FROM THE HUSTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20958, 24 November 1931, Page 6

FROM THE HUSTINGS

SAYINGS TRITE AND TRENCHANT Speaking at Kaikorai last night, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart related an incident that had happened after one of his meetings before the war. He was walking up the hill with an old gentleman, wljn said that, though he had been thrifty and careful, he had not much to come and go on in his old age. Mr Stewart expressed his regrets, and the old ilia- replied that to succeed he thought a person either had to be “a rogue or very lucky!" A Voice: “Or a politician." (Laughter.) Mr Stewart said that the old man added, " You’ve got on very well in life," and then said good-night. " And I’ve been wondering ever since," said the speaker, “ whether he meant that 1 was a rogue or very lucky!" » • • • There was a persistent interjector at Mr John M'Donald’s meetin, in the Stuart Hall last night, and, failing to engender the noisy one’s sympathy by appeals for fair play, Mr M‘Donald* wa's at last compelled to call the constable on duty into the hall to speak to the interjector. "This man is a nuisance," said Mr MlDour’ " 1 know him, and 1 am sorry t > it.” The . ?.iible and the elector hid a dialogue for a minute, and the latter was commencing to expostulate again when Mr M’Donald fixed an admonitory eye on him and said: You behave yourself. This man is a Scotsman. and he is bred on different lines. He should know better. 1 don’t want to pub him out." For half an hour the Scot kept quiet. He then donned his derby and waved a farewell to the candidate. “ Oood-night, my friend,” was Mr M‘Donald’s greeting, but the interjector was not going home. ‘‘l’ll be back,” he replied, paralysing the audience Hack ho arrived in a few minutes, but the candidate later refused to listen to his feeble comments.

In stressing the value of education Mr 11. S. Black, who addressed North Dunedin electors at the Albany Street School last night, stated that what New Zealand wanted was men who knew " how.” Men in good positions should have a full knowledge of their subject. The individual who thought he knew all about tho Auckland railway station said it would cost a certain sum, but when the reckoning came it was found that it cost £1,000,000 more. They didn’t know much about Arapiim yet, but some day they would, and the people would have to pay. The new railway workshops at Hillside constituted a further example of the work of a man who did not know “how,” • * * • “ If there is a split in the Coalition Party and they revert to Reform and Dili ted which side will you be on?’ Mr •John M‘Crae was asked last night. “ I don’t think they will split," replied the candidate, “ but I will answer your question frankly. 1 have been a staunch Liberal all my days, and if such a thing should happen that the two parties should come into being again I would stand with the United Party. But I think they are together for good and all.” • • • • “New Zealand knows to-day defi;ite!y that the Coalition is going in,” declared Mr G. F. Allen, Coalition candidate for Christchurch East, at St. Luke’s. “There was not as much certainty in England, and look what happened there. The Coalition in New Zealand is going in, because it offers common-sense government.” • * * * “ Never mind about the Labour Party—give us your platform,” said an interjector from the back of the nail when the Hon. W. Downie Stewart was touching upon the Labour Party’s manifesto at his meeting at Kaikorai last night. “ That’s what I’m here for,” retorted Mr Stewart, “ because the'Labour Party is the only alternative to the existing Government I would not be doing my duty to the electors if I did not give you faithfully uid fairly my views on that party.” » * * » “ I am certainly not in favour of further cuts or retrenchments, unless it is found that the country is heading for bankruptcy.”—Mr R. A. Wright. Coalition candidate for Wellington Suburbs. • • ft ft A feature of Mr John M‘Crae’s election campaign has been the fearless manner in which he has answered questions, often silencing obviously .hostile questions by agreeing with them, even though the matter was one favoured by the Government. “ I am not here to catch votes,” said Mr M‘Crae last night; " principles are more to me than all the votes in the world.” « « » • Believe it or not, * Hansard ’ is still read by some citizens. One of the rare species of ‘‘Hansard ’ subscribers was at Mr John M’Donald’s meeting last night, and he substantiated a challenge on figures by producing a copy of the parliamentary debates from his hip pocket. To this man, aged about fifty years, yet variously described by the candidate as “ my good man,” “ old chap,” and “ young fellow,” Mr McDonald said; “You are a ittle hostile tonight,” when the elector questioned some figures, producing his * Hansard.’ Apparently, Mr M'Donald knew his opponent, for when the candidate, commenting on the almost unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, said he could assure them he needed their help, the elector remarked: “ Too true you do!” Mr M'Donald: A working man like you should not say that. The elector: I won’t vote for you. “ I know why, too,” said Mr M'Donald, “ you are hitting below tho belt to-night.” H • * * " In my opinion party politics will soon be a thing of the past,” said Mr R. S. Black, at the Albany Street School last night. " The country will be run on business lines for the benefit of all, instead of on political lines for the benefit of the political party in power.” • * * • " I believe in buying New Zealand goods whenever I can,” said Dr W. H. Horton. Coalition United candidate for Auckland East. ‘‘There are some things, however that New Zealand factories do not make, a size nineteen collar. for instance. I have _ to look to Australia to supply me with my collars. since it is the nearest British possession to our own dominion.” • ft ft ft, “ I have said the farmer vyill pay income tax like anyone else,” said Mr Downie Stewart in an address at Kaikorai last night. “ But he’s got no income.” came an interjection from the back of the hall. “ If he hastn’t any, there’s no reason why lie should, pay income tax any more than my questioner or anyone else,” replied Mr Stewart. • * • • " At one stage I was thinking of retiring from the campaign on the score of the ‘ country versus party plea,’ said Mr R. S. Black last evening. “ But my friends told me I could not retire with honour, because I would be showing the white feather and showing also that I was unreliable. I would have lost those friends —friends who assured me 1 need not worry about the question of cost, and who told mo to carry on because they knew what I had done for Dunedin.” —(Applause.) • * * * Repeating his conviction that no man should be penalised by being precluded from obtaining unemployment relief because lie had a small banking account, Mr John M'Crae, the official Coalition candidate for Dunedin North, was asked at the George Street Hall last night why he supported a Government which allowed that sort of thing. “ If you would read your papers,” answered Mr M'Crae, “ you would see that I was one of a deputation to the Prime Minister urging that this injustice should be rectified, and 1 think that one of the first things the Government will do when it goes back is to alter the regulation in that respect.” * * * • •' I’ve not had to touch superannuation or pensions," said Mr Downie Stewart at Kaikorai last night. “ But Mr Holland says you propose doing it," said an interjector. “ He has no knowledge of it, and neither hate I,” replied the speaker. • « » * An appeal to the electors to ask a pointed question of Mr G. J. Errington, chairman of the Hon, W. Downie Stewart’s committee, was made by Mr Jo 1 i M'Donald, Independent candidate for Dunedin West, in the Stuart Hall last night. " I ask you to ask Mr Errington if it is not a fact that it was his desire that I should represent the United Party and oppose the Hon. Downie Stewart for Dunedin West,” said the candidate. j

“ Have you put your heads together already?’’ was the eager question at ■ Mr J. M‘Donald’s meeting last night, when the Dunedin West Independent candidate said the other Independents, Messrs D. C. Cameron, C. Todd, P. j M’Skimming, 11. S. Black, and ' imself had agreed, if returned, to work for three things—the getting back to work : of all people, against interference with ; the educational system, and increased productivity from the land. “ Those men have promised me *1 that,” declared Mr M'Donald, and the • question came quickly: “ Have you put | your heads together already?” The Candidate; No! The Elector; It looks like it. The Candidate; If you are a Labour man you must say that John M‘Douj I aid’s platform has planks more .idvan- ; cageous to the working people than Labour's. We might even vote for Mr ! Holland. . “ You could do worse on occasions,” , replied the elector. • * * • ; “ Directly a man becomes Speaker | of the House he leaves behind all poli- ■ bical controversy,” said Sir Charles Statham at Macandrew’s Bay last night. “ Why should 1, after sitting in the chair, where I have to be fair and impartial to everyone, throw off my wig and gown and start slating ' ■> Labour Party because they put up a man against me? I won’t do it.” • ♦ # • An interlude at the Hon. W. Downie i Stewart’s meeting at Kaikorai last night I ■ An interjector: “ You’re getting a good hearing.” “ Yes,” retorted the speaker, “ I’m getting a very good hearing, and I’m grateful for it.” • « i • “ I know perfectly well that there are others besides those who make the most noise who are anxious to help t! i working man, and who try to help him wherever they possibly can.”