THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 20015, 5 November 1928, Page 2

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ALL PARTIES BUSY THE PREMIER’S TOUR [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 4. , Tho Premier met an audience of about 3,000 on Saturday night, and had a successful meeting. There was considerable heckling anti counting out at times but this - was. confined to one section, and at the conclusion confidence in his administration was expressed. Replying te the ; statement ... by a United candidate that Mr Goodfellow and Mr Sterling were so strong that they could dictate to the Government, and that Mr Sterling’s salary was free of income tax, Mr Coates said the Railways manager certainly had to pay income tax Ho denied that the Government had made a seven years’ contract with Mr Sterling, at the end of which time he would receive full superannuation. As with other railway servants', Mr Sterling would have to complete forty years’ service before he would receive the maximum superannuation. As he had now only twentysix years’ service, be had about fourteen years to go. In reply to the statement that Mr Coates, when Postmaster-General, had given Mr Goodfellow the sole rights of broadcasting in New Zealand, tho Premier said that when the contract was signed he was not PostmasterGeneral, nor was he in New Zealand. He would stake his reputation that Mr Sterling would be a success and would not earn only bis salary of £3,500, but £IO,OOO. During the da j Mr Coates had a cordial reception at Waitara, and to-night he is spending on Mount Egmont, and will visit Inglewood and Stratford tomorrow. THE LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATURE NOT ENDORSED [Special to the ‘Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, November 3, Tho Rev. J. K. Archer, national president of the Now Zealand Labour Party, stated to-day that Air F. L. Turley, who has announced himself as Labour candidate for Hurnnni seat, bad not received tho official endorsement of tho party, and was not likely to receive it. Mr Turley was not on the Labour Party’s approved list of candidates, said Mr Archer, and moreover the party bad decided not to contest this electorate at all. Mr Turley’s candidature was quite personal. THE LABOUR LEADER [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, November 4. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) addressed a crowded meeting at Huntly last night. Ho was cheered on entering the hall. Besides speaking on the usual lines, he gave special attention to the coal industry and said that Labour would use the Research Department with the object of producing all the coal needed in the dominion. Briquetting should have been established long ago. A motion of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. UHITED PARTY CHANCES MINISTER BELITTLES THEM [Pek Unwed Press Association.] NELSON, November 4. The Hon. R. A. Wright (Minister of Education), in an address at Nelson, said that nothing but a political miracle could put the United Party in power. All their candidates save seven (including Sir Joseph Ward and Mr H Atmore) were new men, and therefore at ,a big disadvantage. Ho criticised Sir Joseph Ward’s borrowing policy, and said that the loan proposed by Sir Joseph could not be floated without loss. The Minister n anted to New Zealand’s satisfactory standing on the London money, market as a proof of good government. Ho denied the assertions that the Government had caused the land boom, and said that it had merely carried, out tho commitments of the National Government. The Reform Government had given considerable help to the farmers, as, for instance,.the fruit guarantee and assistance to tho honey producers and tobacco growers. Mr Wright also referred to the new Research Department, tlm workers’ housing scheme, pensions increases, child welfare subsidies, the school dental and health services, and other matters as an indication of what the Reform Government had achieved.

REFORM’S FAILURE

[Per United Press Association.]

FEILDING, November 3. Mr J. G. Cobbc, the United Party candidate for Orona, had an overflow meeting for his main political address, and received an excellent hearing. He strongly criticised the Reform Administration, and said that Mr Coates had been hailed three years ago as the new Moses, but now he had been weighed in the balance and found wanting. The Government bad failed to show any sympathy for the farmers’ freezing works, and ho hoped, if elected, to do something towards protecting _ these works from the trusts. He criticised the expensive High Commissioner’s office, saying that the salaries of the clerks and the messengers cost £25,000 a year. He favoured proportional representation in Parliament, and supported the two-issue ballot paper and the bare majority on the licensing issue. He was opposed to extending fhe life’ of Parliament, and explained the United Party’s proposal for raising £60,000,000 over ten years to lend to the farmers and the workers. He was against an Agricultural _ Workers Union, but favoured industrial unions.

QUESTIONS TO 0 AUDI BATES

PRSTECTH3H OF SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

The Federation of New Zealand Manufacturers is asking all candidates for parliamentary honours to answer, a questionnaire with reference to supporting dominion manufactures- the questionnaire is' as follow: — 1, Will r you support legislation designed , to give adequate tariff protection to local industries against unequal conditions of competition from abroad r 2. Will you support, a proposal to establish in New Zealand a permanent Tariff Board to inquire into and .'make revision with a view to immediate legislation if necessary? . The federation is suggesting three .main points for consideration: —(1) That manufacturers in other countries are faced with problems arising through competition with countries having a lower living and wage’standard; (2)

