UNITEDS' EGOTIST.

Gisborne Times, 31 October 1928, Page 5

UNITEDS' EGOTIST.

MR CLAYTON AT KAITI

VITRIOLIC AND TACTLESS FURTHER ABUSE AGAINST HON. K. S. WILLIAMS Likens minister to country SQUIRE

Approximately 50 electors attended at the Kaiti schoolroom last evening A when Mr W. Lissant Olayton, United candidate for the Gisborne seat, continued his. campaign. Mr Geo. Crawshaw presided and, in introducing the speaker remarked that he had been pleased to accept the position of‘chairman, as he had done when invited to preside at Mr Lysnar’s meeting three years ago. They all knew that Mr Clayton was a man of strong opinions and that he was not afraid to freely express them, a virtue which had a great deal to commend it in a .candidate for political honors.

In his opening remarks, Mr Clayton expressed gratification at the large attendance, especially in view of “the entertainment which was available in town.”. The speaker’s brand of entertainment, however, was not of the table-thumping kind which would, be going on in the City Hall!

- Proceeding on the lines of previous addresses, Mr Clayton outlined his ideas of the position of the pitting member for the seat, averring that it was only the fear of Labor which Kept him in. He had quoted previous election figures to refute the possibility of Labor proving successful, when a voice inquired: “And what did the Liberal party poll?” “I'm coming to that”, replied Mr Clayton. “Last time it was 1522 votes, but that is really quite beside the question.” The speaker again referred to his own position with the United Party, his views on the worth of Mr Coates, the Reform Government’s work, their interference with private enterprise, and his opinion of the ability of the. present Ministers. In regard to the last-mentioned point, Mr Clayton stated that his criticism was not, in any way, personal, for all leaders in all countries, Lloyd George and Hoover being instanced, were freely criticised. The position of such men laid them open to criticism, but that was not of their personality, but of their ability to govern and to fill the roles allotted them.

“I have thought, at times,” he went on, ‘“that, perhaps, it might be much better if we did deal more with personalities. A town elects a councillor or a mayor, but what do the electors know about his personal life ? Does he pay his. debts ? Is he strictly honest? Is he a-straight man in every way? Some who ore acquainted with him personally, may know, .but the great majority who vote for him do not. Unfortunately, however, our law of libel steps in and limits our right of personal criticism of public men.” Mr Clayton also referred to the Hon. It. S. _ Williams’ criticism of himself, again expressing sorrow at having hurt the Minister’s feelings by not including Mr Williams with the other two capable Ministers in the present Cabinet, especially since Mr Williams was “such a nice chap” and “tho Williams family had done so much for the country”. Mr Williams at the meeting at Tokomaru Bay, added Mr Clayton, had reminded him forcibly of tho country squire of the Victorian era who called together his constituents and outlined what ho would do in tho political arena. “Looking through the history hooks”, stated Mr Clayton, “I cansee that any of those country squires have become prominent men. I do not know whether this analogy follows any closer.” After dealing with the position of the Gisborne railway and the delay thereon, which he attributed largely to Mr Lvsnar, Mr Clayton added: “T would like Mr Williams to say definitely that he has not yet received reports on the survey of the inland route or, anyway, that his Department has not received them. There is a rumor, it is only a rumor ,that these were available a few weeks ago. “One of the qualifications quoted of_ Mr Williams for his position as Minister for Public . Works”, Mr Clayton continued, “is that he has lived in the backblocks and has suffered the hardships of that life. But ho had the advantage of a sea coast and boats called regularly to deposit supplies on the beach. Well, I can tell you I have lived 42 miles in the backblocks, and we did not have the advantage of a coast line, with boats calling regularly,. and vast wealth* behind us to make our lot easier, I do not think too much credit can be taken under that heading.” Continuing on the question of railways, the speaker referred to the Taupo line on the lines of previous addresses, again quoting from the prospectus of the “Wairuna Fur Trading Co”, which, he said, is designed to establish a rabbit farm in the Taupo district. “They wll farm the common kind of rabbits” he said, “but they hope to go into Angoras later. The purchase money for the land is £20,000, of which £IB,OOO is to be in cash. And the company pride themselves on the special permission to grow rabbits that they have obtained from the Government.

The speaker also criticised the Government’s financial policy, stating that the only real effect of the rural credits schemes introduced had been that it enabled people who could have obtained money from banks and mercantile companies to go to the Government instead, rather than benefit the workers who had not those other sources of money to fall hack upn. Under the United policy, assistance would be given to all those who were not able to obtain money from tho banks and the mercantile firms. Reform’s, borrowing policy had been like the man who , finding himself short of money, increased his overdraft to tide over the shortness. In further explanation of Sir Joseph Ward’s borrowing policy, Mr Clayton said that the .-£70,000,000 would he obtained at 4£ per cent. This low interest rate had been ridiculed, but he would give absolute proof of this in his City Hall speech. “Without being too egotistical”, he added, “I may say that I know something of finance. _ I have brought £500,000 into this district, and have floated local body loans all over the Dominion and even in -London.” Continuing, he stated that the money would be loaned to the people at 4-3 per cent, with 1 per cent, sinking fund, and would thus pay off itself in years, while a, certain amount would he paid off before that time. Amplifying his remarks ■ of the previous evening, regarding losses on branch lines of the Dominion railways, Mr Clayton put this total at £480,000 which fact, he said, ho could clearly prove. Before 1926. that loss was charged to the railway account but, since 1926 j it had been placed against the Consolidated Fund, so that the taxpayers, and not tho Railways Department, were making good the loss. Further topics dealt with by the speaker, as at previous meetings, Were the United policy in regard to closer settlement and land aggregation and the Te Wera purchase. Regarding the last-mentioned, he commented: ‘‘‘Some of you, no doubt, have heard; of it. Mr Lsynar knows a bit about it, too.” “Tho United Party stands for the great centre party of the people”, ,said Mr Clayton in conclusion. “It is well-known that the greater number of the people are near-tho dividing line. The extremist Tory is not benecial to the country, for he cannot see what is best for it. .Extremist Labor is the same, for he tends towards Communism and is the dis-

