UNITEDS’ CONVERT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10730, 30 October 1928, Page 4

UNITEDS’ CONVERT

MR LISSANT CLAYTON AT mangapapa

MUSING ADVICE JO THE/ ELECTORS

THAT SELF-RIGHTEOUS TONE!

Having completed a tour of several country centres, Mr W. Lissant Clayton, United candidate for the Gisborne seat, commenced hrs campaign in the town last evening, when he addressed a gathering ot between GO and 70 in the Oddi ellows’ Hall, Mangapapa. Mr J. Morrison was m the chan ■and in introducing the candidate, remarked that the ceremony was quite unnecessary, as Mr Clayton must be known to them all. “We are fortunate in having as a candidate’ , added the chairman, “a man who has a (real understanding of finance. As you all must know, any reform must have, to he effective, a basis of solvency. Sir .J oseph Ward' has announced his big. borrowing scheme and all will be interested in hearing Mr Clayton explain how this will be effected.” . , Mr Clayton, who was received with applause, opened with an explanation of his reasons for standing, asserting that in the sitting member they had an unknown quality. “He was once an Independent went on the speaker, “then he became a Liberal and later, turned to a an Independent again—yet the Government has put its seal on him. He disclaims Reform yet, at tho last election, they put him in as an official Reform candidate.” Labor was the “bogey” whfch compelled the return of the present member. He wished to dispose of that bogev( and, in doing so quoted figures of last election whereat Labor polled only 2980 votes against the combined totals of 6174 by the other two candidates. Only a third-of the voters supported Labor, leaving two-thirds for the other candidates* Even were this surplus evenly divided, each of the other candidates would poll over 100 more than the Labor candidate and it was very unlikely that such voting would be even, which made the defeat of Labor still more certain. LABOR’S BID HOPELESS

“I am not going to attack Labor In anv shape or form”, Mr Clayton went on, ’‘for I believe in a fair deal for one gnd all. But why does Labor persist in putting up candidates here, where the district is essentially non-Labor, with no big manufacturing concerns, to supply the Labor vote.? They must know they are fighting in a hopeless and a forlorn cause, and they have simply helped to keep the sitting member in. I am the instrument whereby he may bo put out, for I represent the middle course, and some may not want Mr Lvsnar yet they will not vote for Labor. Perhaps the .United Party will appeal to the great number who are su situated, _ . . ~ , ‘‘l do not believe in this fetish or party”, the speaker said emphatically. “It savors of the ju-ju of the Africans. I have never been a strong party man and I never intend to (beI believe in keeping true to the aims and ideals of a party, but should these run counter to patriotism then T sav ‘Hang the party.’ But I must support a party and my party is the United Party, which does not go to extremes and gives equal opportunity to all. It is the centre party and it works with the aim that the humblest babe should have an opportunity—not only for itself alone, but because it may conceal the germ of genius.” (Applause.) Mr Clayton made further attacks on ilie lines of his earlier addresses, on the Reform Government, stating that if. after 17 years of office, it had not reformed all it had set out to do, then it was time it was put out. If it had carried out all its reforms, then why was it still calling itselr Reform ?

ATTACK ON MR COATES ■ “T say also that- Mr Coates dues not maintain tho dignity and poise”, continued the speaker, “that his ■position as Prime Minister demands. You need only study the reports in the press of his meetings. M ere his replies to interjections worthy of the Prime Minister of the Dominion ? Were they not more suited to larrikinisin?” Mr Clayton also criticised tho inability of the Ministers of "tho Crown on tho lines of earlier addresses. GISBORNE RAILWAY ROUTE The speaker also reaffirmed his previous statements regarding the impression gained at the deputation to the Hon. K. S. Williams regarding tlm railway route, that a decision had been promised before the election. That impression, he stated, had been shared by others present besides himself. “The point I wish to emphasise”, he added, is : ‘"Why was tho decision to survey the inland route undertaken at the request of a body of gentlemen headed by Mr Lvsnar? Why was this survey permitted to shelve the remainder of the undertaking ? About 1910, tho section referred to was surveyed by the .Public Works Department and I could take you there to-day and show you the old pegs. Since’lll3- first meeting, a resident of the district has posted me one of the actual pegs put in during that survey. Win’ weren’t those old reports used ? Why have the gangs been shifted on to the Taupo line ? What is all the delay about? Our member was responsible- for all that dehi3 r and now the Taupo line is going ahead.” Mr Claj’ton quoted figures regarding the productivity of the Taupo district, as given at previous meetings, and proceeded: “That pumice land is fit only* for rabbits—it is an excellent land for growing that pest and let me tell 3’on, a company has been formed and has obtained permission from the Government to grow and breed rabbits there. I have the prospectus here. The capital is £47,000, and one director of tho company is Frederick John Lysnar. Reuben Craven Lysnar is the name given as the vendor of the land tor the farm, over 16,000 acres. They have special permission from the Government to breed rabbits—a permission that has never been granted before. No doubt the rabbit farm is near the new railway. It is significant.

AN INNUENDO WITH NO PROOF

“There are other significant points,” said Mr Clayton. “I have a letter here from a man in Auckland who gives me the names of some of the chief land-owners in the Taupo district. Some interesting cases are given also, hi one. a man exchanged a good farm he owned for 2090 acres of the Taupo pumice lands. This was before the railway there was announced and ail his neighbors said he was mad. Now that the railway is going through, they no longer say ho was mad. lie was a prominent Reform man, as also are many more of the owners of Taupo lands. Who gave that man and others tee tip? Why s'h’ouiS the railway be pushed on there ? I leave it to you.” Mr Clayton stated also'' that, while the inland' route was merely being considered, some three miles of line already laid fvas pulled up and taken to' Tauranga. THAT £70,000,000 LOAN! He (erring to Sir Joseph Ward’s scheme to borrow £70,000,000. Mr Clayton stated that, though- ; it was

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