EGMONT SEAT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 November 1928, Page 5

EGMONT SEAT.

MR HAWKBN AT KAPONGA. THU FARMER AND TAXATION. One of the largest meetings ever held in the Kaponga Town Hall took place last night when, in pursuance of iiis campaign for the Egmont seat, the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. 0. J. Hawken) addressed the electors there. Mr Alan Bates presided. Despite an almost continuous, fire o.f interjections during his speech and a fusillade of questions at the conclusion, the candidate delivered a telling address, scored freely off his mterjectors and gave effective answers to his questioners. The chairman in a few introductory remarks said that any deputation of which he had been a member had always met a most considerable hearing from Mr Hawken as Minister, who had shown himself out to help the small industries. “Including honey,” said a voice. “Why not?”, said the candidate. “It is a very good industry and a. lot of men are working in it.’.’. Continuing, the chairman said Mr Hawken had helped in the finance of the Kaponga Town Board and other local bodies. Mr Haw:ken said he would refer first to the campaign in Elgmont and how there came to be the two candidates now standing. He said his opponent did not seem ho know just where he Reform Party some years ago, but now stood. He had been in the House in the he would not say winch party he would support. He had made a good many explanations concerning his position, but had he told the real reason why lie left the party in 1918? With , all his explanations, he plainly found it difficult to support the policy laid down by Sir Joseph Ward. “I hope,” said the Minister, “he knows where he stands, j for no one e.lse seems to do so.”. “We know if you don’t,’.’ said an elector. The electors, continued the speaker, were entitled to know, if Mr Wilkinson should be returned, what would be his position. He apparently had a leaning to the United Party. “He does not need to say,” said an interruptor, “lie’s independent.” “He does not need a policy at all, apparently,” retorted the candidate, “but the people do like to know the general line of a man’s policy.” Mr Wilkinson had distinctly stated that he Was opposed to the completion of the 1 railways which he said were not paying. Sir Joseph Ward would borrow ten millions to do. that work. The latter stated that it was necessary to i make work to cope with unemployment I: and this would t»e tne best metho.d of I employing men. Mr Wilkinson was prepared to reduce customs duties and I criticised these severely, but the speak>er asked if Sir Joseph was in favour of | these reductions. That leader had alwvays favoured the secondary industries, i “There are three planks,”, said- Mir : Hawken, “which my opponent is not prepared to follow. I don’t think he knows where he is.” A voice: ‘ ‘Knows where he’d like to be.” “That’s as far as he will get,” replied the candidate. A man who got into Parliament as an Independent could get no where, said Mr Hawken. A voice: “"What about Harry At-j more?” “Simply a critic,” came the reply, “without any weight. He was powerless to exert an influence and almost always went over to one party or the other.” Mr Wilkinson had said, added Mr Hawken, that he had a leaning to the Uni teds. This was a party that was not required at the present juncture. Mr Hawken said the Tab our Party was likely to win some seats for they had a great following in the towns. They were “rowing a quiet oar’ at present, but working assiduously. Many thought their colour had faded to a pale pink, blit they were, actually just as Ked as ever. They considered it wise mot to shout too loud just now. There was a danger of the two opposing parties in the House—the - Uniteds would, he believed., be very weak however—uniting when there was 'a chance of upsetting the Government. A voice : “Labour, however, voted for Control.” “NO PLACE TO GO.”

“And no reason why they should not. There were only two lobbies,’’ said Mr Hawken. He could picture the Uniteds wandering about wondering where to, go. There was actually no room for the so-called United Party. Mr Hawken referred briefly to the wheat duties of which so much, had been made and asked if New Zealand was to get all her wheat from Australia and so put out of employment all the men engaged in the industry. It was better to keep the money in this country, and in addition there was always the risk of a strike or droughts in Australia. The price of bread, say in Hawera, was practically the same as quoted in Victoria. Was it worth while, because of the duties, to put five or six thousand men out of a jon. As Minister of Agriculture, he had to- consider all sections of the people, hut Mr Wilkinson was

