THE “BATTLER.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10743, 14 November 1928, Page 5

THE “BATTLER.”

MR LYSNAR’S- FINAL SHOT. A. ' _ GREAT MEETING AT OPERA HOUSE. LABOR HECKLERS ASSEMBLE IN FORCE. COUNTING OUT,”;BOOHING,. AND-. HOOTING. i • MR LYSNAR WEARS OPPOSITION DOWN, SCORES WITH CLEVER REPARTEE. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE GIVEN:

Remarkable scenes almost, unparalleled in the. history of election campaigns in Gisborne were witnessed at the Opera; House last night, when Mr W. D. Lysnar, the sitting member for the electorate, made his last plea to the electors for liis return to Parliament. He was greeted by one of the largest audiences that lias ever attended, a campaign meeting locally. The whole of the seating accommodation was taxed to. capacity, whilst hundreds of people, unable to obtain seats, lined the walls in the dress circle and the back of the theatre, and crowded into the doorways. It was a good-humored crowd, and a section kept up a running fire of interjections. at. the candidate, who scored . off the hecklers time and again with clever repartee that often convulsed the audienco in uncontrollable laughter. One section of the gathering, comprising mostly LaborRes, situated about the centre of the hall, became openly hostile to the candidate towards the close, counting him out several times, stamping their feet, boohing and hooting, and, generally, threatening to break up the meeting, Mr Lysnar being compelled to instruct the police to remove any of the demonstrators. This hostility only served to rouse Mr Lysnar’s fighting spirit and lie lashed into those responsible for the uproar with great spirit that carried the majority of the audience enthusiastically with him and, at the conclusion, a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded him amidst cheers and applause and Labor opposition. At the outset the meeting promised to be, extremely lively. The chairman (Mr J. Kinder), in striving to introduce the candidate, said Mr Lysnar had represented the district for nine years—Voices: “Too long.”

The noisy element immediately drowned some of the chairman’s further remarks with cries of “Speak up.” Continuing, Mr Kinder said that the candidate had looked for a little criticism, but this had not been directed in the proper way. He was then compelled to return to his seat amid a gusto of laughter and cries of “Speak up.” Mr Lysnar was. however, received with prolonged applause. He commented with pleasure on the extent of the large gathering' which, he said, showed that the electors were taking a keen interest in the contest. He warned the electors of the danger of a triangular contest and stating tliai, a vote taken from him ready meant a loss of two. Therefore, he advised all electors to record their votes and, provided they did so, he would be satisfied that his. return would be assured.

Derisive laughter from his opponents greeted Mr Lysnar’s next assertion that Jie was standing as he- had always done as an Independent Reformer.

“I notice with regret.” lie proceeded,” that Sir Joseph Ward had announced that he will vote with the Labor Party on a no-conlidence motion.”—(Labor cheers.) Mr Lysnar went to the attack. “You Jiear a mild cheer at the back from tire Bolshies; I will deal with them later.”—(Laughter and -applause.) It was deplorable, he said, to think that the Leader of the United Party, with the Experience Sir Joseph Ward had had. would toll the 2<cople that he would support Labor to put the Government out' of power. A voice: “Why shouldn’t he?” “For a number of reasons,” retorted Mr Lysnar. ' “The extreme Laool Party -are not rtoyal. ’ —(Cries of “DlP*' and laughter.) . “I put the«<iistrict and* til©, coum-’ try Before party?” explained Mr Lys-, nar in regard to his views in regard to party. A laconic voice: “George Washington.” Mr Lysnar proceeded to state that he entered Parliament to get results for the district, and he had adopted a fearless attitude throughout his career.—(Some laughter. He then read the following telegram from the Prime Minister, Hon. J. G. Coates:—

“On the eve of the- contest, l send you my best wishes for your success to-morrow. I ' feel confident that the electors will see that the Government is returned with

a sound, stable majority.” “I am more use to Mr Coates as an Independent,” c.laimed Mr Lysliar, amidst a burst of opposition laughter. “I’m not tied hand- and foot by pledges. I’ve been instrumental in bringing about many pieces of legislation.” A voice: “You’ll have us on the rocks.”—-(Laughter.) ; “There are no rocks so far as the Reform Party is concerned; the only people who will get on, the rocks is the extreme Labor section.” carao back Mr Lysnar amidst laughter and applause. Certain legislation he claimed to have been instrumental in' having had amended to the form in which it was now enacted were- instanced by Mr Lysnar, who referred to the changes made in the Noxious Weeds Bill and the Chattels Transfer Bill, and the Property Law Act. “After some two or three weeks’ fighting on this last-named measure. Mr Coates told me I was right,” added Mr Lvsnar, amidst uproarious laughter from the hecklers.

