MOTUEKA SEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1932, Page 8

MOTUEKA SEAT

BY-ELECTION CONTEST

KEEN INTEREST AROUSED

HEAVY POLL LIKELY

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

NELSON, 28th November.

Interest in the Motueka by-election has reached,a high pitch with the approach of polling day, and Thursday next will see very heavy voting. For the past three weeks, in addition to the active campaigns of the three candidates —Messrs. K. J. Holyoake (Coalition), P. C. Webb (Labour) and the Hon. B. McKenzie (Independent-Lib.-Lab.)— there has been, an influx to the electorate of members of Parliament who have been conducting day and night meetings all over the constituency in support of the various candidates. At. the present time there are no less than twelve members in the district, and meetings are being largely attended. It appears to bo the general impression in the electorate that the fight will be between the Coalition candidate, Mr. Holyoake,. and ,the Labour Party's nominee, Mr. Webb, and that ihe result will not see many votes between them. Both parties, however, are expressing great hopes of success. . It is anticipated that the Hon. B. McKenzie, who throughout has fought a lone hand, will be a long way behind the other two, but there is much speculation as to the effect his candidature will have on the respective prospects of Messrs. Holyoake and Webb. Mr. McKenzio formerly represented the Motueka electorate in the House, and he is receiving the support of some of the Liberals of the old school, and the general opinion is that, he will take votes ■ which would have gone to the Coalition candidate in a straight-out contest between Government and Labour. It is thought' that he will- poll about 1000 votes. ALL MEETINGS LARGELY ATTENDED. . The Labour Party was first in the field with an army of speakers for its candidate, and the whole electorate was covered very thoroughly before the Coalition reinforcements arrived. This week the electorate has been covered by both sides, and all the meetings have been largely attended, reports from even the smallest townships stating that the meetings, have been the largest ever held in the respective districts. In the last few days the Coalition supporters have expressed the opinion that there has been a large swing back to them since their speakers have appeared and replied to Labour charges and criticism. • .._ At the present time it would appear that the result is very open between Messrs. Holyoake and Webb, with perhaps a slight advantage for the Coalition candidate. To-day there are twelve members'of the House scattered over the constituency, the Coalition list being the Bight Hon. J. G. Coates, the Hon. E. A. Bausom, Messrs. J. N. Massey, TV. J. p 0 lson, W. J. Broadfoot, W. p. Endean and W. A. Bodkin. On behalf of the Labour candidate are Messrs. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, B. bemple, F. Langstone, J. McCombs, and ** e«? e£ Cly-de Cam Othei members ot.the Coalition and Labour Party have spoken in. the past'few..weeks. COALITION'S TASK. Mr. Coates commenced his campaign at Upper Takaka this' morning in the interests of the Coalition candidate Mr. K. J. Holyoake. In November last, said Mr. Coates, the Coalition Government asked the country for a mandate for the purpose of carrying through the task of readjustment enforced upon the Dominion as a result of the world-wide depression. S\o one would suggest that this task was a pleasant one,-but the necessity for it had been accepted the world over. New Zealand with the rest of the world had been caught in the depression, and the severity of its effect was particularly acute by reason of the fact that New Zealand was such a large exporter of primary products. The level of prices of these products had fallen much below 1914 prices while costs had not yet-adjusted themselves in accordance with that fall. The Budget, in sympathy with the fall m price level, had become deranged and extremely difficult to handle. Bents, interest, and taxes due to the Government had fallen heavily upon those concerned, and the Budget income had been greatly reduced. These circumstances, and the difficulty being experienced in reducing fixed charges, had called for patriotism and determination on the part of those responsible for the government of the country. The task befpre-the Government had been to adjust its costs with the falling revenue. Within the last two years savings of approximately nine million pounds had been effected, and with all these savings the estimated deficit for this year was approximately £1,000,000. "WE WILL DO OXTR UTMOST/ ''We have to remember," he proceeded, "that during the current year some 2* millions of reserves have been pledged with a view to relieving further taxation. Next year we will not have these reserves available, and it will mean that adjustments will fee I necessary to cover this amount, namely 34 millions. It will thus be seen that the problems of the Finance Minister are most difficult. But though some difficulty may be experienced the Government is determined to jmake such rearrangements as will bring our country through with credit to its people. We will do our utmost—and we can do no more."