WELLINGTON SUBURBS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 143, 15 December 1919, Page 9

WELLINGTON SUBURBS

MR. CROSKERY AT WADESTOWN

Mr. A. W. Croskery addressed a. fairly well-attended meeting at Wadestown on Saturday night. Mr. A. Parlane presided. Mr. Croskery dealt with the housing question—the most important question now to be considered by the State. He also referred to the loans to soldiers for the purchase of houses, and the result of such loans. The Government should have had houses ready for the returned soldier to enter. While he was on this point one man, a returned soldier, to use his own words, interrupted, loudly protesting against the speaker's assertion that soldiers were loaned up to £1000 for houses. His interruptions continued for some time, especially when the speaken touched on timber prices. Undoubtedly, said Mr. Croskery, private enterprise had failed. The State should build i their own mills to provide material for house-building.

Dealing with the Education question, 'Mr. Croskery spoke of the largeness of classes in the public schools—a matter which should be remedied at onpe or the education system could not flourish. Teachers were not given sufficient inducement to give children the knowledge they required for their fight in life. Coal was again mentioned .at some length by the candidate, who advocated State colliers, and State output. Meat rings, combines, and farmers made State meattelling business in New Zealand an impossibility—a- thing which could be remedied by the purchase of State cattleI'mches and sheep farms. If it were good c lough for farmers to ensure co-opera-tion for themselves it was surely good enough' for the people to ensure profits Jor themselves. _ Queensland was quoted as an instance of profits, from State control of various industries; it was on a better footing as regards cost of livingthan any of the other States.. New Zealand should endeavour to emulate Queensland in the matter of the purchasing power of the sovereign. The speaker gave several instances of profiteering which, he said, was going on in Wellington, referring particularly to the increase in the cost of tea, some of which had been, in bond for five years. Unfortunately such profiteering did not come within the law "The Board of Trade has sold the people to the merchants," ho declared. The "Cost of replacement" was touched upon by Mr. Croskery, who showed how profiteering could not possibly be put down under the present system. The cost-of-bread problem was spoken of, Mr. Croskery criticising the subsidy given by the Massey Government to the flourmillers. A similar subsidy was given to the butter manufacturers but could not be given to the widows. The. country, in Mr. Croskery's opinion,4 should at once obtain ships, following •the example of Australia. It was the only solution of the shipping problem so apparent in New Zealand at the present time. In 3peaking of the so-called Extremists, Mr. Croskery stated that if he was not worthy of election because of his position in the political arena, then the people of the district he represented —people who elected him to the school committee—must be a lot of extremists, lolitiwans were in the same position as employees who did not work fairly for their employer—they would be sacked. \Vhy not sack those men who gained do as they said they would? . '"■-*•-—-... „

Several,£ <!«•"'>«»'ivere answered," and a •N.«s ot thanks and ■ w nfidence in Ife speaker was unanimously caiviod. *■