THE FIRST SHOT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2802, 18 November 1931, Page 5

THE FIRST SHOT.

THE THAMES ELECTORATE. MR. SAMUEL OPENS CAMPAIGN. ADDRESS AT Hl KUTA lA. Mr A. M. Samuel, Coalition candidate, opened his election campaign on Monday evening by addressing about seventy electors in the Ilikutaia Hall. Mr A. Alley was in the chair. Mr Samuel was accorded an attentive hearing, and at the conclusion of his address was given a vote of thanks and confidence, amid a great display of enthusiasm, in which the audience stood and sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and cheered. In opening, Mr Samuel expressed his thanks for the welcome accorded him. Every man had a certain amount of superstition, and in his case on every occasion which he had stood for the Thames electorate he had opened his campaign at Hikutnia, and had been successful so, for as long as he was to represent Thames he would always commence electioneering at Hikutaia. The Coalition Government. New Zealand was passing through one of the most difficult, periods she had ever known. He proposed to speak of the facts leading up to this state, to give some of his ideas, and some suggestions whereby prosperity would be restored. The economic depression was world wide and no country had escaped. New Zealand had j been hit doubly hard, as it had been ; the primary producers who depended j upon world markets on whom the hardest blow had fallen. Had nothing been done, New Zealand would have been faced with national bank- j ruptcy. The Government had originally

budgeted for a deficit of a millionodd pounds, but conditions had changed so rapidly that before the session had ended this had gene to eight millions. Drastic measures had been necessary and these were only possible by a rtable Government. Hence the formation of the Coalition Government. Party differences had been dropped for national safety The Labour Party had been asked to join in the National Government, but the leader of the party had not been big enough to do this. Mr Holland had said that his party would only join if the National Government were to adopt Labour’s policy. This, of course, was impossible to the great majority, for no National Government could be formed on party politics. Mr Contes’ reply to Mr Forbes' invitation for fusion was to suggest set* mg up the Economic Committee. This committee was set up from al! parties in the House, and every time a National Government was suggested in that committee it was flatly turned down by the Labour Party. The two major parties had agreed upon a Coalition Government and this had resulted in a wave of relief passing over the country. Postponement of Election. It had been suggested that the election be postponed in order to permit the passing of certain desirable legislation, and to give the Coalition Government time to operate . The stig"cstion was favoured throughout the country, but personally he was against the move, for it would be creating a dangerous precedent. The Labour Party offered strenuous opposition to extending the term of Parliament. Assisting Producers. Before Parliament rose there was cei tain legislation that had to be put through. All of these were to benefit the primary producers. The first step towards the dc-rnling of farm lands was contained in st Finance Bill. It provided for the payment to County Councils of sums of money that would enable a 12J per cent, rebate being allowed ratepayers. It was, he hoped, the first step towards the total de-rat-in« of rural lands. The Mortgagors’ Relief Act had been another

■ rgcnt measure, which had been passed to prevent hundreds of men firm being driven off their farms. The Land Laws Amendment Act also aimed to keep men on the land,' and was another splendid piece of legislation. The Alternatives. The present election was to ask the people what they would have in the way lof Government. O'n the one hand there was the Coalition Government, which was determined to do its duty, no matter how unpalatable the job was, and to put such Jegislatioh on the Statute Book as was necessary for the welfare of the nation, and on the other hand there was the Socialistic party, which stood for the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. He was

confident that the people of New Zealand would answer the question in the same manner as the people of England had done. War Debts. The present wide-world depression was an aftermath of the Great War, and instead of improving as time went on the position was getting worse, so that there was a danger of a breakdown of civilisation, unless a way out was found. The war debts meant the taxation of the people to such an extent that the burden was crushing. It was a vicious circle, and it was a fact that those nations which were collecting the money were in a worse position than those which were paying. He believed there was no solution except the cancellation of war debts. He believed President Hoover’s gesture of postponement was the first move towards the cancellation of all debts. Another factor was the fall in the price of silver, which affected the purchasing power of the Eastern nations. Were the price of silver stabilised by European influence, these Eastern people would be able to resume buying, and most of the difficulties of the primary producers would disappear.

