POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 713, 17 October 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

THE OPPOSITION VIEW. MR ATMORE AT TE KUITI. On Wednasday evening Mr H. Atmore, M.P. for Nelson, delivered an address to a fair audience in the People's Picture Palace, Te Kuiti. Mr A. F. Howarth, president of the local Liberal League, occupied the chair.

Mr Atmore said he made no apology foE intruding local politics at a time when the whole world was plunged in war, because each'unifc of the Empire should keep its house in order so as to be Drepared to assist the cause of civil ilisation. Mr Atmore's speech was a trenchant criticism cf the Government, which he characterised as the greatest set of [pledge-breakers that had ever held office. They had given a pledge to reduce borrowing and had characterised Sir Joseph Ward as a reckless plunger, and in twenty-three months they had borrowed eleven millions as compared with eighteen millions borrowed by Sir Josehp Ward in six years. It was claimed some of the eleven millions waa for renewals, but so was portion of Sir Joseph Ward's eighteen millions. The speaker drew a compari-| son between the loan operations oif the present Finance Minister and thoße of his predecessors, and condemned the Government for stating the Myers' loan had not been renewed when the renewals had been completed and details included in the Ministerial Financial Statement. He also criticised the Minister for rais- ' ing a long-dated loan when money was dear and a short-dated loan when the market was favourable. Moreover, the party represented by Mr Massey, which had denounced and opposed the measures of the Liberal Administration for twenty years had eulogised the operations of their predecessors in glowing terms when promoting a loan on the London market. The Massey administration had undertaken to reduce taxation, but taxation was 10s 3d per head mora at present than when that pledge was given, and there was an increase of 3s 4d per head since the Massey party took office. In referring to the reform of the Legislative Council, the speaker said it had been reformed by the appointment of five old rejects and the elective system proposed could not come into full operation for nearly .ten years. The speaker criticised the action of the Government in respact to the strike, which he held could havs been settled in two cays had the Goverment accepted its responsibility instead of delegating it to the farmers. In connection with the State Advances Department, tha speaker contended that the Government had failed to make adequate provision and the operations of the Department had diminished with the result that settlers had been hampered and private firanciers had benefitted. He claimee the Government was not in earnest with its loss settlement proposals, as it was controlled by the' large landholders. Dealing with the Huntly disaster, Mr Atmore said the Governmentshould have taken action which would have pravented the occurrence, and alleged it was restrained from doing so by there presentatons of the mine owners. He claimed the Government represented the financiers of the country and not the masses, and the interests of the majority were being sacrificed in consequence. This was shown by the canteen trouble where even the men who were going to fight for tha Empire were bsing exploited in the interests of the merchants In regard to local railways the speaker claimed it was the duty of the Government f o build the raiwlays and not throw the responsibility on the settlers Every railway hitherto built in the Dominion had been paid .for by the whole of the people, and the idea of making the settlers pay for the railways was wrong. Mr Atmore also referred to the visit of the Prime Minister to the Nelson electorate, and explained his position in the matter. At the conclusion of the speech a resolution of thanks to Mr .Atmore for his speech and a determintion to work in the interests of tha Opposition at a the coming election was carried. Cheers were 5130 given for Sir Joseph Ward and the speaker.