not considering all. “Why should no! we help tlie men. on the land?” said Mr Hawken. “Why Continue, as Mr Wilkinson would do, to support so strongly the secondary industries and tell the farming community to face open competition on the markets of 'the world. When I became a Minister, I determm--1 ed to try to make up to the farmer something of' what it was costing to support the town people. The condition of the farmers caused me much concern and at that time there was trouble all over the world, 600,000 farmers walking off the land in U.S.A. and farmers in the Old Country having great difficulties to face. When you consider what has been done to help the farmer, what would you think of raising the price of butter a penny per pound to give the farmers a bopus as was done by the Paterson scheme in Australia? The removal of the tariffs in New Zealand would mean that ‘the manufacturers would have to compete with the cheap labour of the Old World. Men would be out of work or -would receive a much lower wage. Most people knew this -was the case.” The farmer, though he worked long hours, was the worst paid of all workers and the speaker could not see why he should, no.t be helped. He referred to the cement industry and said it was paying much better than was suggested by Mr Wilkinson,, who would support this industry. “But what about the fanners?” he -added. “All should be treated alike.” As Minister of Agriculture, it was his. job to. see. that the primary producer was treated as well as those in towns! for otherwise there would be 'the drift to the towns. If they wished to keep, men on the land, they must make it , worth, while. He had originated the ' wheat duties and then agitated for ancl I secured a large remission of freights, on manures so. as. to let the farmers get them cheaply. The North, Island nsed three-fourths'of the total supply of for-, tMisers. He referred also to the help, given to the other small farming industries. New Zealand would be a country of small holdings and the Government must help and when they did some people said, “we want their vote.’.’ A voice: “'Sou said so yourself.” “They still vote for us,”, he said. He, added' that the subsidy given to fruit farmers had been .reduced. Thp subsidy had increased production, given better prices an kept out foreign fruit. Mr Hawken referred to the boot industry and said that there were only 2.500 workers engaged in 1901 and less now. The people paid a Luge sum to the industry through the Customs. He considered there was a better case to support the primary industries. CONTROL BOARDS. Mr Hawken referred to the control boards for various industries and briefly recapitulated the great assistance they had given to farmers of all classes, in freights, insurance and in methods of marketing. He said he considerd the Dairy Board, as acting to-day, gave much service. He added that under the Acts the country people received all the concessions possible. It was stated that the towns could combine and secure similar benefits, hut they would not do so. When the industries were completely organised it would he found that, despite the trouble they had had, they would be getting benefits from legislation passed by the Re- , form Party. FINANCE FOR FARMERS. Mr Hawken said that as Minister of I Agriculture, he had had specially to look after the claims of farmers- and nine years ago -lie had urged Mir Massey ■to straighten out the finance of the farmers. Now in place of the expensive short term mortgages, they had the Long Term Credits and the Intermediate Credits Acts in operation and when they were both fully organised, they would be of inestimable benefit, mortgages would be on that system, land values would be stabilised and, the position of the farmers infinitely improyed. Under the former Act over a million and a quarter had been advanced and a considerable sum under the other Act. He wished to see trade and fanning both improve and increase and that would make places like Kaponga grow. This would be his policy and therefore it would be wise to- return the Minister of Agriculture to the House. A voice: “Which House,the Upper House?’!

Finance, he added, had been put on a sound footing during the past three years, and the last loan, bow-owed to pay back part of the loans maturing next year, had been secured at a lower rate than in the case of Australia and six times the ainount had been offered. The United Party had been saying that we were borrowing too much, while they wished to go in for a huge loan. There, were nevey such easy terms in financial circles of recent years, and while returns were increasing, the people were saving, and this must operate to- bring down rates. He referred briefly to. the remarkable increase in the trade balance in favour of the Dominion, and this with a season that looked certain to be another record, made the position sound and convinced him that at the end of the season all the surplus labour would be fully employed, despite Sir Joseph Ward’s gloomy prognostications that there, would be thirty to forty thousand people unemployed next Year. The Labour Party in its worst' estimate had never' exceeded

ten thousand, and probably it was considerably less. lie believed there would not be a man out of work. A voice: “You’ll be out of a job.” “Perhaps I know better,” said Mr. Hawken. He added that this talk about possible unemployment and huge borrowing would do great damage to the country, and outside, people would think farmers were in a. desperate plight. As a fact the country was never in a better condition.

