GENERAL ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10728, 27 October 1928, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

BAY OF PLENTY SEAT. HON K. S. WILLIAMS AT PAT UTAH I. GOVEkNMENT . AND POST-WAR PROBLEMS. mr BY CAREFUL LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATION. Paxutahi electors enjoyed the . privilege" of 'an ad'dre’ss by ‘tfie Hon. K S. Williams, Minister for Public Works, in the Patutahi Hall last evening, when the Minister continued his campaign for re-election' to the Bay of- Plenty seat. There was a large attendance, and, though the rain pattering down on the iron roof made hearing difficult, Mr Williams’ address was listened to with ’ the greatest interest throughout and numerous bursts of applause showed dourly that the auditors appreciated the force of the speaker’s arguments, which were very much on the linos of his earlier statements at Tokumaru Bay. Mr James Bayiiss was in. the chair and introduced Mr Williams in a short, complimentary speech. Warm applause greeted the Minis-' ter as he came forward to speak and his opening remarks comprised acknowledgment of this welcome. He was, he said, extremely glad of the opportunity to address Patutahi electors and to be able to xfiace before them his views on several matters of political importance. In his speech added the Minister, lie would endeavor to show the ditferences between Reform and Labor and also to demonstrate the progress made by New Zealand since the former party camo into power. Thgv need go only to Australia, continued Mr Williams, to see that Labor’s experimental legislation, much of which was espoused by the New Zealand Labor party, had been far from successful. To the thoughtful elector, the - difference in aims of the two parties was apparent and the level-minded man could hardly fail to see that a comparison of these would be detrimental to Labor STATE BANK OPPOSEDLabor were very strong advocates tot a State Bank. Mr Williams went on, but, though he had examined the proposal with the greatest care, he could not favor it. The present system had functioned excellently in the past and,...in addition, there were a nuriTfrtfr of advantages which could never be present were the State to have a monopoly of banking. Not the least of these was the fact that, with several banking institutions, there was the scope for co-operation in times di stress, with consequent greater security. Moreover, a serious evil of State banking was that, when the country was. passing through a period of depression, there would be a great temptation to issue unlimited supplies of paper currency. creating' an empty prosperity and ruining the Dominion’s credit. From every point of view there were clear reasons that- the banking system of a country should be separate from the Government and it would be disastrous if the time ever came when the Government controlled the banking. Labor had criticised the Government’s administration of the country’s finances, continued Mr Milljams, but there was a direct and complete' answer to that afforded V> v the Dominion’s credit abroad. It was a' well-known business axiom that, before a man would lend money, he had to he satisfied that t» security ottered and the credit oi tno borrower ..were sound. The same thing applied between countries and New Zealand’s experiences over recent years showed plainly that her credit in .the Motherland was of the highest. The last loan raised by the Minister for 'Finance had been the first, for a long time, to be floated below 5 per cent., and it had been snapped up eagerly, despite the lovver interest by Home investors. Illustrating the excellent position of the Dominion’s credit, the speaker qfioted references to this loan in . Homo financial papers, aJI of which had nothing but praise for the soundness of the investment. “This shows how well financial matters have been handled by the present Government,” he.added, amid applause. Of the twenty-six millions in the shape of advances in the last five years, eleven millions -had been used to assist the workers by building houses.

BETTER CONDITIONS FOR PENSIONERS.

