GENERAL ELECTION

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1943, Page 2

GENERAL ELECTION

MAJOR SKINNER Murchison Address MURCHISON, September 22. While addressing electors in the Murchison district, Major C. F. Skinner (Labour, Motueka) said that he had been agreeably impressed with the friendliness of audiences throughout the electorate, and that this spirit of friendliness had made the campaign very pleasant indeed. On Monday, 20 September, Major Skinner addressed electors at Horse Terrace (Murchison) during the morning, the meeting being presided over by Mr. H. Manley. A vote of thanks to Major Skinner and confidence in the Government was carried unanimously. During th e afternoon, a further meeting was held at Station Creek. Mr. J. Creighton was chairman. A vote of thanks and resolution of confidence was carried, with seven dissentients.

' At 8 p.m. a meeting attended by well over 100 electors was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Murchison. Mr. Malcolm Brown nresided and in introducing Major Skinner spoke highly of the services to the district rendered by Major Skinner in the past. At the conclusion of a most sincere and convincing address and i after questions put to the speaker I had been answered, a resolution of confidence, moved bv Mr. D. Win ! and seconded bv Mr. J. Badcock, was carried bv acclamation. MURCHISON, Sept. 22. Speaking to electors in the Murchison district, Major C. F. Skinner (Labour, Motueka ! ) said that the Government was not concerned as to 1 whether industries are State owned 1 or privatelv owned so long as they are able to supply economically the New Zealand markets with the goods required, but he could assure the people that the Government will control this country while it is the Gov- ! ernment, so that the majority, of the [people have what is considered to be a fair share of the production. The policy that has been followed in the past‘will be the policy of the future and where an industry is functioning in the service of the people there will be no necessity for it to become State owned. To illustrate his point, Major Skinner gave an example of what happened under private enterprise when Governmental control broke down. In Syria, a French protectorate, a government had been elected to direct the affairs of the country. Here the merchants had bought up all the wheat in the country, and had imported wheat, too, and it was held in their silos. The natives of Syria—hundreds of them—were starving to death because they could not get wheat. The Army was employing these natives to build roads, etc., and it became necssary to confiscate thewheat (paving the ruling price for it, of course) to feed them. The merchants were most indignant when the wheat was taken from their warehouses and issued to these Syrians and Bedouins, and they were genuinely hurt at this interference with what they considered to be legitimate business. MR NICOLAUS AT WALLSEND Last evenino- Mr Nicolaus spoke at Wallsend to a meeting of about 40 people. Mr J. Smeaton (Mayor of Brunner) presided. At the conclusion, after .answering a few questions, the speaker was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks. ‘ BRIGADIER HARGEST UNOPPOSED. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 21. The member for Awarua, Brigadier James Hargest, is a long way from the scene of the General Election in New Zealand, but he has been kept well informed about what is going on. Soon after nominations for candidates for seats in Parliament were closed, his wife sent him information bv cablegram that he had been elected unonposej for the Awarua seat, which he has held for the last eight years. To-day Mrs. Hargest received the following reply from Brigadier Hargest in a cablegram from Berne

(Switzerland): ‘‘Please convey to 1 the electors of Awarua my gratitude for their loyalty confidence, which I will endeavour to justify in the future.” NORTHERN MAORI ELECTION. AUCKLAND, September 22. How a big audience of Maoris at Mankamuka, Hokianga County, waited patiently for six and a-half hours for him to arrive, and address them, and, then listened to him for over three hours, from 2 a.m. till daylight, was related to-day by Mr. Tafiihana Paraire Paikea, Official Labour candidate for the Northern Maori seat, and son of the late P. KPaikea. In fourteen days, Mr. _ Paikea, who had been a prominent League footballer, weighting over 18 stone, addressed meetings at 63 different places. Difficulties of campaigning and native ceremonial surrounding the meetings made it impossible to adhere to the strict timetable. Therefore, the audience of placid Maoris were often compelled to exercise their characteristic patience.

Mr. Paikea said the contentions of the Maoris were that the Government should set up a tribunal to deal with land grievances and that there should be consolidation and development of native lands. Other questions interesting the tribes were housing, war policv and rehabilitation in its manv phases, social security, farming industries and education. He said the Maoris looked forward to the time when colleges for Maori youths which had been taken Over for war purposes would be reopened. There was also concern regarding accommodation for native workers in Auckland city. Mr. Paikea is concluding his campaign in Auckland City and suburbs. Riccarton Seat SITTING MEMBER SKIES THE TOWEL. P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 22. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle announces that, realising that his candidature as an Independent in Riccarton would involve a dividing of votes opposed to Labour, and would probably lead to |. Labour’s advantage in the Riccarton ! electorate, he has decided to withdraw \in favoui’ of the National Party’s ot- : ficial candidate, Mr. J. T. Watts. Mr. Kyle, therefore, has asked all his friends and supporters in Riccarton not to vote in his favour on Saturday. LABOUR'S VICTORY. IN AUSTRALIA. WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. The Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. J. Curtin, has replied to a cable message of congratulation sent to him by the Wellington Trades Council of New Zealand Federation of Labour. The Trades Council cable was as follows: “Wellington Trades Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour congratulate yourself and your party on your sweeping victory at the polls. By giving you this mandate, the people of Australia have not only endorsed the Labour Party’s direction of the Commonwealth’s war effort, but have also shown themselves solidly behind the progressive ideals of Labour.”— (Signed) F. P. Walsh (President), E. Warner (Secretary). Mr. Curtin’s reply is as follows: — “Please convey to your Council and to the Federation of Labour, the sincerest thanks of us all for your kind thoughts of us, which we very much appreciate.’’--(Signed) Curtin. WESTLAND LABOUR CAMPAIGN FUND,. The following further subscriptions to the Westland Labour Party’s Election Campaign Fund are acknowledged by the Secretary of the Westland L.R.C.. Mr Wm. Caldwell: Pat O’Farrell (2nd. donation) 10s 6d, Anon. 10s. Jas Donovan (Okarito) 10s, Pat Johnson £2 2s. Mrs McKane (Cobden) £l, D. Laird (Ruatapu) 7s 6d. L. Williams 7s 6d, Joe Hill 10s, Friend £2, John McQuilken ’ (Christchurch) 10s, Hon. F. G. Young M.L.C. (Auckland' £lO, Mark Wallace (Kokatahi) £l. Per E. Kirby (Harihari): Mr and Mrs J. Owen and Son (Evans Creek)

5s 6d, Charlie Clare (Evans Creek) 10s, E. Herlihy (Evans Creek) 10s, A. Gardner (Evans Creek) 4s 6d, Leo Haddock (Harihari) 10s, Henry Kidd (Harihari) 10s, Syd Kirby (Harihari) 10s, P. S. Hansen (Harihari) 2s 6d.

Per J. Holmes (Ross): F. Sharpe 2s 6d, W. Flaherty 10s, J. Holmes ss, “Rob” 2s 6d, E. Hargreaves 2s 6d, H. Phillips ss, M. McTigue 2s 6d, 1. Cummings 2s 6d, H. Arnold ss, J. Mason 2s 6d, Returned Soldier 2s 6d, A. N. Gilmore 2s 6d, J. Phillips 5s 6d, T. S. Williams (Greymouth) £l, J'. W. Marshall ss, S. Maskill 2s, Friend (Ross) £l, R. Madden 2s, R. S. Bennett 2s, D. Madden 2s, Otira Line £1 2s 6d; previously acknowledged £lll 15s fid; total £l4O Ils 6d.