: Mr Lysnar said that he had noticed that Mr Holland took the credit of having had alterations made in the Mental Defectives Bill. A voice: “Hear, hear.” / Mr. Lysnar: “I can show you who is considered to be entitled to the credit; I was.”—‘(Laughter.) A voice (sarcastically): “Of course you were.”—(Laughter.) . Supporting his contention by quoting from a newspaper cutting, in which Mr Holland had paid tribute to the speaker for his stonewall ot the Bill, when he reached the extract “We all admire a good fighter,” an interjector convulsed the house with “Yes, Tom Jieeney ” Another voice: “What’s your idea in bringing this up.” . ' “To educate some of you people. —(Hear, hear.) “Some of you have been running round trying to win this election by. personalities, retorted Mr Lysnar. "I consider this extract is to the point. This shows iin‘the weakness of the Labor Party and the United Party.”— (Laughter and applause.) ‘ ... Mr Lysnar said that one clause in the Bill was very dangerous to the leaders of the Labor Party. “I had enough data to put some in a .mental asylum.’.!—(.Laughter.) . The candidate, after reading an appreciative letter from the-Auckland University College Professors, . remarked that, he was evidently a little use in Parliament. A voice: “Yes, a little.”—(Laughter.) • Mr Lysnar went oil to criticise the constitution of the Dairy* Board and the,.Meat Board, claiming that the system 1 * of election was. the*- most

abominable on enrh. “There is only one thing worse I know of—Labor’s proportional representation idea.”— ;(Laiigliter.) v The candidate was proceeding to refer to.,the work of the Reform Administration when, he was interrupted 'by a voice: “What about the United Party?” . “it’s not in .the picture,” retorted Mr Lysnar. “It was a party when it was a Liberal party, but it is now extinct.” ; . . Mr' Lysnaiy.lihiitly dismissed the charges; made against him in .connection with Borough affairs, and innuendoes used in the campaign, stating he did not have to go to Mr Clayton for his political character.— (Applause.) . ,• .' ' After tracing the cause of his disagreement with the Reform League at. the last (flection, and how tha,t body was working in liis interests in this contest, Mr Lysnar tiirned and .waved the audience’s attention to the ten gentlemen . seated behind him, adding “You see on the platform to-night members of the executive of the Reform League.” 1 'The house shrieked with laughter as a heckler chipped in: “Oh, : I thought it was a museum.” The district works performed under Reform’s administration were referred .to by Mr Lysnar, who claimed that the Gisborne-Wairoa road was due to the Government’s progressive policy. .Lie referred to the Mangapoike road, which, he. considered, would ultimately be the main outlet road. This route was the shortest and best and the Government had recently voted sufficient money for the linking up the formation and metalling of that road and. also for the construction of bridges and culverts. He paid a tribute to the Prime Minister for his conception and development of the hydro-electric power resources of Waikaremoana, ’ which would supply cheap power that would encourage the development of secondary industries. When completed the scheme would give a surplus of £B.« 000,000 annually over and above interest, sinjdng fund and working expenses.

One of the principal planks of the Reform Party was the encouragement of tourist traffic, and the Government had performed excellent service by providing hostels and-, facilities for visitors at Waikaremoana and Morere. He had advocated the opening up of the Ruatahuna road to the Lake and the Government had agreed to do so, there being eighty men engaged there now.

The charge that lie had stopped and delayed the construction of the Gisborne-Napier railway was strongly refuted by Air Lysnar, who claimed there was no justification for the accusation. He pointed out that the Government; was spending £1,000,000 annually on the development of the railways throughout the Dominion, of which £324,000 was being spent on the East Coast railway and there were now 509 men engaged on it. Dealing with the Kotorua-Taupo railway. Mr Lysnar claimed that it should be extended to Hangaroa and linked up with a line constructed from Gisborne, as he claimed that all the trade between here and Taupo would gravitate to Gisborne, the nearest port. There were 255,000 acres of afforestation land between here and Taupo ready to be Cut out and this trade would naturally come to this centre. He claimed that the Gisborne-Wairoa railway should be constructed on the inland route. He justified his attitude in regard to securing a survey of the inland route on the ground that he had (lone his duty by the Chamber of Commerce and the Cook County Council, at whose request lie had made the representations. The value and success of State institutions such as dental clinics were commented upon by Air Lysnar, who» said he regretted to seo that Air Coleman had declared that the dentists were opposed to the clinics. A voice: “Y'ou’re wrong.” Mr Lysnar (warmly): “I’m not wrong ” He added that the dentists favored the clinics, which had been established on their representations. “These, clinics apply to public schools now, but they will be extended to Catholic schools and other schools-

A voice. “And two-up schools.” The house- rocked with laughter and some minutes elapsed before At settled down again. Amid a series of interjections Air wenfc ,pn „ ~ criticise the United Party's"* borrowing scheme, ‘comparing ic to-the. plan Sir . Joseph Ward had presented to the electors nine years ago. “Sir Joseph Wardnot only put- himself out—” A voice: “You’ll he out to-mor-row.”

