CAMPAIGN NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 104, 29 October 1925, Page 11

CAMPAIGN NOTES

National Superannuation Scheme.

Mr. Dunbar Sloaue, Reform candidate for Wellington Central, has frequently described his universal national superannuation scheme at his election meetings, but the details have not been fully published. These were given in his Webb street address last night. A close investigation, he said, had disclosed that the normal "wages bill" of the Dominion was approximately 80 millions, and' by a triple contributory method a sufficient fund could be instituted . to guarantee within six years of its inception a pension of £100 per annum to every man and woman over 60 years' of age, not as a charitable dole but as a matter of right. The method by which the funds would be raised were, simple in operation and sound in principle. Each worker contributed 2j per cent, of his earnings (that is, 6d in the £), the employer contributed a like amount, and the Slate the same, the whole being interest bearing and accumulating progressively. It was estimated that about six millions per annum would acenmiate automatically at fa per cent... compound interest to 42 millions in six years, when the scheme would come into full operation. The interest, amounting to about 2^ millions per year, together with the contributions' of six. millions, would yield an annual income of eight millions a year, without encroaching on the basic fimij. It was estimated" Hint all told there were about 80 thousand men rsiid wonicu in New Zealand over the- age of 60 years, and the fund would thus provide an annual income of £100 per

year for every man and woman over 60. A man and his wife having attained that age would claim as a matter of right £200 from the State.

"Nationalists Cut No Ice."

"1 have just returned from some of the country electorates, and 1 find that nobody is taking any notice of the Nationalists. They cut no ice—almost liki their loader, who, it seemed at one stage, has become lost in the Cheviot Hills. ... It is a straightout battle between Labour and Reformers."—Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., at the Mount Cook School last night.

Vested Interests Behind " Reform."

Speaking at Gore on Tuesday, Mr. Forbes reierred to a pamphlet issued by the Reform Party, and contended that it cast unmerited slanders on the Nationalists. In fact, it showed to what depths their opponents would descend tj retain the -power they now held. In closing,. .Mr. Forbes said it might be that as a result of the election it would be necessary to proceed with the formation of a National Government. The matter was now before the electors, and it was for them to say whether; they approved of it or riot. The Reform Party was fighting desperately to prevent such a thing occurring. Behind the Reform -Party a, good many of the vested interests of the country were sheltering. If they were not there there would be opportunity to proceed with the real business of the country, which would mean progress and prosperity to.all. That was what the National Party stood for—for the whole of the people and not for a section of the people. (Applause.).

"Bobbing Peter

"We hope that no one is accepting as true the canard that the Labour Party, once in power, will start confiscating homes," said Mr. H. E. Combs, Labour candidate for Wellington North, last evenjng. "We want to see the people who are'sharing homes at present, with homes of their own. That is possible, provided you have, a Government with the will to do it. Further, you will be able to transfer your properties to any purchasers, and to pass them on in your wills. How ridiculous it would be to rob one man of his home and put another into it." (Laughter and applause;)

Higher Cost of Living.

"You have had reductions in taxation to the wealthy; you have had reductions in wages. You have been told, that the cost of living would go down.. Is that bo? No. It is higher to-day than it has ever been.—Mr. A. L. Monteith, at Victoria Hall.

Talking Piffle.

"My opponent in Wellington South comes forward arid says that he will fight for the reimposition of land tax on the large landowners. Anyone with any knowledge of Parliamentary procedure' would not talk such piffle. The individual in Parliament is just as insignificant as. a mosquito. Ho does not count at all. It is the party that counts to-day."—Mr. R. M'Keen at Victoria Hall.

' 'Where Do You Stand?"

"I want to know where you stand in reference to the Labour Party, Mr. Dunbar?" asked a member of the Reform candidate's audience at Webb street, last night. "Are you with us or are you against us?" (Loud laughter.) Mr. Sloane stated that he was completely against the Labour Party's platform, but he considered that he could do better for the working elector of the district than the present representative.

A Word for the Mortgagee,

A defence of the mortgagee was raised by Mr. R. A. Wright, when speaking at Northland last night. "It is all very, .well to thrown darts asd spears at the mortgagee," he said, "but we are not justified in judging every mortgagee because one or two here arid'there behave in'a-'harsh way. You will always find that, because it is a weakness in human nature."

Mr. Wright added that he and scores of other people would not have been able to acquire their own houses had it not been for the help afforded by the mortgagee.