that as a consequence of the above each country is calling upon its Government to prqtcct the industries concerned; (3) that this dominion is lagging behind in what it might do re help its secondary industries without .harming any other section ol the .community. t . THROUGH THE ELECTORATES Addressing the electors at Kuri Bush and Brighton on Saturday, Mr J. P. Walls (United candidate for Chalmers), was accorded at the latter place a vote of thanks and confidence. The candidate was accorded a good hearing in both places. There were about 300 people presentat the Burns Hall on Saturday evening to hear addresses by Mr J. Robinson (Labour candidate for Dunedin Central) and Mr T. H. Armstrong (Labour member for Christchurch East). Mr J. W. Munro occupied the chair. Mr Robinson spoke briefly on a few matters of local interest, and then gave way to Mr Armstrong,:who proceeded to deliver a forcible address, occupying an hour and a-half. Mr Armstrong strongly criticised the Government’s administration of bho • various State departments, and urged his hearers to support the Labour Party as the only alternative -■ to the Government. A number of questions were asked and answered, after which a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the speakers on the motion of Mr M; J. Kelly, seconded by Mr S. Hill.

To-night, at the South Dunedin Town Hall, Sir Charles Statham will meet and address the electors. The mayor will be in the chair. A full attendance of Central electors is _ requested, ladies especially being invited. On Thursday evening last Mr G. _S. Thomson was accorded a very attentive hearing at the Foresters’ Hall, Upper Albany street. He explained, among other "questions of finance, how to arrive at the rate of interest actually paid on, say, 4i per cent. loans raise_d on the London money market at £1);" To-night Mr Thomson will deal with the Melbourne strike revolt at his meeting in the Leith Street Mission Hall, near Albany street. The four Labour candidates for Dunedin announce a combined meeting for to-night in Burns Hall. Mr Charles R. Smith, the United Party candidate for Dunedin North, addressed a well-attended meeting of electors in the Coronation Hall at Eavensbourne on Saturday night. The speaker dealt at length with _ matters appertaining to the land question, education, universal scheme of superannuation, and electoral reform. Approbation of his remarks was manifested by applause. Mr H. K. • Mollor moved "a vote of thanks and confidence, stating that they had listened to a very eloquent address. Mr Smith was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, earned with acclamation. An amendment was moved in respect to the vote, but this mot with the approval of only three of the large gathering present. Mr Fraser (the Mayor of West Harbour) presided. Election day is gradually drawing nearer, and a little more interest is now being evinced locally in matters political. In this respect the things that are are not as the things that were. For instance, when Lawrence was the principal polling centre of the old-time Tuapcka electorate, for weeks prior to a contest and during its currency matters political were frequently at fever heat. People talked of little else; the electors cere all more or less interested in the welfare of their particular candidate, and followed their public actions and movements with the greatest concern. In these days that kind of thing in the country districts is almost an unknown quantity. Few, indeed, now bother their heads- either about the candidates or even the results of the elections. And, in fact, were it not that the licensing question comes up for decision on the;, saute," day the electoral polling, compaigu/ely speaking, would be insignificant. It is not easy to account for this apparent indifference, unless it be that the extensiveness of, the electorates in these days, particularly in the country districts of Otago, has a tendency-to eliminate the community of interest feeling that largely prevailed in the smaller electorates, thus helping to rob the present-day elections or the intense interest associated with the elections of days gone by. On Thursday evening of last week Mi’ Jas. Ritchie (the Reform candidate) met the electors at .Lawrence, about 250 of whom greeted him. At the outset he made his position clear on, the land question. He was not in favour of aggregation, and has never supported it; nor was he ini favour of large estates or landlords. At the same time, he recognised that the areas of holdings in many parts of the country should not be too small. Touching the licensing question, the candidate said he had definitely refused to sign a pledge, as ho wished to go to Parliament as a representative and not as a delegate. He would sooner remain out of Parliament than go there pledged to any particular parly. Mr Hitch io touched on a number of other ciuestions, and at the close of his address he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, which was declared carried unanimously. ELECTION BREVITIES KERNEL AND HUSK

“ It has hcon said that tho land policy of the Labour Party would drive the farmers off the land. Well, if the Labour Party does not soon get into power there will bo no farmers left to drive off tho land.”—Mr T. H. Armstrong, at tho Burns Hall on Saturday night. ■X* ’X" “Harry Holland and Peter Fraser are sweating over a machine that looks well but won’t work,” said Mr P. B. Fitzherbort, Reform, Grey Lynn, describing Labour’s policy. * * *• * “It has been said,” said Mrs Maguire, Reform candidate for Auckland East, “that politics are too dirty for women. I have yet to learn that they are dirts’ * but if they are, women will clean them up.” * * * * Even Labour itself apparently has little hope of ousting Reform in the elections. “ I fear they’re going back again,” said Mr E. J. Howard, Laboui candidate for Christchurch South. “Pm not optimistic enough to think that Reform will go out this year, though I. don’t think they_ will have the same; majority as last time.” -x- * * * “My application to tho State Advances Office for a loan has been in for two years,” stated a member of the audience to Mr T. H. Armstrong at the Burns Hall on Saturday night. And then he asked; “When do you think I shall get itP ” “ Well,” rejoined Mr Armstrong, “ I can see you are a: young man, and judging by the rate at which these loans are being granted, it is a toss-up which, you will receive first—your loan or the old-age pension.” # » # * “I might say, ladies and gcnelemen, that I have rehearsed this speech,” said Mr C. S. M'Cully, United candidate, addressing the electors of Christchurch South. “I went out into my garden the other day, and I reckon ■that'l addressed the constituents of Christchurch South in very able man-ner-all to myself. I don’t feel like that to-night.”-