•‘Yes, if I had to depend on your vote,” retorted Mr Lysnar. “But Che other people here are going to vote for. me.”—(Applause.) He declared that Sir Joseph was a political traitor to the Dominion, and every' vote for the United Party would, help to pot Labor on the Treasury, Benches. A voice: “Oh, tell us about yourself.” —(Laughter.) He went on to sketch tlie difficulties that Labor would experience in raising loans if they gained power. “How would Harry Holland get on if he could only raise £l6 out cf every £IOO as the Queensland Government did?” he asked. A voice (hopefully): “Put -you on nine bob a day.” —(LaughterA The work of the Department of Agriculture in assisting dairy farmers . and factories, was praised, but the candidate .claimed that more should be done towards investigating stock diseases. He declared that he had been advocating the adoption of a. system of contributory pensions, and the matter would probably he dealt with ne*xt session. The speaker referred with satisfaction to ’the operations of the Child Welfare Act, the Savings Bank and the reductions in taxation. In discussing the latter subject, he asked: “What is the cause of unemployment?’” A voice: “Toryism. —(Laughter.) The liberalisation of pensions, the improvement of housing conditions, and the introduction of the Mam Highways and Loans Board were praised by the candidate. The need for amendment of -the Arbitration Act to provide for classification of Labor according -to experience nnd ability Wfis tovened upon by Mr Lysnar, who claimed that, under the present system, a good man had to carry three or four duffers on his hack. A voice: “We ve had you ion,-, enough.”—(Laughter.)

A noisy demonstration va-s commenced when Mr Lysnar staited to criticise Labor’s land policy. At Kaiti. one of the audience told me I was quoting from tlie w ong platform. I sent a messenger to Mr Bickford-for a correct copy, but- he has given ,me a copy of the samp date as my pwn.”- (Laughter.) He had also applied at Mr Coleman s house for a copy, and could only get; a copy of the rules, which were no use.

A section of the crowd at .the back Started counting the candidate out. He waited .until the hubbub had subsided and then demanded of the demonstrators : - “If the, platform n.a good one, tlie rest of the people Should know it. So why should, you howl it down?”—(Laughter and applause.) He claimed .that Mr Coleman was bound hand and foot by his pledges to the Labor Party.—(Applause and trroans.) ! “If you want someone to represent the district -entirely free yoijMl have to vote for someone like myself,” he. added. Tlie announcement' brought forth cheers, .and. laughter and joc-rs from the back of the hall.

“Did Air Coleman tell you how the land would be valued under Labor’s policy ?” asked Mr Lysnar. A voice:' “No; Did uo tell you how he valued the Ark -(Laughter.) Another voice: “Are vou a working farmer?” “No,” replied Mr 'Lysnar. “I would not he considered a working farmer. Labor would take my land straight out.’’—(Laughter.) ’• .ijThig.was.too .much, for Jfear--1 son,"who rushed' down the aisle-whv-ing a paper. “Read, it,” he roared, handing the pamphlet to Mr Lysnar. . i There' was another hostile outburst at the back of the hall, boohing, hissing and hooting, and tho counting out of the candidate holding up the meeting. Mr* Lysnar: “This gentleman who passed me up this pamphlet asks me to read four columns. I asked him to get me a correct copy of the Labor’s platform- and he could not get it.”—)(Applause.) • Air /Pearson (heatedly): “When did you ask me to get it? ■ 1 offered to* get you one last Thursday aiid you refused it.”—-(Cheer? and .-applause.) ' A babel of interjections and cries of “Sit down” followed, delaying the meeting further. J Air Lysnar called for the police to remove any of the demonstrators, stating lie had never had a man put out before. :

The demonstrators retorted by counting the to lid id ate out, ? and chorused, “Read the pamphlet,” several times.

