POLITICAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3864, 30 October 1928, Page 2

POLITICAL

FROM THE FIRING LINE. “Do you think the Rural Credits Act fulfils all the requirements of the farmer?” asked a questioner of Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., at Rongotea. The candidate said he thought they did hut any defects would be remedied. The questioner: “Will that be when any son requires money?” The candidate (undeterred): “Plow old is your son?” A voice: “He hasn’t any.” (Laughter).

The election policy of the Labour Socialist Party was characterised by Mr. W. S. Glenn at Wanganui East as being pink in colour. As the day of the poll approached it became more pink and still more pink, 'but immediately, after the elections it became just as red as ever.

Referring to the Labour Party, Mr. V. 11. Potter, Reform candidate for Eden, said that in 1919 they talked about the emancipation of Russia, but the soft pedal was put on that to-day. “God forbid that what came to Russia should come to any other country,” said Mr. Potter.

“One gets no medals for abusing another candidate, and I am not coming at that,” said' Mr. John Burns, the United candidate for Wellington South, when speaking at a meeting at Berhampore on Saturday, “but I believe I am right in saying that your present representative has done nothing for this district as an M.P. These Labour people spend too much of their time in theorising.”

“I am in favour of Bible reading in schools,” said Mr. Frank A’deane, Reform candidate for Auckland. “W[e are rapidly approaching a state of paganism in some 'directions. Many children never see the Bible in their homes, and they are growing up without enough knowledge even to appreciate significance of the Bible when taking an oath. In secondary sdaools all over the Empire some religious exercise is practised each day, and I have yet t.o meet a secondary schoolboy who does not approach this exercise in a spirit of reverence. The Bible is the foundation of British law, and I will support its reading in the schools.”

If the statement made to a Napier audience recently by Mr. W. E. Barnard, Labour-Socialist candidate for Napier, means anything, the Labour Party is the possessor of two programmes. This- is what the candidate is reported to have said: “It has been suggested that the Labour Party has t\yo programmes, one for its supporters and one for the public. It is only done to confuse your minds and makes you doubt our bona tides. We certainly have full programmes, which we hope some day to carry out, but the one we submit to-day is the one we pledge ourselves lo carry out during the first three years’ life of the Labour Government. It is obvious that many years must elapse before the full programme can be given effect to.

“Perhaps I should be equally offended with another statement made, by Mr. Clayton said the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of PublicWorks, in an address at Tokomr: a Bay, when referring to cer'aiu statements made by the United Party candidate for Gisborne, Mr. W ( . Lissant Clayton. “Thai is his allegation that only two members of the Cabinet hav§ a .v brains. Perhaps he is right. The man with brains keeps clear of Parliameu. altogether and stays at home to find fault with those who are giving their services to the public.* Those with a little intelligence are honoured by the electors, but the least intelligent of all are those who mistakenly imagine that they are going to find their way into Parliament by getting on the platform and confining their policy to unfair criticism and personal ■ attacks upon their political opponents.” THE LABOUR LEADER’S PROGRAMME. The Labour Socialist leader, at present the head) of the Official Opposition, and an avowed follower of the Marxian policy, has issued what has been described by the Auckland “Sun” as “a shrewd Manifesto. . . so marked with political cunning that many people will be inclined to fancy that its compilers, including, presumably the Rev. J. K. Archer, the party’s President, took their text from the opening verse of the third chapter of Genesis,” the reference of course being to the subtlety of the serpent. The programme is certainly an enticing one, and may be best described, again in the language of the Auckland “Sun,” which is certainly more of a Labour paper than anything else, in the following terms: “If one could but believe it, there would be just a quiet, progressive transition from misery to merriment, from toil* to luxury, with nobody at all suffering except bankers, big land-owners, profiteers, speculators, and the lilies growing rank and rich in the world of business. For them, of eoui-se, as ever, the gibbet and carrion crows. Prom the cradle to the grave everybody else would be cared for and comforted with parental zeal, and should there be any sadness at the end, it would be merely the inevitable' vexation at parting from so delightful a social heaven on earth. Everything is there in the manifesto except fulfilment; and that,

one imagines, will not come as n practice of perfect Socialism in our time for a long while yet.” The impracticability of Labour’s programme is, however, best attested by the fact that it would cost the country between £16,000,000 and £20,000,000, every penny of which would have to be raised by taxation. Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., had an enthusiastic meeting at Tiakitahuna on Saturday evening, Mr. Richardson taking the chair. 'The candidate was accorded a vote of confidence and thanks on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Nelson. The latter also spoke in appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. Linklater when chairman of the Ivairanga 'County Council and expressed the hope that he would be returned by a large majority. (Applause).

Mr. P. J. Small, the United Party’s candidate received a most attentive hearing at Oroua Downs on Saturday evening, when he addressed a large number of electors. Mr. L. Thompson presided. Mr. Small’s remarks were along the lines of previous speeches and he was acv corded a unanimous vote of thanks. Mr. H. J. McManaway, Independent Reform candidate for Manawatu, addressed a large meeting in the Oroua Downs hall on Friday evening, Mr. E. Fergusson presiding. In the course of his remarks, Mr. McManaway stated too much “party” was evident in Parliament and not enough attention was paid to the interests of the country as a whole. He would vote with the present Government on a no-confidence motion but if good legislation were brought down by any other party in the best interests of the people of New Zealand, he would support it. Several questions were answered and the candidate received a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. W. Scott, it being carried amidst applause.

