DUNEDIN NORTH FIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 20958, 24 November 1931, Page 5

DUNEDIN NORTH FIGHT

MR R. S. BLACK’S CANDIDATURE PARTY POLITICS NOT FAVOURED A large gathering of Dunedin 'North electors was addressed in the Albany Street School last night by Mr 11. S. Black (Independent). Except for the interjections of one or two men at the back of the hall, the candidate was given a very sympathetic hearing. Mr \V Thompson was in the chair, “ Much as 1 dislike to make explanations. i feel compelled to make my position clear,” commenced Mr Black. Some time ago, when Mr Taylor was chosen as the candidate for Dunedin North, my name was also mentioned from an influential source as a likely candidate. Mr M'Crae, the president of the local United Tarty, who was in the chair, made the statement that my name would not be acceptable, hinting that developments concerning my financial affairs would take place within the next few weeks. At that time i had no desire to stand for Parliament, although pressed to do so, and did not know that my name had been sent forward. This fact I learned later. ‘‘On November 5 Mr Taylor withdrew from the contest, and, after many representations that night, i decided to offer my services to the electors of Dunedin North, being under the impression that there was nobody else in the field, i announced my candidature in the ‘Times’ of November 6, and in a leader of the ‘ Star ’ of the same day there appeared the following: Mr R S. Black, twice Mayor of Dunedin, comes forward as a particular kind of Coalitionist. The danger ot the split vote allowing Mr Munro to .retain the seat has provoked the possibility of the nomination of Mr M‘Crae, who has done unostentatious but good work .tor the United Tarty.” This shows that Mr M‘Crae was not then in the held. “A week later a meeting representing United and Reform committees was called for 4 o’clock to choose the official candidate for Dunedin North: but the ‘ Star ’ of the same day, which had gone to press at least two hours before the meeting was held, contained an official announcement that Mr M Crae was the chosen official candidate, it can be seen from the foregoing that, being the first in the field, i cannot be accused of vote splitting. _ , ‘‘My position is that of an Independent candidate. The knowledge which I have gained as a banker, a farmer, a merchant, and a public man is at your disposal. The electors know that i have the courage of my convictions, and that, if returned, as I have every confidence of being, as the member for Dunedin North, I will do my utmost to forward the interests of Dunedin and Now Zealand as a whole.” PARTY POLITICS A FAILURE. Mr Black went on to say that when party politics had proved a failure, when financial magnates had to confess that the system under which wo had worked for many years had been unable to cope with tho present cusis, surely it must be borne into the minds of all that old shibboleths, traditions, and custoins must bo reviewed and not taken, as in the past, on trust. In a country like New Zealand, a veritable land flowing with milk and honey, it was absurd to rest under the present position, when food in abundance was grown, and thousands were on tho border line of starvation. Tarty politics must give way for practical politics, based on broad humanitarian grounds. All were convinced that the source of wealth was mother earth; then all must concentrate on her being tilled to the utmost. FINANCE. Owing to tho world crisis the fall in the price of primary products caused such a huge loss in revenue m New Zealand that all efforts to balance the Budget had been ber the deficit had reached £8,100,100. Borrowing, unless lor reproductive works, must bo avoided. We must, however, borrow with courage and spend with statesmanlike ability on works that would develop our country aucl repay tbe interest and sinking fund. Tho great weakness in thepast had been the excessive borrowing, at high rates of interest, of money that had not been too wisely spent, especially on railways that could not be other than a continued source of loss, owing to the high cost of building and the small business offering. Many of these railways would not hav6 been built had they been free from political influence A small committee of experts, free from political control, to deal with the financial position of the country would be of groat value to tho Government. In his opinion the rate of interest was the keystone. Reduce the price ot money and immediately the load was lightened and an incentive was created to use money for trading purposes. Tins would mean a decrease in the numbers of the unemployed and an increase in the amount of money put into circulation. Why should the firtisan and labourer bo asked to submit to cuts in their wages and the lender still bo allowed to charge so much for his money ? (Applause.) Surely there should be equality of sacrifice; The present bank rate of interest prohibited profitable trading. Our annual interest bill on the National Debt amounted to approximately £12,000.000. This alone would show at a glance what tho effect of a reduction of the rate of interest would mean. LAND SETTLEMENT. What was required was a Government to recognise that now was the time to buy land at its present value, based on whnt'it would produce, and to lot this land in small blocks on perpetual lease at a low rental, and with a proviso that tho land must be resold only to the Government, on a basis to be fixed before any land was leased. The old system of paying inflated values for land must be sternly avoided. World prices were steadily but surely rising, because so many articles were far below the cost of production. Farmers to-day were unable to pay any rent or interest on loans, owing