NOTES FROM ADDRESSES

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 44, 20 February 1918, Page 3

NOTES FROM ADDRESSES

In his address at Northland last evening Mr. Luke mentioned a number of the contributing causes to the high cost of living, and he quoted figures to show that New Zealand was better off in this respect than most other countries engaged in the war. He said that the increased cost of living during the period from July, 1914, to August, 1917, had been as follows in the countries mentioned :—New Zealand, 27 per cent.; Australia, 29 per cent. ; United States, 46 ,per cent.; Canada, 57 per cent.; Japan, 66 per cent. ; Italy, 72 per cent. ; Sweden, SI per cent.; Netherlands, 81 per cent.; United Kingdom, 102 per cent.; Germany, 109 per cent.; Austria, 173 per cent. These figures showed that New Zealand was most favourably situated as compared with other countries. If elected, Mr. Luke said he would do his utmost to have measures taken to reduce the cost of living.'

"I venture to say that the money spent on the last trip Home of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward was practically wasted from the viewpoint of the people of this country, and if I am elected oh 28th February, when Parliament meets, one of the first things I shall do will be to record the protest of the people against Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward making another useless trip to England, because I am firmly of opinion that even if Sir Joseph Wartl came back as Baron Bluff ; and Mr. Massey should come back as Earl of Pukekohe, it would riot be worth the while and the money spent in getting the titles."—Mr. Holland at his meeting last night.

Referring to the high cost of living, Mr. A. N. Poison, Independent Liberal candidate for Wellington North, last night said that coal could be brought to the pit mouth at 12s a ton, and yet it was retailed in Wellington at the fabulous price of £3 a ton. This cost, he said, could be reduced by Stateowned carriers. , The matter had been put before the Government, but nothing ha.l been done, and :iow that the Union Company was allied to the P. and O. Company the position would become a great deal worse.

"We stand forward, and, along with th: Public Service Association, we condemn the Government for not going on Section 24 of the Public Service Act," declared Mr. Holland at his Moles-Wcrth-street meeting last night. "Standing as the candidate of labour," he continued, "I declare for myself and the party I represent that we are against bonuses of any kind. What we stand for is rateable increases in the salaries of the public servants. We ask that, overtime should be paid where it-iis earned. We urge that salaries in the Public Service should be increased, and not only in the Public Service, but in all services, commensurately with the cost of living." He also spoke in favour of women being paid equal wages to men for equal work, and that public servants of all grades should have full citizen rights. Further, he was in favour of non-political control rf the service, by a board half of which should be elected by the service itself. He also contended that there should be compulsory retirement at the statutory age,, and that regrading should take place immediately, provision being made for those men who wore at the front. If elected he would take his directions from the organisa-. lion which represented the public ser-

vants, providing those directions did not conflict with the tenets of the party he represented.

Alluding to the allegations that had been made as to the harsh treatment of conscientious objectors, Mr. Luke said at his meeting at Northland last evening that he would be surprised if the charges could be substantiated. He trusted, however, that an enquiry would be held, and that the result of such enquiry would be such as to satisfy the people that the charges were either greatly exaggerated oi without foundation. |

While dealing with the subject of technical education last night, Mr. A. N. Poison made the point that all returned soldiers were not born farmers, but if plots of land were obtained in the vicinity of the four centres many of them could receive' instruction in. a short space of time that would fit them to go on the land. ■ Mr. Poison is also a strong advocate of the' Workers' Education Association, which has so far received no subsidised support from the Government, for, by its means, young people who have been forced to leave school earlier than might be desired would receive instruction in matters most important to them.