Get Into the Sunshine,

"Where are the children going to when they come out of school?" asked a questioner energetically at Mr. Dunbar Slpane's meeting at Webb street last evening. "To the pictures," came a voice from the audience. The candidate was puzzled, and interpreted the question as referring to the children's career after school. This was not what the questioner meant, however, and the candidate' suggested that children should, of course, go home after school. ■ He illustrated the point by'his own experience. The questioner said the children had nowhere to play. "Well, if you will insist on living up against the town clock," said the, candidate, "of course, there's not much room. Why not go out into the suburbs, young man, where you can get plenty of room ? I live at Johnsonville. (Laughter.) Come into my sunshine campaign and enjoy the sun.". (Applause.)

Revolvers, Daggers, and Bombs. "If you went through my pockets now, you might find a couple of revolvers and a few daggers. There might also be a bomb on me, liable to explode at any moment and kill you all," said Mr. 'H. JG. Combs, Labour candidate for Wellington North last evening. "I am a Bolshevik, a Communist, and every other thing, because, as one of the Labour Party, I want to see the people well housed and well dressed." (Laughter.)

A Tolerant People. "I am glad to know that in New Zealand the issue of toleration can hardly be raised because I believe we are a tolerant people," declared Mr. R.. A. Wright at Northland last night. The risht To-day. N "Your Government to-day is a Government representing vested interests. . . . The fight to-day is a fight between the people of those representing vested interests," said Mr. R. M'Keen at .Victoria Hall. . Not so Tough. "I used to think Wellington Central was one of the toughest constituencies to fight anywhere in New Zealand," said Mr. Dunbar Sloane at Webb street last evening. "1 really can't believe it now. People have given me a great hearing. I get a- better hearing in Wellington Central than I did in Wellington Suburbs a few years ago." (Laughter and applause.)

"An Election Trick." Speaking at the Mount Cook Boys' School lnst night in support of the candidature of Mr. P. Fraser, M.P. for Wellington Central, Mr. James Thorn, in- reply to a question as to whether the Reform Government had i:ot increased pensions all round, said that he. would tell the audience the true inwardness of Hint. When the Labour Party at the beginning 1 of last session demanded an allround increase of pensions by 2s Gn a week, the Minister in Charge of Pensions (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) declared that it could not be done, that the finances of the country vould not stand it. But this same Government had relieved of income tax the big squatters, some of whom had incomes of £50,000 to £100,000,

or more. Tho total concessions in income to the wealthy had been estimated by the Hon. "W. Nosworthy (Minister of Finance) at £3,750,000 a year. At the end of the session, however, Mr. Anderson, thinking no doubt tl\ot it would be a great election cry for the Tory Party, granted the very concession to pensioners 'which he had denounced early in the session. That was what had happened. It was merely an election trick.

''Miserable Ingrates!''

"I have done something for. this particular district,'' said Sir James Parr at Mount Eden on Tuesday evening. "You have here the first junior high school established in the Dominion, and one of the finest schools in the world."

An iuterjector: "Viv. Potter claims the credit for it." ' (Laughter.) Sir James (smilingly): '' Oh, well, call it fifty-fifty. But as Minister 1 happen to be the humble individual who had to find the money, and if you do nci put Jimmy Parr back for what he lias done for you you are the most miserable, 'ingrates in,, .the world." (Laughter.and applause.)

Economic Waste,

'' Strikes are economic waste. Lockouts arc gcouomie waste. Preventable unemployment is economic waste. A fully-employed and prosperous community can buy and consume; They are wage-earners and wage-payers. An unemployed section of the people cannot buy. Extend unemployment by a general strike, labour is wasted and trade and conAierce are at a standstill. True and honest labour know what I say is true. They have experienced it under the so-called Labour leaders, and that is what has made them sick and . tired of the omptv promises of their Socialistic leaders, who continue in good jobs while their followers and their-fam-ilies suffer."—Mr.. A. B, Sievwright at Newtown last night.

"Shingling" and Shingles,

When a deputation of workers waited on the Prime Minister to eruphasise the inadequacy of the-basic wage of £3 17s Id a week, stated Mr. James Eoberts at Mr.VFraser's meeting at Mount Cook Boys' School last night, the Hon. Mr. Coates ventured the suggestion, that in their os timate of the workers' weekly expenses, .thejy had not. allowed anything for "shingling" the ladies' hair, He thought, however, - that the Prime Minister quickly repented that,- berause they came back at him with the statement that the.workers' wives were far more interested in keeping a shingle over the heads of themselves and their families than in tho trimming of their, hair.. (Laughter.)

The Small Shopkeeper.

