CHALMERS SEAT

Evening Star, Issue 20010, 30 October 1928, Page 8

CHALMERS SEAT

• m ANSELL AT MOSGIEL “ REFORM ADMINISTRATION SOUND " Claiming that (lie Reform Government stood Jor sound, prudent, jiiid efficient administration, Mr A. Jf). Fuseli, tlie Reform caiididate tor Chalmers, last night addressed a meeting of electors in the Coronation Hall. Mosgiel. There was an attendance, of nearly -'0(1 people, who gave the candidate a splendid hearing throughout, with no interruptions whatever. Mr ,1. P. Walls, Mayor of Mosgiel, who presided, said it might he thought a peenliar position for him to he presiding at Air Ansell's meeting, becauseho was the nominee for the United Party, which, by t he way, was the host party. ( Laughter.) Before Mr Loudon withdrew from the, contest lie had promised, as mayor, to preside at Mr An,sell’s meeting. That was before he became a, candidate, and a He he became one Mr Ansell had suggested he might be relieved of his promise. But ho had told Air Ansell that lie would still like to be his chairman, and would take it as a compliment to he allowed to do so. Although a political opponent of his, Mr Ansell was a gentleman. THE ROADING QUESTION. Mr Ansell stated at the outset that right down at the, bottom of his heart 1 he real reason for his being a, candidate was the idea that ho might bo of some real .service Lo tho dominion, and, of course, to the, electorate ol Chalmers. .He had devoted a great deal of time, to public sorvuv, nnd particuhu'h to the muling problem. In such an electorate as Chalmers, where a great main- people got their livelihood Iron) the soil, good roads were of paramount importance, in order that produce might bo taken to the naikcts as economically as possible Ho claimed that he had done Ids share towards solving the reading problem of the dominion. (Applause.) Air Coates mu stated on one occasion that lie (Hie speaker) was responsible more than anvono else for placing the Highways Act'on the Statute Look. Durum the progress ol negotiations which had extended over several years ho had nlwavs advocated that the usoi of the road should pay in such proportions as he used the road, and that land must not be taxed beyond its economic limit in order to provide roads that were necessary for the, transport of the dominion. further, that no set schedule of subsidies for local bodies was equitable in operation because ol the varying conditions in various districts. The earlier dedeeis of the Highways Act had now been remedied, and subsidies consistent with requirements and di (lieu I ties of each district might now be granted. A very important development of the Highways Act was fho nssmfanee, which was now given to what were termed “ secoudaiy loads —that was, roads that carried a large percentage of motor traffic lint vliicn could not he termed “ main highways. 'lbis assistance formed part ol the scheme advocated by him when the matter of highways had been taken up Ip I,l l c Prime A 1 blister, who had then occupied the position ol Minister ol Public Works. The opera lion of the Highways Act must ho an important laetor in steadying the rates levied by local bodies, ami in substantially assisting in Hie development of the country, for ibo reason lliaii Uk- subsidy now jzinnfnd for secondary mads allowed local bodies to <dvo more atientioii to roads of local importance. The 'Prime Alinister, deserved, ho thought, the thanks ol everybody concerned for those ell ori s he line! put forward lo make a success of the .Highways Act. He had encountered strenuous opposition at the, outset, a. clashing of various interests; but by’patient and unceasing work he had linnllv moulded a scheme flint was acceptable ns a starling point. Since the. introduction ol the Highways Act it. had been continually improved, and today they wore entitled to say that the reading"difficulties were nearing a satisfactory solution. (Applause.) THE LAND QUESTION. | Air Ansell went on to deal with the j land question, which, he said, vas Hie most important in New Zealand. Jho wealth of the country was in the land. Jf the land problem were satislaetonly solved a. great many oilier problems would lie solved, such as the, need for increased production, the unemployment problem, and Hie railways. There was a, great need Inr .making more land available, and also a great need for educating Hie men who went on the land. In the days of comparatively low land values, and when their eountrv held its virgin fertility farming did nob demand the skilled effort that it did to-day. when the conditions differed so seriously. To-day they had to fare an altogether different set of conditions—higher land values, involving larger capital expenditure, competition in the markets they sold in, and the obvious necessity for the use of fertilisers nnd more scientific cultivation, Thev had to set themselves face to face with the fact that many men had failed on the land because they had larked the necessary experiences or knowledge or capital. Therefore, the remedy was to see that the hoys of to-day who would he the men nt tomorrow were prepared, lor the tasks that awaited them. The Minister of Agriculture, in a recent speech, had said “ Rural instruction must he, carried on,” and with that he entirely agreed, and such instruction must ho extended to the hoys nnd girls of their schools, either as pari, of their primary or secondary education.. There was still a. good opportunity for small farm settlement in this country. They knew what some of their best farmers could do on small nuns which were cultivated in a scientific manner. The Prime Minister had, in

his public addresses, given seme indication of the kteps that were being taken to bring about further land settlement, not overlookinig tho necessary steps to linancc tho various schemes that the Government intended to introduce.