HOUSING AND LAND, Mr. Hawken referred to the housing scheme and gave particulars- of the work done, in' the towns for workers. He also gav;e some details of the schemes for enaibling small men and farm workers to get -farmlets while they were, still working at their occupation. The. townsmen, he said, had a good chance, and now it was for the country worker to. benefit and improve his position, so that each one could get a place and a home of his own. A voice: “Are you not pulling his leg?” “AYe never pull anyone’s leg,” retorted; Mr. Hawken. “What we say we will do, we shall do, and we are carrying out all Our promises.” “1 put in my application now,” said an interjector. “Forward your application and I shall do my best for you,” came back the Minister’s reply, and he was loudly applauded; even by the noisy section. He added some remarks about the Government’s policy in regard to unused land and cutting up land into smaller areas. He added that much land in Taranaki could still be subdivided with advantage, and said that under the new system even more subdivision was possible. The old Liberal policy had been to cut up land, for settlement, but to give no good access, and that was the reason for so much deterioration. This Government was taking means to provide adequate transport, and' he mentioned the Taupo-Rotorua railway. He referred to the fact that the Reform Party had 32 farmers in its personnel, while tlije other two included only a very small percentage. He spoke briefly of the genesis of the Highways Board and the petrol tax, and said that the roading policy of the Reform Party had saved the farmer from being swamped by local rates, and had’ made the users of the roads help to. pay for their upkeep. He was sure the scheme would redound in the future to the credit of the Government responsible for its introduction. They were now rapidly getting good roads everywhere. He urged the people to look at the larger issues, and asked if anyone could find fault with any policy measure introduced by Reform. In regard to the contest, it was, he said,. important to understand the position and to realise that unless care were taken there was a danger of town and country disagreeing. The Reform policy aimed at securing unanimity. He said that he had been elected when twenty-one years old to a county council, and had never lost an election, and he felt sure he would not lose this on the fourteenth. A FIRE OF QUESTIONS. Ref erring to the ’ “Newsletter,’ which an elector said had' been hawked round) the country, Mr Hawken said it would be found to be worth 1 reading, and he would stand! by, its contents. He said that the expression, need “at all costs,” was merely an ordinary expression. The party had been, working bard for sixteen years -for the people and had never- ceased to strive noth that end in view. They could truthfully my they had! never shown favouritism at any time to any district. He added it was often different in the oi’d days. Regarding the iliquor question, lie said he had always bisen and! still was, of the opinion that prohibition should be decided by a small majority, so that there could be no> dispute in oag© of a very -small number, in favour of a, change. In regard to the 'suggestion j thnt he had been .“wobbling, ’’ h© challenged the questioner to prove’ that statement and said lie had signed a paper 1 some year or so ago and had never varied from bis opinion thjan given. He added that he would not say ha was not in favour of' prohibi- , 'n. Actually he added that he considered 525—-47 a- was a fair margin. He had opposed the daylight .saving of fast y?ar, and in regard to this year’s half-hour splierne,' he 'stated! that it was the result of a compromise between town and country members. He isaid in regard to daily control that he had voted against the proposal bv Mr Na sh tp wipe out the compulsory clauses, for he believed that, as the farmer, by his own voting and of his own volition, had brought in. the Act, no repeal should come except in the same way. He did not know if, when the trouble came with the merchants at Home, the fanners had actually lost much, and he knew many who were keenly disappointed that the Act was not enforced. He added that some factories out of. control had paid out lens than those undter that system. He suggested, that a bad market or overnnoply might easily have been responsible. In regard to the houses of workers at the forestry depot in Otago, he .said that these were under contra 1 , of the Public Works a.ud not of bis Department. He believed the places were now much improved.

