GENERAL ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10742, 13 November 1928, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION.

,< WILD TALK. AIR -MASTERS AT PALMERSTON “A DEVIL’S, ADMINISTRATION” ANGRY ATTACK ON PRESS. (Preen Association,) PALMEKTON N., Nov. 12. .Mr Masters, chairman of the United Party, addressed the Palmerston electors to-night and was accorded a splendid hearing. He said the Uniteds had a policy for God’s Own Country, which at present had a devil’s administration. The Uniteds were a live body,-with, as leader, the only financier in New Zealand. Criticising the Reform . policy, 110 asked the audience to point, out 0110 constructive item in it. It had a policy, which looked very well on paper, but not much moro than bones and water. Reform had been returned for seventeen years on a minority vote. The Uniteds were out to enact proportional voting,. which would be the first thing attended to on their return to power. The speaker emphasised -that the sixty millions loan proposed was not for land settlement, but for advances to farmers to remove short-dated mortgages' which necessitated high interest and constant renewals. The policy had been described as “borrow, boom and burst,” but the only bursting would be done by Reform on Wednesday. Air Coates had not.fulfilled his promise to place taxation on the shoulders of those best able to bear it. The speaker condemned the high superannuation agreement with Mr Sterling, which would mean that the General Manager of Railways would get £91,500 in superannuation if he lived to 75. Already £308,000 had been taken from, the Consolidated Fund to square the superannuation fund, and £400,000 was still needed. The Uniteds proposed to close up unprofitable branch lines. Air Masters condemned the proposed Taupo-Kotorua line as unprofitable. Who were those who criticised Sir J. Ward’s proposals? Not financiers, but chiefly editors, half of whom couldn’t finance their way out of a sugar bag. The speaker claimed that the duty on Australian flour was only imposed so that Smith Island Reformers could keep their seats. It appeared that the people were being treated as chattels —as unintelligent people who could bo boxxght with their own money. Throughout the Dominion, there was much dissatisfaction with the Reform Government. The people wanted a change. AVas it a Farmers’ Government that imposed a duty on implements, taking it off gramophones? It was a Government with rotten records. The meeting concluded with a motion of confidence in the party and cheers.

UNITEDS” APPEAL. SIR J. WARD PROFESSES CONFIDENCE. TIME RIPE FOR- CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. CPree* Association.) INVERCARGILL. Nov. 12. The Leader o ftlie United Party (Sir Joseph Ward) lias issued the following appeal to the people ofl New Zealand: —• “We are now on the eve of the General Election and I confidently ask the people of the Dominion to seriously consider the policy of the United Party. “By your votes on Wednesday, you will ’be asked, to decide whether the exodus from the lands in the interior is to continue, the unemployed problem to become mole ■ a elite, financial stringency to mcrease or whether you will hodb adopt the policy enunciated by me, which will ensure to the settlers and workers the necessary finance 011 long-dated, easy and safe terms give fresh impetus to settlement, open up new avenues of employment. and generally stimulate enterprise and production, so .that the demand will be able to absorb its unemployed and prevent serious troubles arising therefrom, who were greater last year^than at any time during the last 35 years. “For some time now, it lias been generally admitted that a change m the Government was necessary by large numbers of business men farmers, and workers. 1. wo in: strongly recommend them not to lose this opportunity of helping to restore a substantial financial condition and so improve the opportunties of the people by their 01111 efforts to greatly better then; position. The United Party consists o, people of all classes—Liberal, National, Reform and Laqor. the United Party is much more widely supported than our opponents 1 regard this election as one or the most momentous in our history and confidently await the issue.