DR. NEWMAN IN NEW CENTURY HALL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 140, 11 December 1919, Page 10

DR. NEWMAN IN NEW CENTURY HALL

The Reform candidate for the Wellington East seat, Dr. A. K. Newman, addressed electors in the New Century Hall, Kent-terrace, last evening. Mr. T. Forsyth presided over a large attendance.

Coalition Governments, said the speaker, were no good, and he referred with satisfaction to the dissolution of the National Government. Tlie record of work put up by the Reform Government during the Inst session had, been very creditable: it had to be remembered, of course, that the Opposition offer-

Ed no obstruction. Dr. Newman then went on. to deal with the need of an expansion of the present educational system, arid later with the housing question. The Government had taken steps to improve the housing conditions of the people, and £1,500,000 had been put on tlie Estimates to begin the building of houses. Already a start had^been made with the house-building scheme. The policy would be pursued by the Reform Government until the whole of the people of the Dominion were decently housed. It was essential that the fishing industry of the Dominion should be encouraged, and the Government had taken measures in that direction. Dr. Newman urged that there should be no differentiation between the pensions allowed to epidemic widows and the widows of men who died from other causes. Women should be allowed to sit in the Upper House, and he hoped that shortly they would havo the right of entrance to that Chamber. He believed in the principle of the Elective Executive, because it would do away with the vicious system of " one-man rule." He held that it was only right and proper to prevent undesirables from entering the Dominion. The islands surrounding Ne v Zealand could be made great assets to the Dominion, and tho Government would have«to take steps to bring more cheap fruit into the country from the Cook Islands. Taxation should be made easier on those who had to earn their incomes.

The candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.