Hem ark able improvement in connection with pensions had been shown under the Reform Government, Mr Williams continued. \V hen they camo into power the old age pension was at the rate of 10s a v> eek and the obtaining of such pensions had been hedged round with numerous stringent restrictions. Now, however, the rate had been - raised • to 17s 6d . per week and the conditions governing pensions had been very much widened and liberalised, pensioners being permitted to./hold property worth just over £SOO and still draw their money. The loosening of the restrictions had enabled many more people to enjoy the pension and he believed that the Government was working in the right direction, tensions bad been allotted to soldiers injured in the war and he believed that tills relief should be extended to civilians, enabling cripples, etc., to obtain the wherewithal to live.—.(Applause.) COUNTRY NEEDS MONEY. Mr Williams went on to point out that no o,ne could claim that the country could do without borrowing. New Zealand was a young country, with much development work to be done, and, as such, needed money to obtain the full benefit of her resources. She must expand and such expansion could only be brought about by bringing money in and commencing these necessary reproductive works. Such borrowing, nevertheless, must be kept within limits so that there would not be a surplus of finance lying idle m the country,'eating itself away in interest. „ -.'As far as employment of men on public works was concerned, stated Mr Williams, he could state definitely his attitude in this resnect. Many ir.en* made a profession of following public works, and he would certainly see, when new works were opened up, that the men who had been previously employed were given preference for the' new jobs.— (Applause.) 1 The speaker also dealt with the State Advances Office and the question of war debt reduction on the lines of his speech at Tokcmaru Bay. U NEMPLOYMENT QUESTION. It was impossible for the Government to find employment for all who wanted work, stated Mr Williams, ’and it usually fell to his Department to obtain positions for as many as possible. Much - had been: heard abotit the unemployment question in the • Dominion, but, by comparison, the position hete wiis probably better than in any other country, in all countries’ it had been a serious prohv ■Tem in., recent years, and even in • America con sidered so prosperous a nation, it was . very . considerably worse - than in. New. Zealand. -.No blame for this state of affairs could be laid • on the Government, for it '* was simply part and . parcel of the . stress through which the whole world was passing Even Mr Frueer ; the member foi Wellington Cen’tr'ai.' had admitted ' last cession that . it .-was "not' - Govomment-s -fault , ; .-A •• - A\ ; AAA

that so much unemployment had prevailed during the past two or three years.

Wages on relief works had been set below the standard rates of pay, so that, when times improved, the men would, go back to their former employment or to other positions, wherein the work, perhaps, would suit them far better than did the relief work. The speaker then quoted actual wages earned on different relief works; throughout the country, mentioning instances of married men earning up to 24s per., day. He ~d?d.. not claim, by any means, that all men 'on J "the •j.'bbs' carried "those': liighrates, but he wished to refute suggestions that tho- engineers in charge had been opposed to-, men earning what they were worth, that they interfered and put the workers off when, they earned too much. Oh the contrary, the engineers had been ordered to encourage good workers , and to give them opportunities to earn as much as possible. Immigration could not be blamed for the unemployment, said Mr Williams, for, despite the numbers of men brought out since the war, there had not- been enough to make up for the war wastage of man power. The numbers entering had been appreciably’ reduced under the stress of the bad times and, though some wei'o still coming out, these were only in cases of people who had given up jobs at Home and made all preparations, before the ban was imposed.' It was only common justice that the. Government keep faith with them and let them come here, after they, had, as it were, burned their bridges in readiness to do so-