—Sir Charles Statham, at Macandrew’s Bay. « * » • “ The choice rests with the electors—the responsibility is theirs. My responsibility finishes when I place the facts before them. But no elector can escape his responsibility, because not to choose is the same thing as choosing,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart in an address at Kaikorai last night. • • • • “ Borrowing is quite all right as long as wo borrow sensibly, as long as the money is put to reproductive uses. The light we are using in the room was , first of all made available through hori rowed money; the gas you housewives use for cooking was originally procured i on borrowed money; the trams you ride ;' in were established on borrowed i . money.”—Mr R. S. Black at Albany • street last night. • • • • i That the aspirants for Parliament were devoid of any policy, and that the J Coalition candidates were trying to en- , • ter Parliament on the backs of the Hons. G. W. Forbes, J. G. Coates, B. Masters, and W. Downie Stewart was declared by Mr John M‘Don aid, Independent for Dunedin West, last night. He said he made bold to claim that he was the only man in the public eye so far who had really tried to deliver a policy speech. A Voice: Quite right. • * * • “Yes, I was a fighter in politics up till 1923,” said Sir Charles Statham in answer to a question at Macandrew’s Bay last night. “At that time Iv as asked if I would take the Speakership. Members of all parties asked me to take it, and one Labour man said I W'as the only man for the Speakership. It was rather reluctantly that I agreed.’ - ’ “I think that personally Mr Coates is one of the finest men in New Zealand ■ —l honestly do—and there is no doubt that in 1928 he took the defeat of his party like a man,” said Mr F. W. Schramm, Labour candidate for Auckland East, at a meeting in Parnell. “ If on December 2 I am defeated 1 will take my defeat like that, too.” « • » « I The present scheme of unemploy- ‘ ment relief work was characterised as " a destroyer of character by Mr John M'Donakl. Independent for Dunedin West, last night. He said the unemployed were doing useless work, and . no one realised it more than the unemployed. • • * • Theie is no such argument as I ‘town v. country,’” stated Mr E. ! S. Black to North Dunedin ‘electors last night. “ The man who talks on those lines has no grey matter above his collar.” I • « • • I During his meeting at Kaikorai last | night the Hon. W. Downie Stewart j expressed doubt as to the correctness of a statement that a questioner said he was reading from ‘ Hansard. “‘Hansard’s’ an official copy, isn’t it?” the interlocutor asked. “ But a lot of funny things get into ‘ Hansard,’ ” said the Minister. “ Well, I’ll stick to ‘ Hansard,’ and you stick to your bluff,” was the questioner’s parting shot. • • • • Most Independent candidates are asked how they would vote if the Labour Party brought forward a noconfidence motion against the Government. Mr R. S. Black’s answer to this question is that he would vote with no party, Labour or any other, unless it coulii produce better proposals than those already being acted upon. * * • • “ If Labour were returned to-mor-row it could tax and scrape and do what it liked, but it could not carry out a single plank of its platform because hard facts are against it.” —Mr Coates. • * • * How many people are living in Dunedin without rood? Mr John M'Donald said he did not believe that there were many without bread, meat, and butter, but he would be surprised if they obtained much else on the wages paid on relief works. “ You are standing for the wrong Government,” remarked a Labour supporter. Mr M'Donald said many people would have found the past winter very hard if it had not been for the mayor and mayoress and Mrs Marshall Mac don a Id. “ I object,” exclaimed the interjector, shaking his finger at the candidate, hut a warning of ejection stopped his objection. « • • « The startling forecast that there will be another election next June is made by an authority who has been making a special study of politico] . undercurrents. “ I think the Coalition Government will become established.” he said. “ but the tactics of Mr. Coates will quickly break it up and the people will again be called upon to make a 1 choice.’ l