tuTbing element, in the country. I represent the moderate shado of opinion, I blievo in free and fair justice for all men and tliat the working classes should have .the same: riglits as others, provided they proceed on constitutional lines. I believe that the babe from the gutter should have equal opportunity with the one who has led a sheltered life. (Applause). Not only for itself alone, but because it may conceal the germ o* genius which will prove of great benefit to the country. In casting your vote, consider the country first. Is the man you vote for a man’you can respect, an upright, honorable man, a man who will dp the just thing, a man at whom you .can cast no stones in this respect ? Consider all this and put in a man Who will be a model example whom you can point out to your children.” (Aplause). Mr O. E. Bickford asked the candidate’s opinion of a State Bank. In _ reply, Mr Clayton stated that he did not think it would be advantageous at the present time, though such a proposition had a lot in its favor. It was dangerous, however, especially in a young country such as New Zealand. »Asked for his views on the educational system of New Zealand, Mr Clayton sought a. more particular definition of the question, pointing out that he could hardly give a detailed review of-such a wide subject. No amplification of Hie question was given, but the candidate explained that he considered the system of free, compulsory education a beneficial one, though there was room for improvement. In the speaker’s opinion, all school * books should be provided free. “Did you seriously mean”, asked Mr Bickford, “that the Government should not interfere with anything which , actively competes with facilities provided by the Government? Surely that is a matter which concerns the people and their welfare?” “If the State is running something which cannot stand up against private enterprise”, replied Mr Clayton, “then that State business should go to the wall. When the buses drove the trams off the road, it is clear evidence that the public need the buses. When the State fosters any enterprise, it does not need to pay rates, taxes, etc., and it need not issue a balance-sheet.”

<‘ln tho loan contemplated by Sir Joseph Ward, is there provision to foster secondary industries?” asked Mr Walter Black. “No”, replied Mr Clayton, “there is no provision mad© for the financing of the secondary industries, but the money released, when tho loan is brought into the country, will provide the finance for the development of such industries.”

Asked whether, if elected, he would consider a scheme whereby this could be brought about, Mr Clayton relied_ that he certainly would.* “With this additional burden of £700,000,000 on tho country, liow do you propose to find interest and cost of redemption on war stock maturing shortly ” asked Mr Bickford. “Certainly. under the scheme, the £60,000,000 will be provided for but what about the other £10,000,000 ” In reply, Mr Clayton stated that £60,000,000 of the loan was simply borrowed to be loaned out again, but that would repay itself as time went on. He then quoted figures relating to loans maturing in the near future, and added: “In some of these, sinking funds have- been provided’ but, unfortunately, in others no such provision has been made. Some re-pay-ments will have to come out of the Consolidated Fund, of which tho surplus is supposed to ear-marked for that purpose. Beforo I could answer that question fully, however, I would have to study tip the terms of each loan and then give a separate answer for each.”

“In the past” proceeded Mr Bickford, “many of the new loans have been raised simply to pay off tho old ones. How will you avoid that?” Mr Clayton replied that undoubtedly, this had been so. but he considered -it had been a very mistaken policy and the United Party would make proper provision for repayment of all loans raised. To a question whether ho favored the imposition of a protective amended tariff against .countries which had adopted such barriers against the Dominion’s primary produce, Mr Clayton replied that he was dis - tinctly in agreement, so far as it was practicable. “If you borrow money to complete the railways and then the private traffic on the roads interferes, should not the Government interfere with that private competition, after spending all that money on the railways ” asked Mr Bickford. “That is a neat question” replied Mr Clayton, “hut I still affirm that the Government should not hold a pistol at the heads of private traders.”

A voice: “What’s the good of the local railway, when the service companies are running at such cheap fares?”

“Tho railway has gone so far now” answered Mr Clayton, “that we will have to go on and complete it. Anyway, the 1.5 s faro to Napier won’t last.”

Another voice .- “It’s driving them to bankruptcy now.” Mr Bickford: “You say that you represent the middle party. Well, do you prefer the moderate patriot to the extremist?”

“That is the exception which proves the rule”, answered Mr Clayton. “Man can’t serve God and mammon at the same time and no man can be a true patriot, if onlv moderate.”

On the motion of Mr J. Hay, seconded by Mr J, Norris, a vote of thanks to Mr Clayton for his add res» was carried by acclamation.