OTAKI SEAT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 13

OTAKI SEAT

ME. HARKNESS AT TAW A PLAT.

Mr. C. I. Harkness, National candidate for the Otaki seat, addressed a well-attended meeting of electors in the Tawa Flat School on Thursday evening. Mr. J. B. K. Boxburgh occupied the chair. Tho candidate broke new ground by dealing fully with the attitude of the Government and City Council in relation to the dairy. farmers within close proximity to their natural market, Wellington. "Last election," said the candidate, "Reform fooled the nearby dairy farmer by getting the Parliamentary Stock Committee to unanimously recommend to the House that in-future no 'milk should bo supplied to the city from beyond Paeknkariki. This was nothing more or loss than a r, rat to catch the vote of tho nearby farmer. Had this recommendation been put into force it would have been a direct violation of the Restriction of Trade Act, and, of course, it could not be brought into force; and, further, it was never intended to be brought into force. Why," asked tho candidate, "should the Chinaman farming a piece of land on ono side of the fence have free access to all and any markets in the city of Wellington, while his European neighbour is hedged round by restrictions and laws under the City Corporation Empowering Act, and is compelled to put his produce through that Socialistic monopoly known as the City Corporation Milk Depot? I am strongly in favour of the farmers in this province having free access to their own natural market in tho city i providing they'submit to a rca-

sonablo inspection of their produce," declared Mr. Harkness. f At the conclusion of the address tho candidate was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his address.