FROM THE HUSTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 4

FROM THE HUSTINGS

SAYINGS TRITE AND TRENCHANT ft is a very serious state of affairs where young "men born in a country like Now Zealand are only able to get one day’s work per week. The seriousness of it was pointed out at one of my meetings by an elderly man, who at tho questions stage stated that two of his sons were in that plight. The father said that single men were not being treated fairly, because 9s a week could not possibly keep them, and there was no means of supplementing that pittance.—Mr T. Seoflay, Independent candidate, at Concord. “1 have been through ono of the most terrifying experiences any man over had in trying to grapple with the unemployment problem.”—Mr S. G. Smith, Coalition candidate for Isew Plymouth ami cx-Minister of Labour. “J hope 1 am not going to have any of that organised opposition which seems to bo directed against all candidates opposed to Labour,” remarked Mr T. Forsyth, Coalition candidate for Wellington East, at Worser Bay on Saturday evening. “There was a time when Labour leaders stressed the sanctity of tho freedom of speech, but today they have—or rather, their followers have—forgotten that great truth.

“I am thoroughly in favour of members of Parliament being allowed to travel on boats or trains free when on duty,” said Mr J. M'Combs, Labour candidate for Lyttelton, at Sumner last evening. _ A bass voice Irom the audience. Good boy! '• But,” went on Mr M'Combs, I have yet to see a. member who was not on fluty sixteen hours a day.” Mr M'Combs went on to detail some ol the expenditure to which a. member was put, and concluded ; “ And, being a good unionist, I would vole for auv increase in our wages.’

“ What do you think of _Mr Sterling!'” asked an interjector of Mr H. ]). Do Lautour at Gisborne. “ I am nob prepared to criticise a public servant,” replied the candidate. “It is nob a fair thing. You can hit linn and lie cannot hit back.” (Applause.) * # * ♦ Air Ik W. Nicolaus, Independent candidate for Wellington Central, does not subscribe to the view that independence means incompetence m Parliamentary affairs. “ What could one man do in a house of eighty f” he was asked by a. woman at Ids meeting in the Empire Hall on Saturday. “One man could set the House by the oars, ’ was the confident answer. “Richard Cobdeu, in a House of 400, freed the trade of Britain single-handed.” * * « * “Can vou back up your policy of wanting to assist local industries by saving that those shoes you have on are Now Zealand made?” asked a questioner of Miss Ellon Melville, women s candidate for Parnell. “No my shoes are not New Zealand* made,” she replied pleasantly, “but my dress is, and my hat is, and inv -.” 1 . Her last w- uls were drowned in a burst of appreciative laughter from the largo crowd present.

“I tliink we :irc fifty years ahead of our time with hydro-electrical works in Now Zealand. I am told that an enormous amount of money is being wasted at Waitaki. I intend to see these works wdiethor I am in the House or not.”—-Mr H. P. Healy (Coalition United, Wairau).

'•ln this country,” said Mr F. W. Freeman, Coalition candidate tor Lyttelton, at Redcliffs. “We are very apt to put limousine education into baby car heads. I don’t believe in that typo of education very much.” • * * * “The Labour Party fought against the discontinuance of the work on the South Island Main Trunk railway. Thev fought against it bitterly. (A great hurst of applause from a section of intcrjectors at the back of the ball.) Oh, yes, of course they did. They did it on the principle they advocate: ‘Eat, drink, and be merry, lor to-morrow we go bankrupt.’ llio Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, during an address. • ♦ # ♦ “ There are six individuals —not companies, but individuals who own land valued at more than £IOO,OOO. Last vear they paid in taxes £17,580 each—this vear they will pay £2,814. There are eighty-eight people in .New Zealand owning land valued at between £50,000 and £IOO,OOO. Last vear they paid a total of £102,552 in taxes;' tins year they will pay a total of £24,000.” Mr J. M'Combs, Labour candidate for Lyttelton, speaking at Sumner. * * * * “Toll ns why you sacked Harry Atmore,” an intcrjoctor asked the Prime Minister at his meeting in Christchurch. “Well, 1 can answer that one,” said Mr Forbes. “ When the Coalition Government was formed, ray colleagues said that they would giyo me their resignations so that we could have a free choice of the Coalition Cabinet. That was the position of Air Atmore—he placed his resignation in inv hands.”

There were several bright moments at the meeting of Mr A. J. Stallworthv, Coalition candidate lor Eden, at Balmoral road. One, which created immense amusement, was when the sneaker was about to reply to a question by a woman in tho front row. “My lady friend ” the candidate started in reply, only to be interrupted fly a hurst of laughter. “ I am not your ladv friend,” the woman protested. “ IF 1 cannot put it that way 1 shall sav ‘my friend the lady,’ ” said Mr Stallworthy, quite unabashed. » « • « Referring to a pamphlet which stated that a Labour opponent was one of tho most eloquent speakers m New Zealand, Mr J. S. Fletcher, Independent candidate lor Grey Lynn, commented; “Though ho speaks with tho.tongue of men and of angels (and has no policy), lie is as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.” Although a vigorous opponent of tlio Prime Minister, Mr J. S. Fletcher, independent candidate ior Grey Lynn, came to the defence of Mr Forbes when replying to an intorjector at hisWestmero meeting. Mr Fletcher bad been condemning the land settlement policy, and the purchase of settled estates, carried out when Air Forbes was Minister of Lauds, and bad criticised bis failure to do .something for a group who had wauled to settle on small holdings at Kerikeri. A Voice: He was not getting a cut out of that. . “While 1 condemn the Prime AJmister, because I believe he is not the man for the job,” retorted -Mr Fletcher, “ I will not stand on any platform in New Zealand and allow his honesty to bo impugned by anyone, I don’t care who be is.” (Loud applause.)

“ It seems rather a joke,” said Air F. Jones, Labour candidate for Dunedin South, speaking at the Methodist Hall, Caversham, last evening, “ that Mr Coates, who has the record of being ono of the most spendthrift Prime Minisl rs in tho history of New Zealand, should talk of bringing down economy legislation.” • • * • In the course of his address at the Alotliodist Hall, Caversham, last evening Mr F. Jones, Labour candidate for Dunedin South, claimed that the immigration policy of the Reform and United Governments had done much to aggravate tho unemployment problem. As late as last March advertisements lia- 1 been appearing in the Home papers wanting domestic servants to come to New Zealand, and offering them free passages, £2 gratuity, and a good job on arrival. * • * • “ A hank is tho only business that r start without capital. 1 think it is unique in this respect. The modus operandi is for a few reputable citizens to get together in good times and open the doors of a building for deposits. Sometime later the bank is in a position to lend—not its deposits—but “ created ” money.—Mr J. Gil-ch-ist at Kaikorai.