“In some directions we are getting too much industrial union control, and too little common-sense control,” said the Hon. J. A. Young, speaking with reference to apprenticeships at Hamilton the other night. He said he was in favour of some modification of the system to make it easier for boys to get employment as apprentices in the various trades.

UNITED BREAK-AWIAY IN WAIPAWA. Waipukurau, Last Night. A public meeting of supporters -of the United Party in the Waipawa electorate was held at Waipukurau on Saturday night,- over 40 attending. Those present unanimously decided to support Mr. E. A. Goodger’s candidature. Mi'. Goodger, who opens his campaign at Waipukurau on Wednesday, was Mayor of the town for eight years and served as its representative on other bodies. He has a long record of public service. MESS AGE FROM SIR JOSEPH W AD’S ELECTORATE. Invercargill, Yesterday. “One of the most enthusiastic meetings ever held in Invercargill,” was the verdict of those attending a meeting of Sir Joseph Ward’s friends and supporters held on Saturday evening. An address by Mr. R. Masters was splendidly received. A general committee of over 200 was formed, and the following motion, to which many spoke enthusiastically, was unanimously carried: “That the supporters and friends of 'Sir Joseph Ward in Invercargill, having the utmost coniidence in him and realising the necessity for a leader being Heed from his electorate during the election period, in order that lie may be enabled to concentrate on the Dominion campaign, hereby pledge themselves to secure his return, and urge him not to concern himself with the local situation. All is well, is the message from his devoted supporters.”

WOMAN NOMINEE FOR WELLINGTON CENTRAL. HER HUSBAND’S SURPRISE. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. P. Fraser, sitting Labour memiber and candidate for Wellington Central, commenced his campaign in earnest to-night. A last-minute surprise was sprung when the nominations closed at noon to-day, when the disclosure was made that a third candidate had been nominated for the seat. Up till this morning, there had been no indication that a third candidate was to disturb the straightout contest between Messrs Fraser and Dunbar Sloane (Reform). The third nominee is Mrs. Margaret Young. She declares hei’self an Independent Labour candidate. Mrs. Young is the wife of Mr. W. T. Young, formerly general secretary of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union. At Mr. Fraser’s meeting to-night, Mr. Young said he did. not know, of his wife’s nomination until he saw it in to-night’s paper and declared his own loyalty to the official Labour candidate. He urged the electors to vote for Mr. Fraser. The candidate, in his speech, said lie was “considerably interested” when he heard of Mrs. Young’s nomination. Everyone had a right to be nominated and all the more, the merrier.

“It is a coincidence,” said the Prime Minister during his northern tour, “that in the last fifteen years New Zealand has had fourteen sur-

pluses and one deficit, whereas our friends in Australia have had one surplus and fourteen deficits.” (Laughter).

‘When the public interest is threatened by the exploitation of private capital the Reform Government has stepped in and will step in again. When, owing to unfair or adverse conditions, any of New Zealand’s industries: are being crippled or restricted, the Government will intervene.”—Mr. N. J. Lewis, Reform candidate for Wanganui. MR. LINKLATER AT SAMSON. Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., addressed the largest meeting so far held at Sanson last' night and received a splendid hearing. Mr H. J. Fagan occupied the chair. At the conclusion of his address the candidate was accorded an unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. In speaking to the motion Mr. J. H. Perritt paid a fine tribute to the candidate. He said he was straight, sound and practical. He did not beat the big drum which was noted for its noise rather than for its music. PRIME MINISTER AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, October 29. The Town Hall to-night was filled long before the appointed time with an audience of over 3,000, and a large overflow gathering outside listened to the Prime Minister’s speech as reproduced through loudspeakers. When Mr. Coates entered the hall he was greeted with loud applause mixed with loud hooting, which was renewed after the singing of the National Anthem.

Mr. Coates began his speech by expressing regret at the indisposition of Sir Joseph Ward, and the hope that he would soon be restored to health, so that he could again enter the political battle.

Mr. Coates dealt with the United and Labour parties on the lines of previous addresses, and outlined the Government’s actions in the past three years, and proposals for the future, particularly land settlement, which would be worked up to a million a year. A vote of thanks and confidence was earned with cheers, followed by a counter demonstration. “ONE FOOL AT A TIME.” “Nou t , then, one fool at a time,” said Mr. T. W. Hughes (Independent Labour candidate for Auckland West), when towards the%_.<se of a lively open-air meeting at the Three Lamps, Ponsonby, the questions became a chorus. “Did Potter pay your tenner?” asked a man. “You’re a liar,” yelled the candidate, according to the “New Ztaland Herald” report, "bending himself double and glaring into the face of the questioner. “He ‘scabbed’ in 1913, and no doubt you did the same.” (Shrieks of* delight). “I don’t want to have duckshovelling,” said the candidate later, but he did not elucidate. “The Legislative (Council should be abolished. It is filled with party hacks on an ‘exuberant’ salary.” (Cheers). Eventually, when light rain began to fall, the. candidate decided to stop. His hat was hanging on the tree beside him, but he could not see his coat or umbrella. “I hope,” he said severely, “I have been addressing an honest gathering.” “They’re hanging on the fence, Jack,” came the reply, and the articles were restored to him. “What will you borrow when you get to Parliament?” he was then asked. “If you are a sport, five hundred from you.” Then the candidate got down, and, uninvited, a cheerful individual got up and seconded a vote of thanks that had not been moved and “’dared the meeting closed, ladisangenlmen.” Then they sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and dispersed, experietaeing the tired feeling that comes from excess of laughtei'. '