to tho tremendous drop in the price of primary products. As the farmer was the agent through whom our mam revenue was derived* we must help him to the utmost. FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF LAND, “ Financing the purchase of land foxsettlement could bo accomplished by the issue of fiduciary bonds payable, say, in thirty years and bearing interest at 4J per cent.,” continued Mr Black. “ The great weakness m the past has been allowing so-called farmers to traffic in land that was on a specially favourable lease or that had an advance on specially liberal terms These conditions created a class that had no intention of tiling the soil; they simply bought and sold or exchanged properties, with the result that fictitious values were placed on properties and prices beyond reason were obtained. _ To-day the holders have lost everything. , , . “ My scheme of Government purchase on present producing value should cure this evil. The soldiers were put on

land when boom prices were paid, not only for the land, but for stock, fencing, and buildings, disappointment and heavy loss being tlie result. From tho past we must take lessons to guide vis for the future, and tho first lesson is to legislate so that there will be no inducement to create high prices foxland. So long as the farmer can make a living out of his farm then we will all benefit. UNEMPLOYMENT. “ Tho unemployed pi’oblcm having develop 1 to such a marked degree, a Minister should devote his whole time to this matter and bring down a definite constructive policy of _rcpx;oductivo works. More co-ordination is necessary between the Unemployment Board, the unemployment committees, tho Public Works, and the boroughs taking advantage of tho No. 5 scheme. One gx-eat help to tho local bodies would bo the knowledge that they had a certain sum to spend in a specified period. In Duxxedin we could do with a much larger supply of water, which if financed ‘ by tho Government under tho No. 5 scheme would absorb at least 300 men for two years. It would also keep the local ironworks busy foxnine months making the pipes. (Applause.) UNEMPLOYED WOMEN, “ Practically nothing has been done to grapple with tho question of unemployed women. Land could be sot aside for" bee, poultry, vegetable, or fruit growing. There is quite a market for x-eliablo seeds, and there is plenty of room for growing grass and other seeds required in New Zealand. These occupations would bo quite suitable foxwomen. Dunedin has done more for its unemployed women than any other town in the dominion. (Applause.) In April last, some three months before the Government even suggested that something should be done to help the women, I called the women of Dunedin together. A committee was f-rmed to deni with the positioxi, and it has done splendid work. However, the position is still very _ serious, and it is a matter that requires special attention by tho Government. BOYS AND GIRLS LEAVING SCHOOL. “ The problem of finding work foxboys and girls leaving school is causing great anxiety to many parents. Tho vocational guidance committees are doing splendid work, and they should be encouraged to tho utmost with financial assistance fx-om the Government, NEW INDUSTRIES. “ Thex-e is still a big field for new industries. “ Chiuaware. —In tho Early Settlers’ Hall there are beautiful specimens of china made fifty yeax-s ago at Milton. The importation of china and glass wax-e causes a huge sum to leave this country annually that could bo well spent in wages here. “ Petrol.—Over £2,000,000 annually is spent on petrol from overseas. Wo have a big shale oil mine idle at Orcpuki. This should be thoroughly investigated to see if it is a commercial proposition. We have millions of tons of lignite which could bo purchased cheaply, and from which, according to latest reports, coal oil or petrol could be extracted at a low cost. We have sevex-al companies boring for petrol. These should bo assisted because of tho great benefit their success would moan to Now Zealand. “ Fox Fanning.—This is a profitable industi-y in several countries of the world. The foxes are kept in captivity, and as their natural food is the rabbit, tho cost of running these farms should bo less here than in any other country. “ Linen Flax.—This could ho grown in New Zealand. The seed could be used for feeding cattle in the form of linseed meal, and tho fibre be used foxmaking linen. I have had practical experience in tho growing of this. “ Afforestation and irrigation should both bo developed .to the utmost, as they will bo of immeasurable valuo to tho dominion. REDUCTION IN THE COST OF LIVING. “ To reduce the cost of living several things must have attention, tho most important being tho reduction in the rate of interest. “ Rents.—Rents are still very high, causing the small shopkeeper and the small house-user to be .' arassed and pushed on to the starvation line. A lax-go portion of the rent paid to the owner goes to pay intox-esfc, and until this is lowered he is unable to reduce rents. “ Bread.—Tho price of lire:. 