HUTT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 105, 30 October 1925, Page 7

HUTT

MR. T. M. WILFORD'S CANDIDATURE MR. A. E. RANSOM AT LOWER HUTT.

In support of Mr. Wilford's candidature for Hutt electorate, Mr. A. E. Hansom, Nationalist member for Pahiatua, addressed the electors at Lower Hutt last evening. There was a large attendance. The Mayor, Mr. W. T. Strand, occupied the chuir. ,

Mr. Ransom said he was pleased to be present in the district in which he had been born, but regretted the circumstance that his old friend Mr. Wili'ord was not able to conduct the campaign in person. Mr. Wilford had spent the best years of his life in the service of the district, and his present condition of health was the consequence of his close attention to duty. The heavy / work of the last session, the great disappointment at the breakdown of the fusion negotiations, had shattered his health for the time being. There was no question but that Mr. Wilford was organically s,ound, and his medical adviser had certified to that fact. He stated this fact in order to set at rest rumours to the contrary ■which were being circulated. Personally, said tho speaker, he was not a strong party man, and Reform was now so moderate in its policy that there was nothing to hinder the two parties coming together. (Applause.)

The Nationalists had only adorned the name after mature consideration and in the interests of the country as a whole. The need to-day was for a strong Government made op from the beat brains of the members returned to Parliament. The country had now to face a very heavy burden of debt, and men should be returned who would be prepared if need bo to sink party in the interests of the good government of the people as a whole. A Government without strong support behind it had to act from motives of expediency which would not. get any country very far. New Zealand had once had a strong Government, and as a consequence was able to get things done and had led tho world in progressive legislation, and there was no question that this could be done again.

One of the causes of the railways not paying was that some branch lines, which would not pay axle-grease, were kept running because the Government needed tho support of the member for the district. The cost of administration had doubled, and it was necessary to look into the question of how to effect economies. Though Mr. Coates had done good work in both tho Railway .and P. and T*. Departments, there was still room for improvement, as tho expenditure was increasing more- rapidly than the receipts.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION,

More should be done in the way of agricultural education, and-bright boys, instead of being sent into the professions, should be trained to'take up agricultural pursuits. Too much was being spent on buildings at the present time which was not justified when the needs of the backblocks of thu country were considered.

- - The position of the High _ Commissioner's Office needed looking into. The cost of running this Department was increasing by leaps and bounds, and for that expenditure the country should be getting better service. The incidence of taxation should be altered to place the burden more upon the shoulders of the people most able to bear it. The policy of the Nationalist Party was to borrow locally. At the present time some of the lending institutions were not playing the game, and in order to" dodge paying taxes on their incomes were making the interest payable in Sydney. This should be stopped. It ought to be' made possible for the large lending institutions of the country to lend to the farmer, and to this end a preferential scale of taxing the income of those lending our rural credits should be established. Tho right to place money on fixed deposit in the Post Office was advocated. The reduction of the cost of the necessaries of life by removing the tax on goods not manufactured in the Dominion should be the objective of the Government. Greater encouragement should. be given to demonstration-farms, and if the cost of fertilisers was increased the State should establish fertiliser factories. Secondary industries should be fostered, and this would not be done until it was realised that labour had an equal right to capital. The compulsory clauses of the Lands for Settlement Act should be enforced, and large estates, after careful consideration, should be acquired. The pumice lands should be settled. Mr. H. E. Leighton, on behalf of the local Reform League, urged all Reform supporters to support Mr. Wilford. A vote of thanks to the speaker and of continued confidence in Mr. Wilford was, on the motion of Mr. A. M'Caskill, declared by the chairman, in tho midst of applause, unanimously carried.