After the row had subsided, Air Lysnar remarked: “You see these extreme Labor follows are ashamed of their platform.”—(Laughter and applause.) . “Read it out! Read it out!” carne from many parts of the hall, and portion of. the audience at the back demonstrated strongly by stamping their feet, continuing the uproar, the candidate again having to appeal to the police. An appeal by the chairman for_ a fair hearing was greeted with derisive laughter. . . ,■ , Mr Lysnar: is a! solutely no justification for this row. It is only to stop the audience i om hearing about the Labor platform.” He advised the police to remove any demonstrator immediately, The hubbub subsided after that, and Air Lysnar concluded his ■ address in comparative peace. “Let s have- some questions from you Bolshies at the back now,” he concluded, amidst laughter. Asked when the railage on timber was to be reduced, Air Lysnar replied that a reduction had been made twelve months ago. Answering another question, he assured, the audienco that, if he found there was any law-to prevent the Borough Council building a municipal women’s rest he would endeavor to have the legislation amended. Mr Lvsnar declared that te would not endeavor to compel bowling clubs to have a license to sell liquor in answer to another question. Asked whether he had :ny oeminent to make on Air Davy s letter. Air Lysnar said lie didn t think All Daw was worth worrying about. It was a stupid letter for a man m an official position to write. lie Lad never ottered to stand for the United Fartv; in fact had never spoken to Air Daw in connection with politics since the latter quitted the Reform Party as organiser. Anybody with a little cqmmonsense could read between the lines of the letter. ~ A voice: “That’s no ansver. “Well, you’ll get your answer tomorrow,” retorted Air ! Lysnar, amidst laughter and applause. - - “Did you break the law of New Zealand by refusing to sell your vool to the Government?” asked a member of the audience. a . “No,” stated Air Lysnar, emphativote of thanks and .confidence was accorded Air Lysnar on the motion of Air A. Wade, seconded by Air P Hansen, the motion being enthusiastically, carried by cheers and .applause' with a chorus of opposition from the Laborites.

AHt. CLAYTON AT AIAJESTIC. TAAIE ENDING TO UNITEDS’ CAAIPAIGN ON AIR LY fc>N AR SIrT 'jOS’EPli "AVARLT ’A ND *TISE * *■ ■’ “RED REDS” AN AAIUSING INTERPRETATION

Before an audience which ' v aiied during the evening from 100 to i«u, Mr W. Lissant Clayton, United candidate; for the _ Gisborne seat brought his campaign to a clo=c at the Majestic Theatre last evening. The meeting was singularly tame, there being only three or four lnteijections during the whole evening, and all appeared'to Mine .from the same source. At the close, only thiee questions were asked. . Mr .Smith,' who was chairman, stated that Mr Clayton had been the first pan approached to stand for the United 1 arty.. The very large deputation ' which waitea on the candidate, added the chairman. had proved clearly- that the people wanted a change m their representative. Mi- Clayton, who was; warmly received, expressed regret that he was compelled to deal with statements by Mr Lysnar, as he _ would much rather have confined his address to politics and the United -Patty * policy. He attacked Mir Lysnar’s stand as an Independent candidate, deploring Mi Coates’ introduction of the flag into his _ last political campaign, the Socialistic trend of the present Government-, and _ condemning the starting of the agitation for the inland route of the GisborneNapier railway, for which he alleged Mr Lysnar was responsible. Turning to Sir Joseph Ward s borrowing policy, Mr Clayton ridiculed the suggestion • that the money could not be obtained, and stated that the charge of extravagance against the policy could not- be sustained as the Coates Government, during the past 3} years, liad borrowed money at nearly the same annual _ rate as was proposed bv the United leader. “But”, he added, “Sir Joseph has a definite policy, whereas Mr Coates’ was simply one of drift.” There would be no additional charge on the taxpayer were the loan effected and the present , financial depression would be relieved. .. . After criticising Reform h work m land settlement, Mr Clayton said the Uniteds would combat land aggregation .. by setting up a special tribunal to inquire into cases where there, was any. suspicion of aggregation and compel cutting up of such estates where the suspicion was proved. They would foster secondary industries. by a readjustment of Customs duties, which - Reform had feared to Mo, even though they had promised to carry this out, and by the granting of preferential subsidies to Hew Zealand industries. Answering an interjector. tlie candidate said the cost of.living would come down as a result and .wages would probably go up, as , any intelligent man could see. Continuing, Mr Clayton; stated that the United Party included ample provision for education . in all technical -subjects, thus creating avenues of employment for . the many young lads leaving * sehool each ‘year who, > under the present circumstances, unless, they wished to go fanning . or into’ one of the professions, were not fitted for any employment. Great opposition had been expressed to Sir Joseph Ward’s bonjeeving scheme, said the candidate, but this comprised simply the.same old ar-. gumentfi which had been brought-lip

