in maintaining within its country. those principles which were in Hie community interest, adopted the same measures as the parent in ensuring that his family worked and lived not for the benefit of one or two members of the household but for the common good of all. —“Dominion” Special Service.

The one mistake of his political career had been voting against the expulsion of Air. J. A. Lee from the Labour Party, said Air. G. AV. Boswell (Labour, Bay of Islands), speaking at Kaitaia

An elector, writing to the Press, had said that he (the' speaker) did not. know what it was to work in camp tor 10 shillings a week during the depression, said Air. 11. H. Barker (National, Gisborne), addressing freezing workers in Gisborne yesterdav. That was true, but he did know what it was to be unemployed during the Slump after the Great War and have to pawn his overcoat to get his fare to a job in the country.— “Dominion” Special Service. ♦ « «

Air. Rugby Malcolm (Independent Group, AA’ellington North ), criticizing, the maladministration of the Labour Cabinet, referred an audience this week to the Labour Party's 1935 election campaign. Hoardings throughout the country were headed “Labour lias a Plan.” The leaders of the Labour Party then stated. “If we raise wages and allow the cost of living to rise at the same time wc shall have accomplished nothing.” Air. Alaicolm said that Labour thus stood convicted on their own words. x> a

“If one man has without serving it means that another serves without having.” said Air. A. Lowe (Labour. AVaipawa), speaking at Hastings last night. It was not service to make good investments, to be cunning in business, or to live on inheritances. —“Dominion” Special Service.

“I am afraid crime lias increased in New Zealand since the Government has lessened the penalty. I think it was wrong 'to abolish capital punishment.” said Air. L. T. Jacobsen (National, AA’ellington East) in his address on. Thursday. He quoted a Scriptural allusion on the subject. “When a man who is a sexual pervert violates a woman or a girl, then flogging is too good for him.”, he added, saying that the old law allowing capital punishment and flogging could and should be placed back on the .Statute Book.

Speaking at Pahiatua. Air. E. A. Ellis (Democratic Labour, Pahiatua), dealt with "the manpower bungle” and said the Government, assisted by the Nationalists, had over-committed the. country. Though some of the present Cabinet were very prominent reactionaries in the last war, now they had more than doubled our commitments, thus placing a heavy burden on the farmer and his family.

In an address this week. Air. G. A. Hansen (Labour, Pahiatua) said he hoped that the young boys who had a leaning toward farming would be given the opportunity to take up land. The farm hand would be put on a farm after he had served, say, five years apprenticeship, and financed 100 percent. It would encourage the best type of lad to make this his profession, and then his opportunity to get married young, would be to the advantage of N.Z.

So far as the broad principles of the Labour Party went —Social Security, the right to work at a fair wage and under reasonable conditions, and other he found little fault with its policy, said Mr. 11. H. Barker (National, Gisborne), addressing freezing workers in Gisborne. (There was some difference of opinion, however, as to the sort of road the country was going to take to the industrial and economic heaven. Some people liked to travel faster than he did. He believed in cautious travel, not “onwards and upwards with the brakes off.” AVhile Labour had done a wonderful lot for the country after the depression, no government anywhere could have —or had —■ failed to take advantage of the improved economic situation that had developed everywhere.—“ Dominion” Special Service.

“Like all Democratic Labour candidates, he would agree that many social reforms had been introduced, by the Labour Government; but how many of the Government party would be fair enough to admit the great part played by Air. J, A. Lee in bringing about those reforms?” said Private T. Lyon (Democratic Labour, Gisborne), speaking at Muriwai. '

“It's the same old gang,” said Air. D. AA’. Coleman (Labour. Gisborne'), speaking at Haiti, and replying to the claim of the National candidate (Air. H. 11. Barker), that the National Party was a new party. Of 19 National members of Parliament, nine were in the old Reform Partv. added Air. Coleman, and the leader (Mr.-Holland) was elected in 1935 on the ticket of the Coalition Government, which had acted with complete lack of humanity during the depression. The only thing new about the party was its name. It was still comprised of the same individuals, and the same jested interests supported it.—“ Dominion” Special Service.