While in England he had heard the statement of the postponement of Australia’s war debts to England, made in the House of Commons. He had accordingly written to the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas, Secretary of State for the Dominions, suggesting the same treatment for New Zealand. Mr Thomas had acknowledged the letter promising the matter consideration. He did not know whether his letter had had any effect but, as everyone l-new, New Zealand had been given the same treatment as Australia. He believed that the cancellation of war debts, the stabilisation of the price of silver and disarmament would eventually be brought about by international agreement. It may bo some "nsidcrrtblc time but, he believed, it would have to come. Marketing of Produce. New Zealand wtis vitally concerned with the price of Rs primary raeduce : >i thn Old Country, for if the nrimary nroducer was prosperous the whole country was in a flourishing state. He had investigated the matter while in

England, and had given the result of his enquiries on his return fo New , Zealand. Mr Samuel summarised the comJ plaints against New Zealand produce as he had found the position in England, and explained that he had talked over the matter very carefully with the Minister of Agriculture and the heads of departments, and he was very hopeful of beneficial results. Mr Samuel dealt with the need for developing new markets and the need for the Government to go into the matter. The Government had now taken up the subject, ns stated by the Prime Minister and the Hon. Mr Coates in the Coalition election manifesto.

Advertising Essential. There was a great need for greater expenditure on advertising New Zealand primary produce for in this respect New Zealand was far behind oilier and less important countries. Unless New Zealand produce was more extensively advertised it would have to take a lower place than formerly. There was no more efficient means of augmenting the national income than advertising its primary products, and it was gratifying to see that the Coalition Government was agreeable to doing as he had suggested. The matter was of the utmost importance and he believed that it would pay the Government to send its Minister of Agriculture Io England at the earlitst moment to combat the work of the vested interests, who were manipulating New Zealand's markets for their own benefit. Trade With Canada He was very disappointed at the failure of the negotiations with Canada for a trad** agreement., such as had been entered into between Australia and Canada, and was of opinion the Government should send a .Minister to Canada to endeavour to conclude this business. The olive branch should be held out before the breach widened too much.

The Empire Marketing Board was doing a great work, but this was of little benefit to New Zealand, ns the Board was pushing all Empire goods and Now Zealand was not following up the matter by a definite scheme of advertising. Tariff Reform. He was certain the question of tariffs woud be introduced in England very shortly, and it was necessary that New Zealand have a strong Government in power to negotiate and co-operate with the British Government on the matter. Mr Samuel quoted examples of the fallacy and ill effects of free trade, and expressed the conviction that a substantial preference would be given - -nire goods in the very near future. If we wanted England to assist us

we must set out to assist England more than we had done in the past, and this could be done in no better •*v than by buying British goods, and thus keep British workmen and British families with power to ■unchase New Zealand products. River Improvement Scheme. Dealing with the Waihou and Ohincmuri Rivers Improvement Scheme, Mr Samuel explained how the scope and cost of the work had developed far beyond expectations when the first Act was passed authorising the levying of a rate upon the land. Prior to enlarging the scheme, the Government should have resumed all the land in the affected area, so ‘hat it, and not the original settlers, who had since sold cut, would have received the benefit. The scheme was now a national one. and it wa< quite wrong to charge the land with the cost.

Mr Samuel detailed his actions in e far preventing the levying of a maintenance rate, and said that he sincerely trusted that when the question again came up next year he would again succeed in defeating the proposal. Labour’s Platform. Dealing with the Labour Party, which was the only party fighting the Coalition Government at the election, Mr Samuel said that the man who was Ending as the Labour candidate ’•.as pledged to the Labour Party. He had every respect for Mr Montgomerie as a man, and in criticising him it was not personal, but his criticism was directed at the Labour Party’s Platform. Its first and principal plank was the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and < xchange. This would mean that the farmers of the country would be the serfs of the Socialistic Government. The Parliamentary Labour Party •’■( re the .servants of the Labour Representation Council, which comprised the trade union bosses of the country. They were pledged to carry out he Labour platform, and he would « «<>rry to see any farmers support the Labour candidaie, for the reason that he was a farmer. He had signed an agreement to support the [flatform, and although at the previous election he (Mr Samuel) had offered to withdraw from the contest if Mr Montgomerie could prove that this was not so, the challenge had not been taken up.