MR CLAYTON’S CRITICISM

ANSWERED

After dealing shortly with the position of the Main Highways Act which, he said, all would now admit had been a line piece of legislation. Mr Williams referred to statements by Mr Lissane Clayton wherein the latter alleged that lie (Mr "Williams) had promised an answer on the railway route question before the election and also that the Government was attempting to side-track the Gisborne railway construction. No such promise regarding the decision had been made and there was certainly not the slightest intention, on the part of the Government, to sidetrack the local railway. The point was that complete figures on which to base tho work were not; available and nothing could be decided until these were obtained in full. Much of *be survey work had been completed, but there was a gap on the- inland route which had vet to he examtned. “I thought,” added Mr Williams, “that, in view of the large expenditure involved, nothing should be decided until the survey is completed. W T e will consider the whole figures and the question of costs will be submitted to the railway people, so that the decision may be lairly and accurately reached. All that 1 ever promised was that, if the figures were complete, I would announce my decision before the election. Once the matter is determined, the Government will push pn with the construction with the minimum of delay.’—(Applause.) Mr. "Williams concluded with a strong appeal for the electors support. assuring them that he would do his best, if returned, as he had done in the past and that, despite the general nature of his work as Minister he would always have the interests of his own district- at heart and would serve them faithfully. (Prolonged applause.) VARIED QUESTIONS. Mr' Bilham brought to the notice of the Minister an anomaly m house allowances to school teachers, pointing out that, though m the same place each time, as probationers they received a house allowance, but, as teachers, they did not, _ and asking that Mr. Williams inquire into .the matter. ■ ~ Mr. Williams assured the questioner that- the would bring the portion before the Education Department. . , Mr Sewell inquired whether anythmer could be done to secure better service for country children from the dental clinics. . , , , In reply, Mr. Williams stated that he had been urging the Department to station a dental nurse at Gisborne with the especial duty of visiting country schools and giving dental treatment. (Applause.) . ' “There is also the question of red reflectors for motor-cars,” continued Mr. Sewell. “Why should the cats be" the only- vehicles - to-have -them. - Why not carts, and people, too could have red reflectors hanging behind r This question was laughed out. To a further question from Mr. Sewell, Mr. Williams explained that the only recent increases in Customs duties had been on luxuries and then only on such goods as came from outside the Empire. (Applause). Replying to Mr. Bilham, who sought the Ministers opinion on third party insurance for motorists, Mr. Williams stated that he considered the measure a good one. Suppose, he instanced, a child _ were run over and very seriously injured by a car the owner of which had no monetary resources. In that case, the parents of the child would _be unable to obtain anv compensation, whereas, with the third party insurance m force, compensation would be available. “How long would a man have: co wait for a loan from the Government for building a house?” asked Mr. W. Mr! Williams explained that it would depend on how many applications for loans had been put. m. K-e----cent delays in granting loans nad been due to the great number or applications which had positively swamped the Department. There was a lull in the- questioning for a tune, and the chairman asked again whether anybody had further questions to put to tne speaker. “Yes go for it,” came a voice from the audience. “For eight years we haven’t had a flutter with a candidate, so we’re not going to, let him go until we’ve had one this time. Another voice: “It’s no good stopping now. It’s raining too-hard.! ’Thus encouraged.,Mr. Bilham came forward with another question, asking whether Mr. Williams favored the inland or the coastal route. “As I am to be one of the principal judges of the matter when the figures come out,” replied Mr. Williams, “I’m afraid I’m not able to give you a reply, for, if I did, it would onlv be my own personal opinion'and that will not have any m-. fluence on my final decision on the m gttOT On the motion of Mr. Bilham, seconded by Mr. William Robb, a vote of thanks to Mr .Williams was carried by acclamation. MR MONOUR AT WAERENGA-A-HIKA Continuing his campaign, for the Bay of Plenty seat, Mr A. F. Moncur, Labor candidate, addressed a good gathering of• electors: at Wae-renga-a-hika- on the lines of his previous statements last night. He, was accorded.a very attentive hearing and at-the conclusion . was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. He will address • electors at Whatatutu tonight. . , •’ • . -

BAY OF PLENTY SEAT

INCREASE OF 1613 OVER LAST ELECTION

(Special to the Times.) OPOTTKI. Oct. 26,

..The l supplementary roll for the Bay of Plenty electorate has closea with 1670 names. The main roll contains 7317 names, making a) total roll of 9041, compared with 7428 ni 1920 j an * increase -of 1618. ,