In reply to others, ho isaid lie was I not pledged to til© New Zealand Af.li- . anoe, and in regard to married lady I ceaehers, said he was informed that I there was not a single teacher who had gone through a training college who 1 was out of work. In reply to a question in regard to finance, lie said it was on record that Reform in three years had lent farmers, workers and others a total- of fifteen millions. He isaid it proved that Reform had done at least as well as the Liberals years ago. Referring to the Taupo railway, Mr Hawken toldi a questioner that he had said it wa,s started.. Actually, he said, they had- sent 250 regular einployeets from another district who were out of a job to begin work on the Taupo fine, but of course the department had- still more questions there to consider. • A suggestion, made by an elector that because Mr Coates brought down his Licensing Bill without consulting the party, it was a “one-man Government” was answered by Mr Hawken to the effect that it was altogether anon-party measure. Referring to the party advertising in the “Hawera Star,” Mr Hawken said that the “Star” got no special privilege that other papers did not get. He added that that paper supported Reform because it had ,sufficient sense to. appreciate the good work of the Government. Mr Harrison still insisted; that Mr Hawken had not told 1 them where he stood in regard to licensing. The Minister told him again categorically that he was not in favour of a bar© majority, nor an increase in the time between polls, but was distinctly in favour of two issues only. In reply to the same questioner, Mr Hawken said that there were a number of Independent Reform, candidates because there was very lithe between Reform and the United Party and some were taking advantage -of that position. Tiler© were a- few now in the House called Independents, but they general'lv voted with the Party. Men like Mr Ransom, he added, were working on Liberal laurels. H; said in reply to a questioner that he was satisfied the Te W©r.a land purchase was going to be all right, and he believed they could make 10 per cent. 011 the farming of the area, A voice: “You’ll probably gist an o ppo rfcunity. ” Mr Hawken: ‘‘l ishall be very pleased to have the opportunity. The questioners had occupied so much time in their questions that the hour was growing 'at© and the audience restive and anxious to get away home. A motion of thanks and no confidence was quickly moved, and was followed by one of thanks and confidence. It was urged bv an elector at the back < f the ball that this was a direct negative. Th© chairman hesitated on the question and a motion of thanks for the able address was moved and seconded. The feeling of the large majority appeared to be with Mr Harwken, but in the confusion of the gathering no vote was carried, except one of thanks to the chair, moved by Mr Hawken and carried by acclamation. MR WILKINSON AT OKAIAWA. MOTION OF CONFIDENCE. Delivering his second speech of the present election campaign at Oka-iawa, Mr C. A. AYilkinson, tUe Independent candidate for the figment seat, addressed a. gathering of about 100 in the Town Hak fast evening. Mr Wilkinson held the interest of the aucuenoa throughout his address, which was punctuated x>y frequent outbursts of applause. In conclusion he was accorded a vote of. thanks and confidence, with very few dissentients after the decisive defeat of an amendment to eliminate, the expression of confidence. Mr A. Lees was voted to the chair. In introducing the candidate, the chairman emphasised that independence of thought was a desirable factor in political affairs. “This is the. only place to. which I have had to make a return visit,”" said Mr Wilkinson in response to the applause which greeted him. “Unfortunately on my fast visit the weather was not propitious and the attendance w!as comparatively small. 1 am pleased t-o meet a much . bigger -audience this evening and to note that you are in such a cheerful mood.”

In refutation of certain rumours, Air Wilkinson repeated! his former assurances that lw> had no personal 1 ,; differences* with his opponent, the Mon. O. J. Hawken. “It hais also been stated ;tha,t I was pushed' out of Parliament formerly as th© result of differences | with the fate Mr Alassey,” continued ;Alr AYilkinson, “but I want to tell you ‘that that is quite incorrect. AVe rniay ’ha ve had little differences of a political i nature when in Parliament, bat nothing more than that, and All* Alassey and I myself were on friendly terms when I I retired,” He remarked that just before the following election Air Massey had been a .guest at hi! home, in Elthami. At that election Air AAfifkinison had given his support to the candidature of Air Hawken.

