EGMONT SEAT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 October 1928, Page 8

EGMONT SEAT.

1 HON. O. J. HAWKEN’S CAMPAIGN. H ADDRESS AT KAPUNI. »' Continuing his campaign as the sitr ting member and Reform candidate for • re-election as the representative of tlie Elgmont electorate, the Hon. 0. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, addressed a gathering of' about 70 persons in the Kapuni Hall last evening. Mr J. F. Stevenson presided. I “They tell me that for the first time there is going to be a majority at Ka- ’ puni for the Reform candidate,” said Mr Hawken in commencing his address. II “Never in your life,’.’ called an inter- [ jeetor. ' “I am assured it is so, and I hope 1 the prediction will be substantiated when the numbers go up,” replied Mr Hawken, who also l expressed the oonvic- ' tion that the Reform Party would be ' returned as the strong power in the coming Parliament. 1 The only difference between the policy of the present United Party and the ' Reform Party was so small that a declaration of independence between the two on the part of a candidate became an easy matter. Perhaps it might be said that the only difference was the bait of £70,000,000 and in that respect Mr Hawken noted that his opponent, Mr O. A. Wilkinson, had declared himself opposed to extravagant borrowing. While there were on paper three parties in New Zealand politics the tendency would, in Mr Hawken’,s opinion,, be to reduce the number ,to two and the weakening faction would be the new party. To those who wanted a stable Gov--1 emment, a capable vigorous and pro- ; gressive Government, there was not the slightest doubt .that the choice must fall on. the Reform Party, he said. “When an examination of the real business of the country is made it is found that the critics of the Government cannot support their case.” STATUS IN FINANCE. “I believe the finance of New Zealand is as sound as in any cither country,” declared the Minister during a survey of the financial position. “There is not an atom of truth in the statement that when the. last loan of £5,000,000 was raised .it was originally the intention to float £7,000,000, and the Government was advised to limit it to £5,000,000. As a Cabinet Minister I can give that suggestion an unqualified denial,” lie said, and went qn to point out that the Government had been able to borrow money when required and had actually been offered loans which were not accepted as the time was inopportune for incurring further liability. With the last conversion loan of £s>000,000 applications had been lodged by prospective investors for six amount put,on the market by the Government. That evidenced, unmista'keably, that the finances of the Dominion had been conducted in a manner which commanded confidence. “There-seems to be an impression that Sir Joseph Ward is the only person who can borrow money, but I can assure you that the Government is able to* borrow all it requires,”; said Mr Hawken in. referring tQ the United Party’s borrowing proposal. That proposal, it appeared, was “a good old vote-catcher.” He stressed the danger of boom and. subsequent slump conditions which would attend au extravagant distribution of finance. Because of that Sir Joseph Ward’s scheme yould not meet with the approval ot toe people and apparently it did not meet the entire approval of the United Party either. The policy pursued by the Government in respect of railways, land, housing, wheat duties and general taxation ; the functioning’ of the Dairy Board and Meat Board and assistance given to dairymen, fruit growers, honey producers poultry farmers and tobacco growers’ were dealt with by the speaker. Folio-wing his address he answered a number of queries. LAND TAX QUERY. “Does the town resident pay both land and income tax?” asked Air S. J. Harrison. . , The Alinister replied that the town resident paid land tax in that he was allowed to deduct 5 per cent, of the value of improvements on his land when his income tax was being assessed. He paid tax on an income of over £3OO with, exemptions for children under 18. _ , I Air Harrison: “But the farmer pays land tax only?’.’ Mr Hawken: “Yes. Mr Harrison:. “Then the town man is. penalised.’.’ ~.. Mr Hawken: “I don’t think so. You must remember that the land* tax ot the country owner must always be paid whether it brings income to the owner or not, whereas in the case of the town man he can’t pay tax on income he does not receive.” DAIRY CONTROL. Air E. Scott: “Where you always in favour of dairy control and the compulsory clauses?” . Mr Hawken: ‘‘l was never an favour of the compulsory clauses being put into effect, and I voted against that when on the board, but itte clauses strengthen the value of the Act, and I would advise farmers to allow the clauses to remain.” . Answering a further question from, Mr Scott as to whether he had voted for the amendment proposing a delay in the adoption of companion, Mr Hawken said he had not done iso.. He explained that it was not the desire ; of the Government to Interfere With the board which bad been iriectod by the dairy farmers to carry out the wishes of the latter. He had no recollections of formerly giving the questioner the assurance of the Government that the compulsory clauses, would not be put into effect. . .. ■ A Government nominee on the Dairy Board voted as he wished. He would not favour the abolition of Government nominees on the board, said Air i Hawken in further reply to Air Scott. Air Harrison: “Couldn’t yon. do with less men on the board? ’ . , , Air Hawken: “The dairymen wished to have the board and representation had to be arranged.” Answering further questions ccmoernin°- the compulsory clauses Mr Hawken explained that while- he did not think it likely thev would be .put ante effect again, their presence m the Act was of great vaihie in enabling, the board to act in the best interests ot the producers. , , Referring to the “Newsletter ’ report of Air-Ha when’s remarks at the Reform Leaaue Conference in August as cited Ivy Messrs, R, Alasters and C A. Wilkinson recently, Air Scott asked: Are you .in' favour of the ' vicious system or buying votes?” . , . “It appears that th© minds of some people cannot be f re£ of isiuspicion, * jeplied Mr Hawken. “It is as .plain as a pikestaff what my reason was. My attitude was: Here is a big body ot ■ people who are entitled to consideration and this matter will, improve their position. Surely there was nothing j wrong in that.” , Mr Sloven son asked whether in the event of the subsidy being: taken off ' wheat, the Dominion would be aepen- J

dent on Australia, and, if so, what ivouid be the effect on the price in New: Zealand. Tlie Minister replied that if the protection were not granted there was not ■the sliighest. doubt the South Island growers would go out of business'. In that case New Zealand would have to J pay the world market price pluis freight j charges. | “There is not the slightest doubt in | my mind that Reform is going hack,” said/ Colonel T. Sutherland, in proposing ai vote of thanks to Mr Ha when. “The fact that from the many excellent men i ■ available our member was selected for the position of Minister of Agriculture affords striking. evidence of the opinion held among the political fenders of his integrity .and- ability, and I think the electorate would be very foolish if it failed to keep his iservices.” The motion, wasi seconded! by Mr J. Paterson, aiid carried with taocTtarnation.