GENERAL ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10735, 5 November 1928, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

MR LYSNAR AT NUHAKA

THE ALLEGED GIFT OF £-5,000-, (XX) OVER SOLDIERS’ LANDS LABOR TACTICS STRONGLY DENOUNCED

GOVERNMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WORLD SLUMP'

Tho Reform Government was defended by Mr W. D. Lysnar, Independent Reform candidate for the Gisborne constituency, addressing over 100 electors at the Nuhaka Unity Hall on Friday night, and having a most cordial reception. Mr Lysnar dealt with a statement made by the Labor candidate, Mr D. W. Coleman, tho previous evening, that the Government had given £5,000,000 to the wealthy landowners in connection with the soldier settlement of the Dominion, and the speaker very strongly denounced this statement being raked up as a political question in this way against the Government. The National Government which represented all parties in the House, was responsible for the purchase of land for returned soldiers, and in every instance proper precautions were taken by the Government officials that fair prices were paid for every piece of land acquired but subsequently, in consequence of the world slump, the prices of produce fell, and this affected tho value of the properties, both as regards the income from them and their capital value. It was not right, Mr Lysnar maintained, for any political party . to claim, as the Labor Party was doing, that this subsequent concession made in consequence of the dlump to tho returned soldiers was in tho nature of a gift to tho wealthy landowners, and he stated that tho Government would have made still further concessions to the returned soldiers if it Were not for tho carping criticism of both the Labor Party and the United Party. These tactics had Ixsen persistently followed both in and out of the House, and was the Subject of very lively discussion when Mr Lysnar, at tho close of tho session, strongly denounced the Labor Party and the United Party for their attitude in tho matter. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION A FAILURE

Tho previous evening, said Mr Lysnar, there had been some reference to tho Labor Party claiming tho benefits of proportional representation, which was in their platform. Die speaker very •trenchantly exposed the weakness of the system b.y quoting the result when it had been tried in connection with the Christchurch municipal election. In that case after 331 counts the system broke down, leaving three councillors linseleetod, and. the returning officer himself had to make the selection in terms of lection 10 of the Act.

Mr Lysnar pointed out that this system had been on tho Statute Book for some time, and any local body could adopt- it, but after tho experience of Christchurch 110 others had tried it; nor were they, likely to. The system, if brought into general use, would unquestionably give very strong power to tho returning officers to select and put in quite a number of candidates to suit party requirements, for it depended upon who was selected to make the count as to who should bo returned. “It is impracticable and unsound”, concluded l tho candidate, “and would open the door to serious abuses.”

Tho meeting did not concludo until 20 minutes before midnight. Mr Lnysar answered a largo number of questions and, 011 tho motion - of Mr Tod. lie received a unanimous vote of thanks for his able and instructive address.

MR CLAYTON AT WAIROA

POORLY -ATTENDED MEETING. WHEN HE WOULD VOTE WITf. MR' HOLLAND. TO BRING ABOUT A FRESH ELECTION! The electors of Wairoa did not in large numbers avail themselves of the opportunity to hear the United Party candidate for tho Gisborne seat, Mr W. Lissant, Clayton, at the De Luxe Theatre, North Clyde, on Friay night, and-the Mayor (Mr J. C'orkijl) who urbSitted, expressed' l'egret at the small attendance. " M'1 V Clayton sa id- that he "was not' a newcomer to Wairoa, for 25 years ago he had been farming at Tiniroto and Wairoa had been his market town. He wag now back seeking support for the. Gisborne seat in response to a requisition which included the signatures of several prominent Wairoa people. The candidate twitted Mr Lysnar with several changes of,.his political coat. Mr Clayton criticised Mr Lysnar's financial operations in Gisborne, mentioning the £175,000 loan, th'e trains, the Admiral Codrineton and the Gentle Annie quarry. He outlined the United Party’s policy, and answered n number of questions in a satisfactory manner.

Pressed by a Lnborilo. Mr Clayton stated that if Mr Holland moved a vote of no-con!id;enee in the Government, he would not vote that the tail should wag tho dog. Asked to explain this the candidate stated that he would not vote with Mr Holland on a no-confidence motion to put him. into power, except to bring about a fresh election. A vote of thanks was given the candidate.

BAY OF PLENTY CONTEST

M.R MONO UK’S ADDRESSES

(Special to the Times.) At Matawai. on Saturday night, about 100 electors attended a meeting addressed by Air Moncur, the Labor candidate. Air AVilson presided. The candidate gave a general outline of the Labor Party’s .pobev and, incidentally, lie criticised tlie Taupe railway project. He received a vote of tnanks by acclamation. It was necessary for ATr Moncur to hold his meeting at Toatoa last night owing to the scliool-room being engaged to-night. Air J-. R. Reid, chairman of the County Council, presided. The candidate was listened to attentively and thanked for his address. MB HOLLAND AT "HUNTLY. ’ VIEWS ON COAL QUESTION. •Press Association.) HAMILTON, Nov. 4. Air Holland. Leader of the Opposition, addressed a crowded meeting at Huntly last night He was cheered on entering. Besides speaking on the usual lines ho gave special attention to the coal industry. Labor would, he" said, use the Research Department with the aim of nroduemgall the coal needed in the Dominion. Briquetting should have been established long ago. A motion of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. THAT BIG LOAN! COULD NOT BE FLOATED WITHOUT LOSS. :Pr3*s Asßooiationo NELSON, Nov. 4. The Minister for Education, in a political address at Nelson, said nothing but a political miracle could put the ITnit.ed Party in power. All their candidates except issven (including Sir ,J. Ward and Air. Atmore) were new men and, therefore, at a big disfContinuefl at Foot- of Next Column.l