POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 15, 6 September 1928, Page 2

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MR. W. NASH SPEAKS AT MOERA. [ Mr. W. Nash, the Labour Party's nominee for the Hutt Eeleetorate, opened his campaigrn in the Hutt at the Mb|era Hall last Thursday evening. Mr. C. iM. Groome presided over an attendance I which half filled the hall. ! Mr. J. A.' Lee, member for Auckland East addressed the electors for an hour in a dramatic manner on the shortcomings of the present Government, and endeavoured to show how they had increased the public debt, and that the debt grows and grows because the Reform Party will not tax. ' ' We borrow and we borrow, and when the loans fall due we borrow again." "During the next three years 76 millions in loans has to be repaid.'' '< Every worker must produce a quarter million more and spend a quarter million less to repay it." "The Labour Party would borrow but not foolishly." .. " The*wealthy sections of New Zealand are not paying one-half what they paid in 1920, and working men and women have had the harshest period imposed upon them.'' "For huge wealthy interests tfte Government are compelled to borrow." 1 ' The Government gave a Dreadnought to Great Britain and *the -debt goes marching on. Precarious patriotism! '' "Sir Joseph Ward got a title and we now pay for it." "The Government are always talking about turning the corner and a silver lining in the sky, but the National Debt is } two hundred and eleven millions.' ' Mr. Lee spoke of the contracting influence in Land Settlement which had drriven 13,581 people off the land, and the Government was brining thousands of people from overseas to intensify the problem. Men and women are being driven off the land into the cities. In the interests of huge wealthy concerns, the Government was compelled to borrow. ' The high Bank rate and interest rates were referred to. Also the huge withdrawals from the Sayings Bank caused by unemployment. Working people were compelled to deplete their accounts; yet New Zealand people were the most sober and industrious of people, and New Zealand was the wealthiest country on the face of the j earth. The bright and brainiest boys are able to go to the best schools in the country and the Government sets uut to use the unemployed army to break down the standard of wages to 9/- and 12/- per day. Yes, 9/- and 12/- a day free of income tax. £980,000 in the Construction Account could have been used for »nemployment. Money was being extracted from the people and spent,on the few.

Mr. Lee went on to say the Liberal Party was not worth discussing. He had no time for them. "Who are they, what are they, and where are they? They may select a new name to-morrow. All Field Marshals, and no rank and file. Isn't it screamingly funny! Most sorry party in Parliament to-day. They are beyond me. There are only two parties — Labour the only patriotic party which represents the brains in the State. The other party is the Reform Party.

Mr. Nash opened with a Biblical r-tury of the making of wine—the best at the end. This time they had the best at the beginning (referring to Mr. Lee).

He said, there were only two parties — Labour with the brains, and Anti-Labour using all forces against Labour.

The children leaving school were then referred to. 26,000 leave the Primary Schools; about 7,000 got into the Secondary Schools and 19,000 to work, v 12,000 added to-the factories and 6000 added to unemployment each year. The money that pays the dole is paid by the worker, Wealth is only created by the worker, by hand a brain. Employment is not being found for boys and girls. Those who can use their brains are not allowed to do so. The only people who lender service who are not being paid for it are the workers. Bernard Shaw says

each worker keeps two others who do not work at all. The cost of the Workers Accident Insurance was referred to as 9/7 on every £1., the worker only receiving 10/5 on claims. In Canada workers received £95 on every £100. In New Zealand £61 each £100. Two large insurance companies were then quoted—Wational and South British. The profits of the former were £66,767, and of every £100 paid to the South British, £170 was returned to the shareholders. The exorbitant profit only comes from the worker. "Man cannot live by bread alone," said the speaker. "It could be God's own Country.'' Mr. Nash after speaking for 35 minutes said he did not intend to state the policy of the Labour Party. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lee and Mr. Nash. The electors were then asked to join the Labour Party and form a branch and committee.