“ After listening to the Hon. Downie Stewart’s criticism of the Labour Party and his own policy,” said a woman questioner at last night’s meeting at Kaikorai, “ I have come to the conclusion that the only choice open to electors is between being hanged or shot.” (Laughter.) • • • • 1 The Reform slogan at the last election,” said Mr Norman Campbell at Port Chalmers, ” was ‘ Coates and confidence; vote Coates and we will turn the corner.’ The • trouble with Mr Coates was that he turned so many corners he got giddy, and fell off the hurdy-gurdy.” ' • • • • The Hon. W. Downie Stewart’s views regarding the banking systeni in New Zealand were attacked at his meeting at Kaikorai last night by a woman m the audience. She contended that th* private trading banks controlled the issue of credit. Mr Stewart: “In a general way I think that is so.” “ The banks control the national income, and therefore the Government policy,” the woman stated amid applause from the back of the hall. The speaker said that he had no serious objection to the institution of a central bank, with the sole right of note issue, as had been suggested by Sir Otto Niemeyer. would I 2 opposed, however, to any political control of such bank. • • • • Claiming that Dunedin was not represented in Parliament, an elector of Dunedin West asked Mr John M'Donald if he would assure them that he would not accept Cabinet rank. “ Cabinet Ministers of late have been of mushroom growth. I admit that,” said Mr M'Donald. "If returned to Parliament and offered atf opportunity in Cabinet to carry out my policy, I would take it with both hands. As a matter of fact, a straightforward, busy man ,is a lonely man unless he has some department. Ordinary members are like children locked in a room on a wet day. They im e to wait for the Prime Minister to bring down measures. The people who are always in the benches challenging and asking questions are the Labour Party.” * * * • • *' When I was in the Old Country,” said Mr F. N. Bartram, Independent Labour candidate for Grey Lynn, at Westmere, “ I had the honour of addressing ” A Voice: The King. (Laughter.) The Candidate: I certainly shook hands with His Majesty, and after my defeat at the last election a woman rang me up and told me that she was glad I had been beaten, as I had done so, had also hobnobbed with big people in England. My reply was that I always tried to uphold the dignity of the Labour Party and not the stupidity.-. (Applause.) ♦ • • • “ This is an interesting question, said the Hon. Downie Stewart at Kaikorai last night, when he was asked if the Government got more money by increasing the Customs duties or whether it cost more by so doing. On many lines revenue was being lost through the tax growing too high in recent years. On 1 any Tines the tax on foreign goods had grown so large that merchants were cancelling their orders for im, ortation. He thought an effort should be made to discover whether the tax could be reduced and the revenue increased without abolishing the preference for British goods. -•. • • A questioner asked the Hon. W* Downie Stewart at his meeting at Kaikorai last nigto whether he thought a returned soldier in receipt of a small economic pension should be penalised by being debarred from relief work to the extent of his pension. Mr Stewart said that he thought it unfair that a soldier in receipt of a pension should be so penalised. He would have liked to think that a soldier’s'pension was not debited against him when he was in the labour market looking f • work. H® intended going further into the matter, an ! added that he did not think a man should be refused relief work until he had spent the small savings he had put by in - hard work and thrift. * ♦ • “ 1 do not think it is plaving the game for the Coalition candidate in Dunedin North to sow the inferem. >b his meetings that I am benefitir ,n any way through having given a d ation of £1 to the * Worker,’ and 1 ad the same credited' to my name as a share. The inference that is drawn is based on an alleged wage cut of the employees by that paper. What is the The linotypists, machinists, and girls engaged there are at present receiving Is 6d to 2s per weeK over the wage rate which was in existence prior to the 10 per cent. cut. They have not, therefore, ‘ received the cut,' and they work a forty-hour week as against the forty-four-hour week in other priuterys,”—J. Gilchrist.