“In a recent “Dominion” yon will have seen an advertisement entitled ‘Labour's Bill of Rights for the Farmer, ” said Air. J. J. Alahcr (National. AVairarapa), speaking at Hinakura. “It is a-pieture of a miner standing in a field alongside a cow. AVhy they should have put a miner into the picture, I don't know. It must be a miner, because he is very well dressed and is proudly wearing gum boots. Farmers are not allowed gum boots by the Labour Governinent. I suppose the advertisement is really to show ns just how well the miners are looked after. The miner looks so well contented and so well looked after that he ought to be chewing the cud.” » » »

In 1891. John Ballance, who was then Premier of New Zealand, had passed au Act prohibiting the employment of children under 14 years of age in factories, but since the start of tho present, war an Order-in-Council has been promulgated to allow children under 14 years of age to work full time, said Air. S. Duffy (Demceratic Labour. AA’angnnui), speaking at lipper Aranioho on Tuesday night. Mr. Dully added that Hi is was one of the dangerous problems which the Labour Governinent had created through its overcommitment of New Zealand's manpower. No minimum age was specified by the. Order-iii-Co'.incil. —“Dominion" Special Service.

No longer could New Zealand continue —as some people wanted it to be—as the farm-yard of Europe, said Air. D. AA. Coleman (Labour, Gisborne), speaking nt Alangapapa. The country could accommodate several millions'of people, but it could not encourage immigration till it had industries to employ the newcomers. Labour would not do as the Reform Government. which advertised in Britain that there wore jobs and houses awaiting emigrants, who. however, when the.v got here found neither, and had to get charitable aid. So if there- was to be immigration, jobs must be found, and ho knew of none better than in the secondary industries, in which New Zealand had, as a result of the war, proved that she could produce a much wider range of products than before. Labour would set to work to make New Zealand not only

a primary-producing country, but lilso a manufacturing one. —“Dominion" Special Service.

The National Party represented all sections of the community without reference to class, creed or colour, said Mr. C. G. Harker (National. Waipawa), at Clive. It. was national not only in name but. in fact and in deed. In dealing with any question of policy, the principle it adopted was to inquire. “Is this right, is this just, is this desirable?” If an affirmative answer could not be given, to each of these questions, then it, said: “Away with it, we shall have nothing to do with such a proposal.” Only by putting principle before expediency could clean Government, which people were coming more and more to desire, be cslab; fished in New Zealand.—“Dominion' Special Service. • “What war does the Labour Party mean when they refer to Mr. Fraser as it war leader?” asked Mr. Rujrby. .Muicolm (Independent Group, \\ ellinglon North), at a recent meeting. “Perhaps they refer to this political war of party versus the people. 1 cannot see an armistice being given this war leader, but entire deleat. of party machinery. Il is nauseating to, find parly government claiming the credit of New Zealand's war effort. It is the people's war effort, ami to them alone credit is due. Leadership from the Government has given New Zealand a first-class demonstration of ■ bungling and mismann"puient.“

“Nothing is more uninteresting and uninspiring than to work on a weekly wage, knowinfi you will never get»»ior<’. ami that no matter how hard you work you will not get the benefit of your extra effort,” said Air. J. 11. Winter, D.C.M., (Independent New Order, Hawke’s Hay), speaking at Hastings. “The workers should get some benefit, from that extra production which incentive makes every; one capable of effecting."—"Dominion ’ Special Service.

“In not giving promises.. I’m much wiser than in 1935, but 1 believe we will have a minimum family income early in the New A’eiir.” said 'Mr. L. G. Lowry (Labour. Otaki), speaking at Levin on Thursday night.

“On a no-confidence motion in the House, if I am elected, I will support Air. Holland.” said Air. A. E. Mansford (Independent, Palmerston North), in reply to a question at a meeting last nigiit. Ills reply was greeted with cheers and prolonged applause.

Increases in till pensions conunensnrate with the cost of living, which, he said, had increased enormously, were advocated by Air. J. Burnett (Democratic Labour. Otaki) iii-an address to electors. Figures quoted for the cost of living actually related to the cost of existence, he said, and the prices of many other necessary articles had skyrocketed. Every house; wife would know what the true cost ot living was. —“Dominion” Special Service.

