"HOW SHALL I VOTE."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 November 1911, Page 4

"HOW SHALL I VOTE."

To the Editor,

Sir,—l want our ladies and tihe new electors just put on the roll, as well as all old electors, to digest the statements I will make (authenticated by Hansard) before they make up their minds what to do on December 7t(li. Tho first cry of tho Opposition is taxation; well, if the Opposition were in power now food would have been taxed more than 4s in the £. It was so when they were in Sower till 1891; now, the present overnmont has brought it down to lOd-ln the £. Does anyone take exception to that? Tho* Government policy is to protect our own manufacturers in this country, and put duty on tho goods wo can make which are in-ported in tho country. Motor oars, motor bikes, and ordinary bicycles nre not free, as Mr Monekton and his crowd would havo you believe; they are trying to throw dust in. your eyes and make you toilers think that the presont Government aro for the rich only. Only those parts of a motor car wfoach cannot be made in New Zealand aro duty free; the bfedy of tho car or any part that a coachbuildor could make are heavily duticd. Dr. Mackenzie let me into the know when he imported his new car to Levin lately; and he thought tho duty "vory" excessive.

All our curtains come from Peach and Company, in Nottingham; also most of our laoe; none is made in New Zealand; should it not come in freol Messrs Monckton and Oompanv do not explain those matters to their audiences; they show von a vision of pickles, tomato sauces, preserved milks, cornflowers, and cereal have to pay ; but it does not suit theOpposition to (say, like the Governdo C! people" patronise your local industries. Various New Zealand condiment manufacturer? make good pickles, prize winners, no duty on them! Preserved milk has no duty—if you take the Highlander brand Invereargill; tomato sa ice various manufacturers in New Zealand ; cereal foods from the various miPs; also very many more foodstuffs. "There is no duty on these; why .don't the Opposition "point these thin gs^out to you?" No, it is one of their tricks that they use in the way thev paint all thoirViews; don't be gulled by them, you young electors especially. They cry about titles coming to this country, hut if the King had given one- or two to tibe Opposition how quiet they would be. and pleased, too. Fancy Mr Monckton comparing the national debt of Now Zealand with America mid other places. Surely he must know, and is hiding from us, tlic fact that the people of America do not own their railways, telephones, or telegraphs. These syndicates are in the hands of syndicates with which the comnuniitv is in continual conflict. Great Britain's raiiwavs, too, are the nropcrty of 180.000 out of 45 minion people, and naif a. million people posses nearly all* the national wealth. A handful of capitalists there run the raiiwavs to get the maximum profit out of the whole of the people and very capable authorities sav they are a conspicuous example of bad arrangement and management. The companies and their servants _ arc even at this moment engaged in an industrial cataclysen covering the whole countiy with' disaster. New Zealamisspends about £1 per bead annually on education. Britain spends less than 6s. The State activities in New Zealand, financed with loan monies, have brought rates of interest down by somothiug like 5 per cent., supplying over eleven and a half millions of cheap money to settlers and fa rmers; reduced the price of coal, especially [to small consumers; saved the coni- ! munity about a million pounds in fire insurance premium rates; and benefited one and all. Wo must, in a young country like this, bor row for a while so a.s to push it on; don't bo scared, young electors, when you hear the Oppositionists wail and cry about our borrowing; we are, and will be, quite safe; it is well invested, and nearly all interest bearing; there is 7iever any fear about our exports; we are finding fresh markets everv now and again for our exports. The Oppasition cry out, "Don't borrow!" Just beforo the sessions ended the other day Mr G. Pearce, a young Opposition # member for Patea, when tho estimates oamo on, moved a reduction of £2000 to give tho Opposition a chance to show their sincerity, only two or three of his side stood to him; they saw his iunocenco had got him into trouble. Did Mr Massey vote to reduce tho amount? No! he went against him, and voted with Sir Joseph Ward. Still tiboy (the Opposition) say wo are borrowing too much, •bnt when it comes to a slice of a loan they try to get'the biggest, and do as a rule, although thoir constituents, I maintain, do nob deserve it as a punishment for electing an Oppositionist, who is practically against borrowing. If some of these Opposition districts did not get some of the railways, telephones, etc., they would soon cry out through their member for more borrowing money. Electors, it is a.proven fact that we must keep on borrowing for a while, and as we can do it without the least fear, shut your ears to this Opposition "twaddle."

Just 'before previous elections, premier Seddon (Lord rest his soul) was torn to bite likfe Sir Joseph is being now, 'n regard to wilful extravagance, and waste of moneys; I could'point to numerous occasions, if tfour space were not so precious. Still, the courtly did. not go to tho dogs, and. our laws turned out beneficial, and still do. If you want to find-out the Government policy, consult the papers or November 8; Sir Joseph gave it at Winton on the 7th, as well as hi his Budget. 'Phis country was never more prosperous than now, and it must be, under the beneficial laws being framed by tho present Government, and. I consider that if all of you young people who aro going to vote for the first time, and have practically lived and boon born under tfic,regime of the present Government, and have enjoyed the luxuries of this country and still have a prosperous time ahead of you, I say I think that if you do not vote for Mr Field (that is to say, for the present Government) you will be sorry for it. The Government, are our good and faithful servants; nc other party that wo would put into power would give you suoh a. good time. Tho Opposition proved a failure when they wore in up to 1391. Wages 5s a. day then, and bread 6d a loaf. Workers were sweated; all foods were dearer than What they are now; and they led the country to ruin until tho present Government came to the rescue. Mr Kier Bardie, who torred through New Zealand lately to study our country, when he returned! to England said "that all t portions of the Empire New Zealand was the best country for the workingman; that in New Zealand-thore was more comfort and the highest social conscience in regard to the claims of labour. Two other.; impartiaL visitors were Messrs an "and Beeby, labour ministers from New, South Wales, after a tJiofongh investigation of our laws 'thpv stated that New South Wales 'vmld-.dono better than follow New Zealand's i example, and if in one ,day'&,work~ they could absorb'all New 'legislation' they wbijld be

the Labour candidate (Mr Robertson) think of tlicso impartial opinions concerning our present Government? As a person who lias made a deep study of the political situation of this country—my birthplace —siuco a youth, my last word to you young doctors, especially who arc going to cast your iirst vote, is "east it for Mr Field" on Deoomber 7th, and you will never regret it.—Yours, etc., ''ADVANCE LIBERALISM."