1 should ho inquired into by the Government. In my opinion tho price paid in New Zealand to-day is ridiculous. It is a great question whether Now Zealand should grow wheat. The land could bo used fox- growing mutton or foxdairying purposes, and tho wheat we require could be imported from Canada or Australia at a much lower figure, thus helping to reduce the cost of living. This might help to improve our reciprocal trade relations with Canada. “ With reference to the i-ccluction in wages, I do not believe in further cuts, but will endeavour, if returned to Parliament, to reduce the cost of living by bringing the ovcxTioad charges down and reducing the tremendous disparity between the price paid to tho primai'y producer and cost to the consumer. “ These are problems that our chambers of commerce may_ bo able to assist us in solving, thus giving an impetus to tho sale of New Zealand-made goods.” THRIFT PENALISED. A Government that penalises thrift was wrong, said Mr Black. Yet that was what was happening to-day. A Government that put a premium on thrift was what was wanted. Surely a man who by years of self-denial had been able to purchase a home for himself and furnish it comfortably, and who, tlxrough tho world crisis, was thrown out of work was worthy of help; yet lie was debarred from working under the unemployment scheme. The soldier who through war injuries had been granted a pension surely deserved that pension, and in his opinion that pension should not ho counted as income, as no pension could adequately x-epresout tho war disability. (Applause.) WAR DEBTS. AVar debts were strangling all the debtor nations, and wern they all cancelled they would help the creditor as well as tiro debtor. Tho debtor could only pay in goods and tho creditor was loaded up with his own surplus goods, plus tho goods sent as payment. When war was declared the leading financiers of the world said several countries were too poor, and that it would be to raise the money to buy the munitions of war. Tbe amount raised was such a huge sum that it startled the civilised world. Factories sprang up all over the world, and the energy of those millions was utilised to make material to destroy millions, smash up civilisation, and throw the whole world into chaos. Why not organise more completely tor the peace of tho world? (Applause.) EDUCATION. He was a strong believer in education, as the man who know “ how ” was a valuable asset and a big factor

in a nation’s welfare. It was the man who had not full knowledge of his subject that had cost this country untold sums of money. RAILWAYS. Railways had been taken from political control, and this was a step in the right direction. The amount of money spent on the railway workshops and on machinery that was not required was a scandal. Let them look at the money that had been spent on railways that were doomed to failure. Railways were required in some instances to open up inaccessible places and to bring farm produce to the market, but surely a sinking and renewal fund should have been established. The mode of transport altered oyer thirty years ago, still party politics caused railways to be extended at a price per mile that only spelt disaster. The cry that it employed men took the attention of people from the fact that employing men on work that would add to the liability of the people and be a continual extra tax was much worse than paying the same wages to those men to do nothing. This was where knowledge gained by _ education, especially technical education, must be of immense value in directing energy and expenditure of money into sound economic channels. DUNEDIN NEGLECTED. What was required was someone to press the claims of Dunedin. Take the Post Office as a typical case of neglect. They had departmental offices scattered all over the city in rented premises, and they had a site on which some £25,000 at least had been spent lying idle. To build a Post Office would absorb labour and eventually reduce the rent bill by concentrating all departments under one roof. Tourist traffic had not expanded in the South Island as it should, and it would be his endeavour to try to remedy this. They had lost the Union Steam Ship Co.’s boats, and were cut off from Australia; in fact, Dunediu was being treated as a back number. The day bad arrived when the party man, whether called Labour, Liberal, or Conservative, must bo relegated to oblivion, and the men of vision and action and without party bias should take his place. Abraham Lincoln believed in government by the people and for tho people. To-day tho need was greater than ever for government for the people and not for party. “I appeal to all electors to study tho matter carefully and vote for the man who has shown by his past work that ho is capable of worthily representing yon,” concluded Mr Black, amid applause. QUESTIONS. A man in the back of tho room ? who had been a consistent questioner, moved —“ That a vote of thanks be accorded tho candidate for his able address, but that ibis meeting does not seb (it to send him to Parliament to represent Dunedin North.” “ Why not? ” said a woman elector, to tho accompaniment of much applause. Tho motion was seconded. Another listener moved as an amendment—“ That a vote of thanks ho accorded Mr Black, with full confidence in him as'a fit and proper person to represent Dunedin North in Parliament.” (Applause.) Tho mover spoke in warm terms of the work which Mr and Mrs Black had done for tho unemployed, especially in connection with the St. Andrew street relief depot. (Applause.) It was pointed out that tlio amendment was a direct negative. Mr Black voiced his appreciation of the expressions of thanks, but asked that the question of confidence bo cut out. Ho said it would he time enough on ('lection day for the people to show their confidence. A vote of thanks to tho chairman was passed. DALMORE MEETING. Mr Blade also addressed tho electors at Dalmore last evening, and received a very entbnsias'tio reception from the lame audience present. Mr S. Vcrcoo, tlio chairman, made reference to the candidate’s sterling qualities and his very lino record of service in the interests of tho public. Mr Black dealt with many matters of moment in a very interesting manner, and on tho motion of Mr H. Divers, seconded by Mr R. Williams, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Blade will address two meetings this evening- -Pine Mill School at 7 and at the Opobo Presbyterian Hall at 8.30. (Extended report by arrangement.)