"Ilow some people worship that word ‘freehold,’” said Mr. D. AV. Coleman (Labour. Gisborne), speaking at Haiti. “In many instances it is not freehold a.t all, but mortgage hold and strangle hold.

“It has been disclosed that some medical men ‘who would not be called eminent in their profession’ have received gross incomes of £10.600 a year from the Government under the ’ . social security scheme,” - said Air. B. A . Cooksley (National. Otaki) speaking at Pahautanui. “I would like to contrast this with the treatment received by doctors and dentists on the staffs of public hospitals. Without these men the social security scheme could not operate. It is to the great discredit of the Government that, having over-loaded these men with work, it has made no provision even for health insurance for them. If they get sick, unless thev get a payment by the goodwill of the hospital board, they have to rely on the social security scheme.

Speaking on AA’ednesday evening, Air. A. H. Carman (Independent. AA’ellington North) remarked that more Governments had been voted out of office in New Zealand than had been voted in. Like the Irishman, the average New Zealander seemed to be more often than not “agin the Government.” and generally a change of Government had taken place more on account of the misdeeds of one party than because the people really supported the other party. The expression was largely one of no-confidence and dissatisfaction than it was one of approval of the alternative. This could hardly result in good government —the electors must vote for something positive, rather than record' a mere negative expression of disapproval. #

He had received a questionnaire from the Campaign for Christian Order . to which his answer was that the principles its sponsors desired to have made effective were the selfsame ones which had brought him into the Labour movement 25 years ago, and kept him a worker for it ever since, said Air. A. Lowe (Labour, AVaipnwa), at Hastings. last night. “Dominion” Special Service.

“I am strongly opposed to sending married men overesas while we have over 30,000 single fit men in the Dominion. I do not want to hear what indispensable positions they are holding.”—Air. A. Is. Mansford (Independent, Palmerston North).

“A guaranteed price such as advocated bv the National Party is a fallacy,” said Air. G. A. Hansen (Labour, Pahiatua) this week. “The idea of letting the farmers fix their own ceiling prices would lead to chaos. Imagine the coal miners being given a minimum price and also being' allowed to fix a ceiling price. Where would we stray? Would that be stabilization?”

The Reserve Bank should he removed from political control and placed under a board consisting of representatives of the primary industries, secondary industries. importers, trade unions, banks and economists, said Air. A. E. Alansford (Independent, Palmerston North), in an address last night.

There was some talk by political aspirants of keeping servicemen on the armed forces pay-roll till they wore placed in civilian occupations, said Air. J. 11. AA’inter. D.C.AI., (Independent New Order. Hawke's Bay) at I’uketapu. He agreed that no servicemen should want, but there must be no avenue of escape from tackling speedy rehabilitation. Men discharged from the'forces found it hard to settle down, and if they were left in a state of flux there would be many more failures among them than if they were rapidly settled iu worthwhile jobs.. The servicemen had had enough of restrictions while they were in the forces. This was a sound reason for rehabilitation assistance schemes to have a minimum of restriction and control.—“ Dominion” Special Service.

“Behind closed doors the Socialist Cabinet Ministers arc weaving their webs silently and cleverly. Every Act they are putting through is designed with one objective, the nationalization of the means of production, distribution and exchange.”—Air. A. E. Alansford (Independent, Palmerston North).

There could lie no belter tribute to the efficiency of private enterprise than Ihe opinion of Mr. Peter Fraser in Australia when he referred to tlie Broken Hill Proprietary steel mines run by private enterprise, said Mr, M. S. Spence (Nationai. Napier), at Grecnmeailows. lie quoted Mr. Fraser as paying (lie highest tribute to the Australian steel industry, which he (Mr. Fraser) thought the most ellicient in Hie world, ami also that it was “producing steel better than Britain aud had done wonders." Mr. Spence continued that New Zealand had attained her present, -state of progress in a little over KM) years by enterprist’ and initiative, If was essential, if New Zealand was to continue to progress. Hi,it private enterprise must still be allowed to function. “instead of the dead hand of Socialism."—"Dominion" Special Service.