Giving an account of his stewardship kteParliament from 1912 to 1919, Air Wilkinson referred to the strike of 1913 and the Great War and claimed to have-served the interests of Egmont and the general interests of the country to the best of Ilfs ability.

Defining his position as.an Independent. Air AYilkinson explained that lie could not support the Labour Party, the United Party or the Reform Party, though with modification ot its financial policy lie would be iuolined te be disposed in a friendly manlier to the United Party from which he hoped would emanate a poi’iiicy of real benefit to the country. The Labour Party was*, classed by Air AVilkimson as being one which would legislate principally for a particular section.

“We don’t want any particular section to be the dominating influence,” continued Air Wilkinson, “For instance. wo Mould not' Tiki© to be governed by the newspapers, though they tell us a lot about it, and occasionally they give us a few pictures.” (Laughter). A voice: ‘ ‘Atust have been doubleheaders. ’ ’ (Laughter). Following the fines of his former addresses, Air AYilkinson proceeded to criticise the Government on the grounds of taxation, lack of economy in Government, excessive, borrowing, expenditure ,official instead of .Parliamentary control, railway administration, and the alleged fack of a land policy." r FLOUR AND' FINANCE.

Mr Wilkinson was referring to this taxation of flour, _ which he said was £5 10s, when a'voice interjected: “Tonight’s paper says £2.” Mr Wilkinson: “No. I don’t think they would; make a mistake like that. I cair assure you the tax is £5 10s.” That tax was one which! .would not be tolerated in England and should; not bte tolerated in the Dominion, declared Mr Wilkinson. On that heading alone the Government should he swept from office, and it was amazing that the Labour Party, which purported to represent the poorer people, had had nothing to say on the subject. It was said that in Hawiara the price of bread was lid for a 4lb ■ l K»af, but whatever the price it would be cheapened by: the removal of the tax. . , Criticising taxation, Mr Wilhinson stated that per head of population,

