FINAL SHOTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 September 1927, Page 5

FINAL SHOTS

IN RAGLAN CAMPAIGN LABOUR PARTY’S POLICY. POLLING-DAY TO-MORROW. (Per Press Association). Hamilton. September 28. “The Reform Government is on trial in this contest,” said Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, speaking at Ngaruawahia last even ing on behalf of the Labour candidate. Mr W. Lee Martin, to an attendance of 600. The fight was not a question of the Labour party versus the Reform party, said Mr Holland, the issue was the Government’s position, and the Reform party was invited to defend its administration. He challenged the Government on its failure to keep promises made during the 1925 election campaign. The Government had not kept its promises to relieve the position of the farmers, stated Mr Holland, who attacked the Government’s land policy and its alleged failure to check land aggregation. The speaker said that Mr Coates had stated that the Labour party had thrown aside its land policy, but the Labour party still adhered to its policy of occupation and use. If a landholder wanted to gamble with his land, the Labour party had nothing to offer him. If a landholder wanted to hold his land for the nur pose of using it. the Labour party would have everything to offer him The Labour part" would stop aggregation by applying a steenlvgraded land tax against big estates or by acquisition bv purchase. If negotiations for voluntary sale and' purchase failed, compulsion would be applied • A vote of no confidence in the Reform Government was carried bv ac clamation.