POLITICAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2065, 9 December 1919, Page 3

POLITICAL

MAN AW AT U NOMINATIONS. k- Nominations closed at midday yesterday, and were as follows Alfred Chase Hillieiy scutcher, Shannon; nominated by George Gerald Kelly, motor importer, Shannon, Daniel Gustafson, labourer, Shannon, Edward Rowhvtl, painter, Foxton, Charles Cave Rand, scutcher, Foxton,' John Joseph Madden, contractor, Foxton, Edwin Parkin, butcher, Foxton, and Mary Rowlatt, married, Foxton. , s Edward Newman, farmer, Marton. Nominated by Robert 'Waring Taylor, farmer, Shannon, John W illiam Wood, farmer, Bunnytlioi pe, and Stephen John Hartley, blacksmith, Ilimatangi.

“If you want a straight-out declaration of where I stand in the event of the ‘Reform Party being able to get within, say, ten seats of the Liberals —though I do not-think they will get as near as that —I waul tv say Unit I wit! not accept cilice iu Minister if the bolding of that oi.’ce depends on the support of. Holland, Semple, Fraser, and Company, I hope that is plain and straight enough for you all.” Mr T. M. MilfordM attitude.

Referring at Oamarn to the goslow policy in the coal mines, the Prime Minister said it was unpatriotic and ought to come to an end as soon as possible. (Applause.) Coal-mining was dangerous and unpleasant, and therefore should be pajAiettlarly well paid, and miners should live under the best conditions, but when demands were made that, if given effect to, would seriously increase the cost of living, it was time for the Government to draw the line, and that was the position to-day. He had thought two or three weeks ago that they wove on llie eve of a settlement, but apparently they were not. The Government would have to take the matter in hand, and appeal to the right-thinking seel ions of the citizens to assist in connection with what was a serious difficulty so iar as industrial matters were, concerned. (Applause.) .

Mr Newman met the (’lot-tors at Sanson on Saturday night. There, was a largo attondaiioo, and Mr W. E. Pearce was in the chair. Mi j Newman referred particularly to the land settlement of soldiers, and also dealt with the subject of taxation, cost of living. and the Housing Act*He also referred to certain '-late- , merits reported to have been made ; by Mr Hillier at Pulls, and. pointed : out that Air Hillim s -a a lenient “that j there was no room tor leader.-? in the Labour Parly” came strangely from a candidate who wa? publicly announced as the Olticial labour candidate, which, if it meant anything, meant that bi* canditlaliuo was «i] J proved by tho Jeadcr.s of In* party. His statement that Mr Holland had no more claim of being the leader of , the party than the speaker, he, Mr Newman, thought might he safely regarded as incorrect. J-nrthei, hi? announcement that he was in favour of Proportional .Representation meant that he is prepared to deprive the country electors of the country quota, winch he (Mr Newman) thought would scarcely meet with the approval of the majority of the electors in Manawatu. Again, his remarks that he wanted to hmld a parliament that would lust three years and then dissolve, and that he 'thought that taxation should he on the “unimproved value” of the land, seemfd, when looked at superficially, to I>e superfluous, seeing that the term of Parliament is already three years in New Zealand, and that taxation is now supposed to be mi the “unimproved value.’ It is gratifying to know that lie proposes to tell Messrs Semple and Co. to mind thenown business. Of course, he assumed that both he and the latter gentleman will he members of parliament. This presumption appears to be a risky one in both cases, hut the most alarming of all Hie statements made by Mr Hillier was; “He believed in State hanks, private hapks, monopolised public credit, and exploited public deposits. Sir Joseph AVard had advocated State Banks and buying banks, but the speaker did not think this the best way. The .paying of interest on borrowed money would be a burden. I hat i? true, said Mr Newman, but does Mr Hillier suggest that we should^ not pay interests on our debts? Such a policy would not - commend itself to holders of National War Bonds and post olliee certificates, largely held by the working people of the eountvv. Mr Newman said that he would refer (o-further statements of. his opponent at a later date.