New Zealand was, according to the Hon. Winston Church-illfa figures, the highest taxed country ‘in the . world, with the exception of Great Britain. The public debt had increased igreat- : y under Reform administration. In 1908 it had been £65,000,000, or £66 par head of population. In 192 Sit was £251.000,000 or £174 per head. It had to be admitted that thi© war debt accounted for £72,000,000 and advances to -settlers another £30,000,000, but the increase was still remarkably heavy. It had also to be conceded that in the I next and succeeding years loans of £8,000,000, £14,000,000 and £22,000,000 respectively were falling due. One of the loans, £40,000,000, had been obtained at 4 per cent., but the conversion would have to b© made at a higher rate and money was not now available at that figure. HYDRO-ELECTRICITY. “These estimates are worthless, and merely mislead the taxpayer,’’ said Mir Wilkinson in referring to the Prime Minister’s claim that when the hydroelectric schemes were completed the Dominion would derive a profit of eight to ten milliorus a year. Mr Wilkinson stated that the estimated cost of the head works at Mangahao had been » £438.000. but the actual cost had been £1,148,000, and adding the . cost of sub-stations and transmission lines, the total cost was- £2,373,000. The capital cost made the scheme an absolute disaster to the taxpayer. The operation costs, including interest of £106,000, would amount to £175,000, wheeras the best revenue was £102,000, leaving a loss of £63,000. The loss last year, when current had to be received from other sources', was £131,000, and the accumulated losses to March 31, 1928, were £255,737. If charges were mI creaised the people would cease to take the current. “There- is no possible way to make this venture pay. Is is not, nor can it ever be, a commercial undertaking,” declared Mr Wilkinson. He referred 1 to the Holmes report made recently, in which it was stated that the foundations were faulty and might give trouble. “I’m not saying that is correct or otherwise,” said - Mr. Wilkinson, “but Mr. Holmes was at one time the trusted servant of the Government, and such a report is disquieting to the taxpayers.” Replying to a statement made by Mr. Hawken at Riverlea, in which when referring to Mr. Wilkinson’s remarks on the wheat duty Mr. Hawken remarked upon the absence of reference to duty on cement, Mr. Wilkinson described the comment as a personal attack, and averred such was a tactic to which he would not resort. His association with the cement company was" his personal business, though he had no reason to be ashamed of the connection, and prominent members of the Reform Party were also connected! with the company. “If we cannot win a contest without introducing personalities we should lose it,” said Mr. Wilkinson. Criticising the dairy control policy, be reaffirmed his desire to have the compulsory clauses of the Act deleted', whereas his opponent, Mr. Hawken, advocated the retention of the clauses. The statements made by Mr. Hawken to the Reform League Conference in August, as reported. in the “Newsletter,” were dealt with at length by Mr. Wilkinson, who in conclusion inquired whether party interests should be. plaoed before those of the electorate. Further applause followed the con- fa elusion of the address. QUESTION TIME. Commencing the question session, Mr. C. N. Taplin inquired why . the “Hawera Star,” which published “such scathing articles on the political situation,” had not dealt similarly with the “Newsletter” statements outlined by Mr. Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson replied he could not give an opinion on the subject, and the chairman announced that the matter was hardly a political one. Answering another question, Mr. Wilkinson repeated that he! would favour the deletion of the compulsory clauses from the Dairy Control Act. “Mr. Hawken has been accused of voting for compulsory control,” sai# Mr. H. Wells, “but he did- not. What has the candidate to sav to that.” “I was referring to his political action in the House, not to what he may have done on the Dairy Board. In the House he failed to vote for Mr. Nash’s amendment to delete the c-om-pulso ry cl auses. ” “1 object to the worry which has been caused to the. country people,” said Mr. Wilkinson with reference to the present half-hour summer time measure. Mr. S. J. Bennett voiced strong disapproval of the measure, which he described' as “an imposition after the Summer Time Bill had been turned down by the House.” j 'Mr. AY. Thornhill: “Is it not a sign 'of lack of parental control to state that mothers could not get their children to go to bed earlier.” : % Mr. Bennett: “Why don’t you try to get the birds to go to sleep before dark?” ( Merriment followed the retort, and a crossfire of comment passed, which resulted in Mr. Thornhill saying: “You could do with a; bit of my condition, friend. In the last six months I’ve worked 10 hours a day.” Mr. Beiinett: “I’ve worked' more than that.” Mr. Thornhill: “Not so hard. AA r o iking points, perhaps.” (Laughter.) ! - , -Mr. Wards referred to the candidate’s opposition to the dairy control scheme, and asked, if it was a fact that control was. not in the best interests of the industry why was it that factories which sold under control re- . ceived better results than those which did not. Mr. AYilkinson suggested that perhaps a member of one of the dairy company directorates; might be able to answer the query, and Mr. Bennett announced the difference was due to the premium 011 superfine. Mr. Wards: ‘Won say that the Dairy Board cost £37.000, but we were also told that the cost to the industry of having agents travelling round was £40,000. AA r ould not the industry still be better off if operations were made through the board?” Mr. Wilkinson replied that with the agents competing better prices were realised. He explained that contention at length. Replying to Air. Wells, the candidate "said he would not support Labour on a no-confidence motion against the present Government, but he would support one put forward hy the United Party. “J hope we tell put Air. .Wilkinson at the top of the poll,” said; Air. E. Thomas in proposing a vote of thanks to and confidence in Air. Wilkinson, i The proposal was greeted with applause, "and was seconded by Mr. W. B. Clark. . ' ■ __ An amendment proposed, by Air. Wards to delete the word confidence in was seconded by Mr. E. G. Betts amid a demonstration of disapproval. When quietness was restored the chairman, who had not heard the original seconder, accented the offer of Air. Wells to second the amendment. The amendment was lost hy.au overwhelming majority on the voices, and the motion was carried by a similar margin.