Politicians are made, not born, said Mr J. N. Massey, Reform candidate for Franklin at Papakura. His father, the late Prime Minister, had received much of his training while in opposition to Richard John Seddon, and had been offered a seat in the Seddon Cabinet. Ah interjector questioned the statment, but tlm candidate said he could prove the point * * * * “ It’s quite all right,” remarked a South Island candidate, referring to a persistent interrupter. “ He’s as old pupil of mine, and he’s taking vengeance for the times that I have had to punish him. (Laughter.) If you only knew how difficult it was to knock anything into his head ” The rest of tho speaker’s remarks were drowned in uproarious laughter. » * * » A member of the audience at the Burns Hall on Saturday night, after referring to the borrowing proposals of tho other two parties, asked Mr T, H. Armstrong (Labour member for Christchurch East) tho following question:—“ln the event of your party being returned to power, how much would you borrow?” “How much have you got to lend? ” was the ready answer. .* -x •» «• Speaking of the Labour Party at his meeting at Hastings, Mr H. M. Campbell (Reform) said: “What is it they want us to cut out? Does anyone suggest we should repudiate our debt, or our pension obligations? “ There seems to be no answer, said Mr Campbell, after a long pause. “ I appear to have a unanimous vote of confidence,” ho added, amid laughter. * * * ” “Most certainly I am,” replied Mr A. A. M‘Lachlan (Unied Party) at Riccarton, when asked if ho was in favour of the publication of totalisator dividends and legislation being passed to enable money to be telegraphed to racecourses for investment on the totalisator. Wo must repeal any Icgsilation that is purely farcical,” the caiN didate added, amidst applause. '1 he refusal to allow totalisator dividends to be published is a farce, and the other restriction is only playing into the hands of the bookmaker.” * -ft * * Discussing 'the United Party s borrowing proposal at his meeting at Georgetown, Mr S. M. Macalister, Reform/ candidate for Invercargill, likened it to the popular jazz song about ‘Fifty Million Frenchmen Can’t Go Wrong.’ “ It appears,” remarked Mr Macalister, amid laughter “that seventy million sovereigns can t go * * * * In referring to his opponent at his West Taratahi meeting, the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. M‘Leod), sitting Reform candidate for the Wairarapa seat, said that judgiim from the reports of his speeches, Colonel M‘Donald did not appear to deal with politics, but ndulged in political pleasantries regarding himself. “ He recently told a Pahautea audience that I should be put out to grass,” said Mr M'Leod. “Perhaps I should: and perhaps at his age he also should be put out to grass But I would have tho advantage of him in this respect: that I would know the best grasses to graze on.” « * * * Speaking at one of his meetings, the mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. K. Archer) said be was badgered every day by written questions—questions from the Prohibitionists, -questions ■ f rom the liquor people, questions from the industrialists, questions from the summertime people, “If M.P.s al-

lowed themselves to be tied up by these movements,” ho said, “they would be representing, not tho people, but only private cliques. They try to leg-rope yon and send you to Parliament to put into effect their decisions.” «■ * « « Speaking at Ihakara, Mr W. H. Field, Reform candidate for Otaki, said there seemed to be an impression abroad that there were thousands of so-called “ wool kings ” in this country. The number of persons who owned over 20,000 sheep was, some years ago, 160, and it was now 26. The number of persons, too, who owned over 15,000 acres was only 60, and many of these were occupying poor lands quite unfit for subdivision. » * » « “ I stand for a your-year Parliament, as the present term, is far too short, and not in the interests of the country as a whole.” Laughter and tho cry: “Look out for your job,” greeted this statement when it was made by Mr J. A. Nash (Reform) to a meeting at Palmerston North. “The first session is usually a short one, the second a long and heavy one,” continued Mr Nash, “ and in the third members are all anxious to get back- to their electorates.” «• -x * * “ Would you take on the relief work under the present ruling conditions ? ” was a question put to Mr H. M. Campbell (Reform) at a Hawke’s Bay meeting. “ If I were in need of work and did not wish to remain idle, I would probably jump at it, I think hotter consideration might be given to married men, but it should be all right for single jnen,” answered Mr Campbell. A Voice: Single men! They’ve no right to he single. (Laughter.)