INFLATION AND REACTION WOULD FOLLOW TOO RAPID , EXPENDITURE ON LOANS HEALTH MINISTER CRITICISES SIR JOSEPH WARD’S SCHEME (Press Association.) HAMILTON, Oct. 26. The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, opened his campaign’ for the Hamilton seat , before a crowded audience in the Town Hall last night. .. He. described" Sir Joseph Ward’s£7o,ooo,ooo loan scheme as tickling'the ears df the people, and predicted" that the too rapid spending of borrowed money would bring an inflation ’and reaction just as in the case of tho war expenditure. Moreover, London financiers would close their purses if wild borrowing was indulged in. The Government’s sound finance kept the credit high. Mr Young pointed out the Government assistance to farmers through the new credit plans, subsidies, etc. He took a pride in the achievements of the Health Department, and outlined its policy, featuring the campaign for reducing the perils of ehild- ‘ birth and the better care of babies in the first month of life. He advocated the extension of dental services, first to all State scholars and ultimately to all other children. The Minister' had a warm bombardment regarding the low rate of relief work wages, child allowances, and the salaries of.some postal officials, and also much heckling regarding Mr H. 11. Sterling’s salary of £3500. Ho defended the Government's policy in paying a wage below tho standard to relief workers. He said he had every confidence that Mr Sterling’s services would fully justify the salary paid. The meeting rejected a motion of no-confidence in tho Government, and carried a motion of thanks and confidence in Mr Young. ELTHAM SEAT (Press Association.) ELTHAM, Oct. 26. Mi- C. A. Wilkinson, the Independaddressed a large meeting in tho Town Hall, Eltham, nearly 800 people being present. He severely criticised manyplanks of the Government policy. He had a most attentive hearing, and his speech was loudly cheered at the .conclusion, and a vote of thanks arid confidence was carried unanimously. THAT £70,000,000 LOAN SIR JOSEPH WARD CRITICISES CRITICS (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. Sir Joseph Ward, in a statement to-day, said he was greatly amused to read of the frantic efforts of the Reform Party and its press to bring discredit upon his loan proposals. Apart from the varied and _ contradictory charges levelled against the scheme the public must be aware that the criticism coming from the men who had made such a hopeless moss of the country’s finances in the last few years was of little worth. What value had been received for the £30.000,000 added to the public debt in the last three years? Undoubtedly the result of the present Finance Minister’s work would disappear. The muddlement, was age. and extravagant system of raising loans would vanish, not in one night, but in one •day—November 14. Sir Joseph Ward recalls that when he initiated the advances to settlers and workers the same cry of extravagant borrowing and “it- can’t be done” was raised by the Reform party. .i UNITED NOMINEE DECLINES HONOR (Press Association.* NAPIER. Oct. 26. Mr J. Vigor Brown .declined nomination as the United Party candidate for the Napier seat, asserting that his mayoral duties occupied ail his time, NELSON SEAT SIR JOSEPH WARD’S PROPOSALS CONDEMNED WOULD LAND COUNTRY IN DISASTER il’resa Association-! NELSON. Oct, 26... Mr F. W. M. Smith, the Reform ..candidate, 'addressed a good attend-' ance in the Theatre Royal last evening. The candidate said the Coatee administration had done more for every class of people in New Zealand than any other administration. He strongly criticised Sir Joseph Ward’s loan proposals, believing that it was better to proceed steadily than to attempt rash speculation which would end in failure and land the countryin disaster. The candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks. MR CAMPBELL MAKES PROTEST HABIT OF APPROACHING CANDIDATES (Press Association.) NAPIER, Oct. 26. Mr H. M. Campbell, Reform candidate for the Hawke’s Bay seat, addressed six or seven hundred electors in Hastings to-night, receiving an attentive hearing and a vote of thanks. The candidate favored the extension of the life of Parliament to four years and in .reference to the main highways, he predicted that, in a few years, the'country would have an almost perfect system of surfaced roads. He preferred to see county councils going slower and using concrete, which would mean permanency. Mr Campbell recounted many respects in which tPie Government had afforded assistance to primary. producers. “The habit of approaching candidates to try .to "get them to make various pledges is growing in this country”, said the speaker. “I get requests from as far away as Auckland.’ I haven’t answered- them, yet, but I’m going to and I’m going to tell them that I won’t bind myself in any way. If I am not fit to go into the House as your representative and be trusted to act in a) reasonable way—well, you had better get someone else.’’ - . a ! MR HOLLAND AT WANGANUI iPresn Association.) WANGANUI, Oct. 26. Mr II E. Holland addressed a crowded meeting to-night, It was presided over by Mr Rogers, Mayor, who is the Labor candidate for Wanganui. Mr Holland gave an. outline, of his party’s policy and criticised Reform along the lines of recent speeches. The address was punctuated with frequent bursts of applause and a unanimous vote of confidence, in the. party was carried, the audience rising and singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” DUNEDIN CANDIDATES. . • THREE FOR SOUTH. (Presn ABBooiation.V : . T / DUNEDIN, Oct. 26. ’ The; following nominations of can - didates were received to-day:— Dunedin North—Mr J. W. Muriro (Labor). . ; ’ - ' Dunedin * West—Mr R. .Harrison (Labor). / - , Dunedin South —Mr W. R. Taverner (United), 4 Mr R. W, ‘Hall (Labor), Mr Charles Todd (Reform). Dunedin. Central—Mr John Robinson. " 1 - , 1 ■„ **.' ' •

WHY WHEAT DUTIES WERE

IMPOSED

NO, SEA-GIRT COUNTRY SHOULD

RELY ON OUTSIDE SOURCES

(Press Association.)