Mr Ansoll said lie would like to draw attention to the excellent work of the Government in educating farmers in such ways as herd testing, the use of fertilisers, and so forth. In 1911 the total value of the exports of butter and cheese came to about £2,700,000, and in 1928 the total value had risen to the gratifying figure of £18,000,000. Those who know how much the increase was the result of more intensive farming and the application of more scientific methods would, ho ivas sure, pay just tribute to the policy of the Reform Government. —(Applause.) RURAL CREDITS. Mr Anscll said that no one who had given any thought to the intermediate credits scheme of t he Government coul.d have any doubt that it was a scheme which was bound to benefit and assist the farmers. Ry a system of shortdated loans a farmer was enabled to purchase fertilisers, erect fencing, buy additional stock, etc. Tho scheme was arranged on a financial basis which would give a struggling farmer an opportunity of getting his farm into working order without him being required to go to tlio financial institutions and have to carry a heavy interest burden. Once his farm began to giro him returns he was able to liquidate any part of his loan, and by this means lie was in a position to get on his feet, and gradually work himself clear of debt. He would not have a huge millstone of debt round his neck right at tho start of his activities, and would thus, naturally enough, have a. greater incentive to push forward and clear his farm.— (Applause.) TARIFFS. Speaking on fho question of tariffs Mr Ansell said that it had to bo considered Chalmers was a mixed electorate, including farmers and city folk, whoso interests were not parallel so far as tariffs were • concerned. They knew that a largo number of farmers considered Now Zealand should have no tariff at all, for anything they bought, at any rate. 'The farmers argued that ihey had to sell their goods in the open market- and failed to see that a tariff should be established. Ho considered that the Government had adopted a very fair attitude in meeting tho situation half way by putting on a reasonable tariff on all goods that could bo manufactured in our own country. “ \ consider the Hon. Downie Stewart is handling affairs very well,” continued.Mr Ansoll, “ and lam prepared to support a. continuation of fho policy of a reasonable tariff to protect the industries of our own country.' 1 would object lo any high tariff in induce inefficiency. if a. tariff is so high as to bring about a lack of competition from Overseas it means inefficiency. It mcfiins that everybody lias to pay, and we want, lo avoid that.” PENSIONS. Speaking of old-age pensions, Mr Ansell said he- was not there to advocate greater payments being made. The Government had brought the pension from 10* to 17s Cd a week. That amount was granted where tho total income was not more than £52 a year, hut. lie thought the total income allowed could he increased, perhaps to £I.OO, or even £l5O. People should bo encouraged towards thrift. The day of the universal pension had not yet arrived. However desirable it was, it was not yet within the realm of practical polities. Old people, however, who had saved a littlo' should not be. penalised when it came to applying for the old-age pension. Ho wisiicd to remind his hearers, however, that social service could not bo extended and taxation reduced. Mr Ansell said he thought, it would be generally conceded that T. 11. patients, particularly, men who were the breadwinners of families, should bo assisted by a pension, so that their families could lie supported while the man was receiving treatment. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. ‘‘The altitude J take up on the Rible-in-school.s question,” said Mr Anscll. “is that the church and State should be separate. I. think it is desirable that tho young people should know something of the Bible, and should be taught its precepts, but 1 prefer the Nelson system or tho system introduced in the Bill brought down last session by the Hon. G. M. Thomson,” CANDIDATES’ PLEDGES. .Mr Ansell referred to tho numerous pledges which candidates were asked to sign nowadays. Ho was very strongly against tho growing disposition among so many sections to ask candidates to sign pledges supporting particular views m which they were interested. “If 1 go lo "Wellington,” said. Mr Ansell, “as I think 1 will—(applause)—l am going ns a, man and not as a trussed fowl.” (Applause.) THE LICENSING ISSUE. Mr Ansell_said that lack of courage to express Ins opinions was not one of his failings, and ho was prepared to say at onco where lie stood on tho licensing question. He stood for the two-issue paper and the bare majority. He had refused to sign a. pledge sent him by the New Zealand Alliance, but lie was not dodging the issue, and they knew his opinion. His word was as good as Ids signature. In his public affairs he had attended numerous conferences, and lie had never yet given a. pledge as to what he would do when lie wont, to them. He asked tho electors to leave that privilege with him. In a democracy it seemed to him that tho vote of one man .should be of the same value as that of the next man. It had taken years to get tho hare majority, and it should not bo given up on any one question. He stood firm for the bare majority on the Prohibition question or anything else. If Prohibition were carried on the bare majority, and, if at the next election it was not thought, good enough, then let it go out by one vote. That was where lie stood. (Applause.) SOUNDNESS OF REFORM. Mr Anscll said ho would deal with other questions at future meetings. Ho would like to say in conclusion that he was convinced the electors’ interests would be well served by the Reform Party. That was why ho was asking their support. If they wanted proof of the soundness of the. Reform administration he thought they could not do better than study the attitude of the London money market towards New Zealand. That was one of the best tests of all. They would find that Now Zealand got tho most favoured treatment. “J say,” concluded _Mr Anscll, “ that that is a splendid indication that the outside world considers onr administration is efficient, prudent, and sound. (Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward, the Leader of the United Party, recently stated that he was prepared to arrange for a loan of seventy millions for New Zealand at per cent. When Sir Joseph Ward considers that the credit of New Zeai..n-1 is so sound tiiat lie. could borrow such a, large sum at the figure he quotes, then he is paying the Reform Government, the greatest compliment ever paid to New Zealand.” (Applause.) VOTE OF THANKS. Mr Ansell answered a large number of questions. On the motion of Mr William Blackie, seconded by Mr W. E. DP Lean, he was accorded a heartv vote of thanks for his address, this being carried by acclamation.