ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 October 1928, Page 7

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

HON. F. J. ROLLESTON AT TIMARU (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TTMARU, .Oct. 23. The Hon. F. J. Rolleston, AttorneyGeneral, opened his campaign for the Tima.ru seat- to-night, when he addressed a sympathetic meeting. He gave a resume of what had been accomplished by the Reform. Government during the past three years, and outlined its policy for the future. He criticised the policies of the Labour Patty and United Party to show that they were greatly inferior to Reform.

Referring to Sir Joseph Ward’s proposal for a £70,(XX),000 loan, Mr Holies ton said the loan was impracticable on the terms* suggested and very costly. The Labour proposals, if given effect to, would be still more costly and would involve more borrowing than under the Reform policy. Referring to Labour’s professed interest in the farmers, Mr Rolleston said that when protection for the vital wheat growing industry was before the House Labour voted solidly against it. The Reform Government had striven for goodwill and industrial peace among all classes, progressive development and national safety.

MINISTER OF FINANCE SPEAKS

DUNEDIN, Oct. 23. The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) opened his campaign to-night, being well received by a large audience. The problem in New Zealand, he said, was no'fc, as was so frequently alleged, the problem of land aggregation and land but of restoring financial confidence in farm securities. In this respect he disagreed with Sir Joseph Ward when he said that it was necessary to import £60,000,000 for farmers’ finance. In Mr Stewart’s opinion there were large sums of money in all the financial institutions awaiting investment if they could be assured that land values were stabilised and that the security was adequate. To lend vast sums of money at less than market rates would only produce fresh inflation of land values and re-create the artificial conditions from which the country was just escapThis led the Minister to an attack on Sir Joseph Ward's borrowing policy, which was, made in no uncertain terms. He described the proposal a*s extravagant and spendthrift and stated tna „ Sii" Joseph Ward was too much of a plunger for the prudent people ot New Zealand. , The Minister went on to reply to recent criticism bv Mr Holland, rerutin<r the allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition, particularly m regard to tax reduction. No fair critic, who examined the facts, he stated, could deny the Government had carried- out a. very active programme m the interests of all sections of the community and at the same time* kept within the limits of what the Dominion could reasonably afford.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. CHRISTCHURCH. Oct 23. Mr H E Holland, Leader of the Opposition! addressed a meeting here to-nio-bt The Mayor, the Rev J. K. Arc 3 ,her over a. crowded and entireiv friendly audience Mr Holland accused Mr Coates ot having failed to redeem his. election promises and declared that if Latoui were returned to office the chief points of the platform would he put ■ nro creration in the first three years. Tne Ln-b----our Party would revise the whoile. pensions .system, with an all-round increase. would make all education nee with free school books, and woUjcl Ri'® equal pay for eauial work by s uooi t-eficlicrs. The Laibouir Party proposed to 1 ake away from the Government d“lr'! foments the power to override dilute law. It would repeal boy conscription. Special attention would he paid to> the .secondary industries by the La tour Party, which would not he uitra-vro-tectionist or ultra-freetrade, hut would deaf' with each industry on its merits. Referring to the licensing q-eisTion, Mr Holland said a. number of mempers of the Reform Party were prohibitnni.sts and these members had prevented Mr Coates from carrying out h'fi. v-em-ises to the liquor peope. At the fonelusion ACr Holland vas cheered, and a motion of thanks. ’e the leader and eonfidenoe in vlin ml our Part.*, moposed by Air E.J. Howard, M.P.'. Was carried with one or two dissentients.

AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE. NELSON, Oct. 24. Mr H. Atmore, Independent candidate addressed a crowded meeting in the Theatre Royal. last evening llie speaker strongly criticised Air Coates s administration and paid a great tribute to Sir Joseph Ward, regarding him as the only statesman in Australasia and approving of his loan d.iicl rciilv ay policy. The candidate was accorded an unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. HON Ri. A. WRIGHT DISCUSSES GOVERNMENT’ S OPPONENTS WELLINGTON. Oct. 24. The Hon. R. A. AVright, Alinister of Education, opened his campaign last night and traverser! the proposals or the Government’s opponents. Ot Sir Joseph Ward, be said 'that ‘‘wild cat schemes should find no place m UlC,{UStory of New Zealand, nor should they he adopted by the people of any couu-

cry. As to Mr H. E. Holland lie said, that that gentleman was sent by his party to the Australian Labour Congress, which admitted Communists tot affiliation and Mr Holland was appointed a member of its council of action, along with Garden, the Comnuinist. Mr Holland should take a little of his own medicine before chiding Mr Coates for comparing New Zealand and Australia. Mr Wright received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. SIR JOHN LUKE’S CAMPAIGN. ' WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. Sir Jtsm Luke also started his election campaign for Wellington North last might. He urged the electors to have nothing to do with the parties which were trying to upset the good Government they had had for 16 years* He received a vote of confidence.