The • interests of the small shopkeeper were, a subject of. reference by Mr. A. B. Sievwright. at St. Thomas 'a Hall, Newtown, last night. The candidate pointed out what a loss there would be to the small shopkeepers were the nationalisation of all industries put into operation." Individual effort would be prevented, and their businesses confiscated witbout compensation. In contrast, Mr. Sievwright referred to the National Party's policy of progress and construction, of social benefit, and advancement to all the people.

Tory View of Housing Criticised, i

A Tory candidate had declared that if the workers and their families would only stop going to the "pictures," they could soon, have houses for themselves, stated Mr. P. Fraser, amid laughter, last night. AVell, he had taken the trouble to figure out vhat the workers would save per week if neither they, nor their wives and families, ever'went again to see Charlie Chaplin, Tom Mix, and Bill Hart, and he had come to the conclusion that neither the present workers, their children,' their grandchildren, nor their great grand-children, could ever hope to own their own homes on such lines; but possibly that great grandchildren of their great-grand-children might manage to do so. (Applause and laughter.) 'N

A Nonsensical Proposal. '""

That State" shipping services had failed in Australia, Canada-, and the United States because they were boycotted by way of return freights was an opinion given by Mr. A. B. Sievwright in the course of his address ,at St.'Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening.' All,the ablest men and the best brains, he said, condemned State-* owned shipping. It would lead to financial disaster in New Zealand, and the workers and wage-earnprs would, as in the case of the strike, be" the first to suffer. "I will- give no support to such a nonsensical proposal," the candidate declared emphatically.

Helping the Poor Farmer. . "When, .my. ...opponent. ..spoke in ..'.this: district," said Mr.. T. Forsyth, the Reform candidate for Wellington East, at! Hataitai on Tuesday, "he extended to the poor struggling farmer a wealth of sympathy. Ho said that there were two ways only in which the farmer could hope to meet his mortgage charges: either by working his land to the last ounce and ruining it, or...Ay...slaving' himself and his family and ruining his and their health. There is another way: it the poor fanner does well with his harvest, his cows, or his sheep," during a favourable season, he may send, his produce down' to Wellington for shipment overseas. 1 Labour is full of sympathy for the poor farmer, but just think back a few weeks, and recall the manner in -which Labour showed that sympathy by holding up tho farmers' produce. I. .'..'' : '"' "No Case! of'His'Own." . "There' is only one week until the day of the election," remarked Mr. R. M'Kcen at his meeting at Brooklyn on Tuesday, "and my opponent has not yet produced!his policy. Characteristic of his profession, he has no cnse- of his own, and resorts to abusing his opponent's case." ' .

The Conscientious Objector 1 Mr. F. S. Morton, Nationalist candidate for Auckland.-Central, said on Tuesday evening in an address that ho had heard a story about a Labour member, and had had it verified, that a Labour member had been "carpeted" before the Labour caucus for voting against his leader on several occasions. That member had said to the caucus: "While the war was. on you fought for the conscientious objector, and I now claim the right of the conscientious objector.' If it is ' not allowed mo I shall make the claim in public." As a consequence that member was not. sent out of the Labour caucus.

A Place for Women. At an open-air meeting held in Auckland by Miss Melville, the Ke; form candidate for Grey Lynn, a shout? Labour element was present, but the interjections, of whir.h tticro were ninny, wore on the whole of a good-natured, bantering type. In his ripening remarks the. chairman stated

that at one time he did not' thinls; Parliament was the place for women',A voice:."Nor is it." Tho chairman continued by saying that now ho considered that it was tho place for several women. (Applause.) A voice: "There are a lot of old womdn in there now." ' ■■ The Chairman; "Yes, and it's time we put in some young women." (Aijplause.) '

Bloodied Averted.

At an election meeting at Auckland on Tuesday evening, a candidate^ got through without a single v pcrsonal rs? ference, but the chairman of the meeting made amends.' At one stage he and a member of the audience exchanged "amenities" for a torrid ten seconds. The chairman, resenting the quiet "but very distinct interjection, sought to identify tho person for the rest of the audience by mentioning that it was "that young man back there, with his hair parted in the middle and plastered down on both sides." The toue of the remark was not complimentary either "Any how, my face hasn't cost me as much as yours," retorted tho youth. This shot at the chairman's anti-Prohibition habit got close'to the powder magazine, and there, was a tremor in his vocieas he retaliated with, "Your mother must have'been very fond of children-to have reared , the likes of you." The ■ awkward I situation was carried off smoothly by the candidate, who'use'd the tense silence to go on with his. speech as if nothing had occurred. Bloodshed was thus averted.