, MASTER-TON, Oct. 26. t In the course of his address this evening, the Hon. A. D. McLeod referred 1 to wheat duties. The Minister denied being at any conference while the Hon. O. Haw ken spoke nor did lfa know what Mr Hawken said there. The duty od wlieat went on as a deliberate act of Government policy in the belief that no sea-girt country such as theirs should be under obligation to or risk of dependence Upon outside sources for a vital necessity of life for its peoples.

GREY LYNN SEAT

WOMAN CANDIDATE AS ' INDEPENDENT

■.Preen Aaooolatlou.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 26Patrick Buckley Fitzlierbert, solicitor, - has been selected asofficial Reform candidate for Grey Lynn. Another candidate for Grey Lynn was also announced to-day, this being Mrs Louise Paterson, who is standing as an Independent. "

EASTERN MAORI SEAT

MR PITA MOKO TO OPPOSE SIR

A. NGATA

Sir Apirana .Ngata, sitting member for the East" Maori Constituency, will be opposed at the coming elections by Pita te Turiki Tamate Moko probably as an Independent. Mr Moko’s nomination has just been received by Mr J. Harvey, returning officer for the Eastern Maori electorate.

Mr Moko is well known in Poverty Bay, especially as a boxer, where he fought some yeans ago under the name of Peter Thomas. For the last few years lie has been secretary to Ratana and acted in that capacity on the latter’s visit to Manutuke and the East Coast some four or five years ago.

TRIUMPH FOLLOWS TRIUMPH

PREMIER AND MRS. COATES IN THE NORTH.

MOST ROUSING RECEPTION EVER GIVEN PRIME MINISTER

(Special To The Times). WHANGAKEI, Oct. 26. The Prime Minister is well away on a tour in which triumph is following triumph, with Mrs. Coates, who is accumulating a very pretty collection of ribbons from the many bouquets presented to her. Mr. Coates spent a busy ,time yesterday in the* northern portion of his electorate receiving many callers and congratulations on the completion of his first term as Prime Minister, with heartfelt expressions of goodwill for the future. in the morning he had an informal talk with the settlers of R.auwai, and in the afternoon he addressed a meeting at Te Ivopuru, the people in both cases expressing their confidence in him as Prime Minister, and in the Government and freeing him from the necessity of campaigning for his own seat. Last night Mr. Coates was accorded the most rousing reception that has ever teen given to a Prime Minister at Wliangarei. The Municipal Theatre was packed, a large crowd filling the doorways and lobbies. As Mr. Coates came on the stage three cheers were called for from the body of the theatre and they were given in lusty fashion. Then the audience broke into “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” following this with three more cheers, and then three for Mrs. Coates. The enthusiasm of the early stage was maintained throughout the meeting, Air. Coates being frequently applaudedr when lie spoke of the deeds of the Government, and dealt with some of the criticisms levelled at the government by the Labor party and the United Party. After answering questions, a resolution of thanks and confidence was passed byi overwhelming numbers. An amendment of thanks to Air. Coates and confidence in Sir Joseph Ward was laughed out, there was no .seconder to it. "unusual Position for . waiPAIVA SEAT. united supporters oppose OFFICIAL CANDIDATE. ANOTHER NOMINEE ASKED. (PrPBB Association./ WAIPUKURAU, Oct. 26. An interesting position in connection with the contest, for the Waipawa electorate lias arisen. Till this afternoon it was accepted that the seat would be contested by Sir Geo. Hunter. M.P., Reform, and Air D. r. Kent, official United. Party candidate. Now comes the introduction or a third candidate, Air A. E. Goodger, ex-Mayor of Waipukur.au. A resolution was carried as follows: “That whereas the supporters of the United Party of the Waipawa electorate 'were not consulted regarding the selection of a candidate to, contest the election, they are, therefore, not committed to support anyone, and whereas the United Party candidate is, in the opinion of the meeting, not a ’ suitable person to represent us in Parliament, the meeting is of the opinion that Mr Goodger bo asked to contest the seat on behalf of the party. The meeting pledges its sup-* port in organising a campaign.”