MOTUEKA SEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1932, Page 5

MOTUEKA SEAT

MR WEBB’S SPEECH

OFFICIAL LABOUR CANDIDATE.

(Per Priss Association — Copyright.)

NELSON, November 1

Mr P. C. Webb, th©- official Labour candidate for the Motueka seat, opened his campaign to-day.

Mr Webb, in his opening address, sajd that the late- Sir,- Joseph Wal’d himself was against any further wage reductions . being-' imposed. The Labour Party had . supported these pledges, but the '(CbaJitijOn:"Government bpd violated' practically every one of those pledges by its reducing of wages, and its cutting down of th© earning power of the people. 'The result of this was the slumps, the depression, and the unemployment.

Mr Webb advocated a great combination of th© interests of the farmers with other interests, including the factories and the mines, in a bond that would unite the Labour Party. He stood for this—for one united, organised party, which was coming. The Labour Party, he said, was young, .and virile, with advanced ideas,' in keeping with this .new era. The old parties and the old order would never save the people, The people, Mr Webb declared, must to-day bo redeemed by themselves. Mr Webb also explained the attitude he had taken towards conscription and the - fight against it at the 'beginning of the war. He had no apologies to offer for his attitude against conscription and would do the same thing had he his life to live again under the fame circumstances. '

Th© candidate advocated a 'State Bank with the sole right of note issue, whereby the cashbox of the people would be under the control of the people, .and not, as now, in hands of capitalistic interests. The capitalistic, system was breaking down under its own weight. Labour’s currency schem© was the only feasible one.

ISSUE OF THE. WRIT

WELLINGTON, November 1.

In the House to-day a motion was serried ’ directing the Speaker to issue his warrant for the* holding of a byelection in Motueka. ,