CANDIDATE'S REVERSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1943, Page 4

CANDIDATE'S REVERSE

LIVELY MAKARA MEETING

The keen interest taken by the Makara farming community in affairs politically was shown by the attendance at Mrs. Stewart's campaign meeting in the local hall last night, and by the frequency of interjections during the candidate's address. The lively touch about the proceedings terminated with a vote of no-confidence being passed in the Labour candidate Ifor Wellington West and in the Laßjbur Government.

Various points in the Government's legislation and in the Labour Party's policy were dealt with by the candidate, special attention being given to social security benefits, motherhood endowment, education, land settlement, industrial development, afforestation, and farming problems generally, with particular reference to guaranteed prices and subsidies. On the subject of'education Mrs. Stewart instanced the assistance which had been given by way of bursaries to enable students to be sent to Otago.

A voice objector. To this the candidate replied that the interjector was lacking in courtesy, whereas, in spite of his interrupting, she had been very patient. However, since the remark had been made, she desired to make an explanation. It was a very unfortunate remark, seeing that she had two sons in a defaulters' camp. That fact had been published in the local papers following her explanation at a previous meeting. "And," the candidate added, "you can rest assured that it has gone all over the country that Mrs. Stewart's two sons are in a defaulters' camp."

including a conscientious

The interjector pointed out that he made no reference to her sons, whereupon the candidate remarked that she knew nothing about the case accounting for the interjection.

"There has been enough about it in the House, so you ought to know/ the interjector replied.

Mention of matters relating to .the Land Sales Act accounted for some further interruption, a statement by the candidate that the U.S.A. was behind it being disputed. Mrs. Stewart agreed that some branches may have opposed it, but others supported it, as did the Hon. Mr. Perry.

WHAT ABOUT SPAY-OUTS?

The candidate's mention of guaranteed prices and the dairy industry led to a number of interjections, at which the candidate remarked that "the ladies in the audience are much better mannered than the menfolk." She proceeded to explain the position in regard to the 15 per cent, extra payment by Britain for wool.

Voices: We have not got the money yet. When are they going to pay that out?

"Just a minute," the candidate replied. "You will find that you have been paid."

A voice: Oh! That is something "we have learned.

The candidate proceeded with the explanation of the position covering the pay-out, and claimed that there could be no cause for the assertions by Opposition members of "steal" and "bare-faced robbery."

MINISTER WON'T ANSWER,

"Can the candidate tell us what price the British Government is paying the New Zealand Government for butter and cheese per lb?" Mrs. Stewart was asked when questions were invited. "I do not know that: I simply know what you people are getting," the candidate replied.

A voice: The Minister of Agriculture won't answer that question anywhere in New Zealand.

Another voice: He's a dud.

A member of the audience said that they understood that America got 2s 9d, and he considered that if the New Zealand farmer only got Is 6d the Government must b.e getting something over and above that.

"Does the candidate know that the Government has 1400 acres of land out here?" asked another questioner in pressing a claim for better access to Makara.

"Does it not seem remarkable," said the candidate, "that I have been five years in office, and you people have not thought it wonth while to tell me 'Of these things?" * -

"You have never thought it worth while to Obme out here to us in five years," came a reply.

A question as to what would be the position under the Land Sales Act if an owner agreed to sell by private

arrangement a property of a value of £5000 for £3000 was something of a "poser," the candidate finally remarking that she did not see anything wrong in that, and the chairman (Mr, H. C. Lord) suggesting that there would be any number of buyers. To a proposal that a vote of thanks be accorded the candidate there, was an amendment expressing no confidence in the candidate or the Labour Party, the mover of the amendment remarking, "They are prepared to sell