when ho introduced his plan of advances to settlors. I’n the latter case Sir Joseph had not been deterred and 1 that department, though not intended to make a profit, had resulted. in a profit of some £1,900,000. In further criticism of the Reform Government, Mr Olay ton said that there were. 13,009 fewer employed in farming occupations last year than in 1923, “Is. that an indication of good Government?” ho asked. A voice: “NoI”) Does that show proper" administration?” (The voice, much louder, “No!”) Has lteform. done what it should ” (The voice, in a shout: “No!”) Referring to the provision of £10,000,000 for the railways, Mr Clayton stated that the losses on the Dominion branch lines last year totalled' ■ £489,000. Were . Sir Joseph Ward’s scheme earned out that loss would be saved. Capitalise that, amount and it would be seen that the mere saving of tho loss would give the interest on the £10,000,000. [n addition, there was . the revenue to he gained, tho better facilities for the transport of produce from farms to market and fertilisers to the farms, and the linking up of all the towns by efficient railway services.

The speaker also criticised the alleged -lack of adequate provision for unemployment by the Reform Government and its immigration policy, lie had noticed that Mr Lysnar said the Imperial Government’s scheme for aiding immigrants deserved investigation; yet that scheme bud been in existence for two years, the money was available at Home awaiting application for it. and the pre»sent Government had not troubled to take advantage of the facilities afforded. The . taxation system iequired revising, particularly with regard to farmers and far too many anomalies existed at present. Whar, he would propose, tliough it was not necessarily contained in Sir Joseph Ward’s policy, was that the present land tax he abolished and a system of land taxing instituted whereby the farmer was relieved of payment ■when the hard times only brought him loss. There were many anomalies in the present pensions scheme and the United Tarty wanted a system which encouraged and did not penalise thrift. Bettor educational facilities should be provided. They would also extend considerably the present dental and medical services to the children.

Touching on the hydro-electric schemes upon which, he said, the Government prided themselves so much, Mr Clayton stated that money had been poured into them by thousands and even millions. Mangahao was planned to develop 18,000 h.p. in dry weather and 24,000 h.p. in wet, but it had proved inadequate. At Arapuni money had been wasted in a terrible fashion. A big contract Was made witli the Armstrong, Whitworth Co., but so ill-conceived ljad it been, that the company ultimately obtained permission to withdraw" from the contract I .' There had been waste of huge sums of money in this connection and the last had not yet been heard of it all. Waikaremoana was the best scheme of the lot. (Applause). Mr Cldyton stated that- he considered daylight saving was of great benefit to the community and w r as sure regulations could be made which would satisfy everyone, including the farmers. After criticising Mr Lysnaris conduct of borough matters in which he had been interested, Mr Clayton declared that the sitting member was the most damaging cause of trouble in the community that Poverty Bay had ever seen. He had wrought more havoc and brought more W'aste upon public institutions than any other six or even ten men who ever came to Gisborne. Hi:> action in holding up his wool during the commandeer after the war, and then in boasting of having made £IO,OOO out of it, stamped him as the one disloyal sheepfarmer in New Zealand who had the brazen effrontery to be proud of having made money out of the life-blood of those who fought at tho front. Mr Clayton concluded his address with an appeal to the electors to support the middle party. Asked bow bp would vote on a noconfideuce motion in the Reform Government, the candidate stated that, under no circumstances would he support the motion should it mean putting Labor on the Treasury benches. If, however, it meant that, a new election were guaranteed so that the people would have an opportunity to express their opinion; ho would vote with Labor. “That is my interpretation of Sir Joseph Ward’s attitude”, he added, amid smiles-.

“Will you see wffiat can l>e done about removing the legal disability which prevents the Borough Council from erecting a women’s rest in Gisborne?” was another question. “I didn’t know that such a- disability existed”, replied Mr Clayton, “except from what I have seen in the papers. If the Council decided to erect a Rest, I don’t see that there is anything to stop them doing

“What is a fair pension for old age P” “I am not prepared to say at the moment”, answered the candidate, “but the present rate of payment is not fair at all and should be unproved on. It will bo one of the firstmatters attended to 'by the Ward administration. ’ ’ A motion of thanks to Mi- Clayton and of confidence in him as candidate, proposed by Mr H. E. Bright and seconded by -Mr hi. Poole was declared carried, the acclamation following, and as the crowd began to leave the theatre, tluee cheers for the candidate were given.