It was stated that the Labour platform was gradual, but there vaw nrdoubt that its end was such as prevailed in Russia to-day, where farmers wore members of labour battalions and had to slave for the State and in return got bare sustenance. Mr Samuel criticised the Labour Party’s actions in the last Parliament and showed that it had broken its election pledges ami discredited itself in the eyes of its own people. In touring the country Mr Holland played upon the heart-strings of those people who had suffered wage cuts, and had promised increased wages, increased pensions, etc. He never told how the money would be found to enable this to be done, but instead went on to criticise the amount of the National Debt. A Labour Government could not even raise a loan, for no one would lend money voluntarily to a Labour Government.

Mr Samuel detailed the experience of Australia under Labour rule, and showed how Mr Holland's statement ■>f raising money in the country coincided with what had taken place in Australia concerning the people's money. When the capitalists were squeezed dry it was the workers who suffered. In Australia the Labour Government had seized the money in the Government Savings Bank, and the same thing would happen, in New Zealand if a Labour Government were put in power. Labour had not helped the working man in the present crisis, and even the trade unions woe now suing their members for outstanding dues. The Labour Party said that it would restore the 10 per cent cut, yet it was significant Unit the only workmen ■mployed by the Labour Parly in New Zealand, the staff and workmen id’ the party organ, the “Now Zealand ’V ( wker,” were among the very first to be given the cut, and a greater cut ven than 10 per cent. Stable Government Needed. Concluding, Mr Samuel said that the Coalition Government was formed to carry the country through a dangerous period. An appeal had '* t n made for a mandate for the Government. He knew that the people T New Zealand were just as loyal and just as sound as those of England, and he knew that at the coming election this would be shown, just as R had been shown in Britain following a similar appeal by Ramsay Mcnnmdd. He believed that once there was a stable Government, there would be a return of confidence, and with it o return to prosperity for everybody. Already in Britain, with the return of a stable Government, there had been marked strides towards better

times, brought about by a return of confidence. Questions. Mr Samuel apologised for the lack of time preventing him dealing with i great many subjects, which should have been dealt with and asked that questions be asked on any subject. In reply to Mr V. Young, Mr' Samuel said that he believed the reason why Australia was able to clear its stocks of butter in England was because the country spent more on advertising and also paid the selling agents a biggei- commission than was paid by New Zealand. Concerning the wheat duties, Mr Samuel answered another question by stating that he had opposed the retention of the duty. The position was a complicated one, for it was essential that New Zealand grew its own wheat. Ji would be a very sorry day for New Zealand if the wheat growers were driven out of business, and there was r. world wide wheat famine. He could not say whether- Mr Stirling had been employed by the Government when he was in the service of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. In reply to another question, Mr Samuel said that the Mortgagors’ Relief Act applied to every man on the land, who had a reasonable chance of making good.

Branch Railways. Branch railway lines were doing a useful service to the country, and it might be desirable to keep them going, but in connection with those uncompleted lines which it had been shown would never pay, he was opposed to the expenditure of further- money. Regarding the Thames branch line, he would be the last to say it should be closed down, for he believed it was performing a useful service. There was no doubt farmers should do their best to support the State-owned railway. rather than other transport services. He supported reducing the number of Members of Parliament, for in the cities a member could travel around his electorate in a morning’s jaunt in a tram-car. He did not think Cabinet Ministers were overpaid. Regarding members’ remuneration, he would not say whether they should be reduced, for he was one concerned, but he would point out that of his remuneration he received nothing for himself, for he returned all of it and more in attending to his electorate. On the motion of Dlr Alley. Mr Samuel was accorded a vo*e of thanks and confidence, the meeting rising and singing “For He’s a Jolly Gocd Fellow,” In replying Mr Samuel said that it was very heartening to find that he was held in such esteem.