THE MANAWATU SEAT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4569, 7 November 1935, Page 3

THE MANAWATU SEAT.

JMR, J. KHORN'BLOW; OPENS fflS CAMPAIGN. ADDRESS IN TOWN HALL. Mr J. K. Hornblow, Independent candidate for ManaAvatu, opened his election campa.ign in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, when, despite a wet night, there was a good attendance. The Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau) presided. In his introductory remarks, Mr Hornblow said that for many years he had supported the Reform Parfy but of recent years, particularly of late, there had been feelings" of discontent and murmurs that the Manawatu was not adequately represented in the House. He had, in August last, communicated these facts to both Mr Linklater and Mr Coates and recommended that an organiser should visit the constituency and make full investigation of the. position. Nothing had been done. Subsequently a deputation had waited on the speaker and asked him to contest the seat and . his reply had been that he would support' the National Party, and endeavour to bring about an improvement in its personnal and policy; that lie would submit his »pame . with that of Mr. Linklater, or any other candidate residing in the Manawatu to a ballot and loyally abide by the result; and lastly that he would, failing an acceptance of those terms, leave his candidature in the hands of his supporters. Up to this no reply had been received to his communication in August to Mi' Coates but Mr Lin Mater wrote intimating his intention of contesting the seat and that he would refer the matter to his chiefs. Then had come a reply from Mr Coates to the effect that Mr Linklater was the Party’s official candidate. The sovereign right of the people had been ignored—it was for them to say who should represent them in the Hlouse, not the Party, leaders, and Mr Linklater became annoyed to think that he should be asOaed to submit his name to a ballot. He evidently quite overlooked the fact that prior to every other election his candidature had been endorsed at a meeting of representatives, held in Foxton. None was called this year. Why? Still nothing was done and those who had supported his (Mr Hornblow’s) candidature, askecl that had candidature, urged that he contest the seat as an Independent. Then and as late as last Wednesday, a deputation of representatives from the northern end of the electorate had approached the speaker and asked him to withdraw in favour of Mr Linklater. He had told that deputation that the matter lay with his supporters and to them he referred the request. They unanimously declined it with the result that he .was taking the platform, as urged, as an Independent (Applause). There were five candidates in the field and with the of a new arrival, Colonel Closey, none other than himself, resided within the Manawatu. Mr Linklater, the

Nationalist candidate, told a Rongotea audience that he was a farmer and represented the farmers in the House. To the speaker, however, the welfare of humanity stood paramount (Applause). If the Almighty balanced His budget what would happen. Here in a' land of plenty we had unemployment, sickness and poverty. Surely something was wrong. Were we building on the bodies and souls of living men ? The superstructure raised by the National Party on the foundations laid by those outstanding statesmen of old: Domett, Fox, Stafford, Grey, Atkinson, Stout, Ballance, McKenzie, Secldon Ward and Massey, had wobbled and was out of plumb. There were murmurs of dis-

ponfent. Government Avas being car-

ried out by Royal Commissions and boards. Why? Because men of courage and vision were wanting. Any representative minus the necessary qualifications, except a Govvornment label, -Was a mere automaton,

The Democrat Party were going

to right the position by a wonderful borrowing scheme but when the scheme was analysed what was discovered? The taxpayer was promised by the Democrats the abolition of Sales Tax, which would amount to £2,500,000; abolition of Gold Export Tax, £100,000; abolition . of Unemployment Levy, £440,000; 10 per cent, reduction of Income Tax, £425,000; reduction of Wages Tax, £760,000, a total hand-out to the taxpayer of £4i millions. Then on the spending side the Democrats promise to remove the exchange rate and replace it with a subsidy at least equal to what the producer now gets from exchange. This would involve an item of a mere £13,000,000 yearly. In addition the Democrats promise a national health pensions and superannuation scheme, restoration of cuts and restoring relief workers to standard fate's of pay. The cost of these proposals would be as follows: — 1 Axpounf tq he paid a§ subsidy instead of exchange, £13,000,000; Civil Service restoration of cuts and superannuation £1,500,000; Interest and sinking fund on £20,000000 borrowed £1,000,000; National superannuation health insurance, etc. £10,320,000; putting 40,000 back to woi’k at standard rates, £20,000,000, ar grand total of no less than £45,820,000. This would, be spent in the first year in addition to the normal expenditure, and in four years would realise £183,280,000. ‘ Douglas Credit, Mr Hornblow confessed he did not understand, but he added it paled into insignificance beside the Democrat proposals. (The Labour candidates were keen students of political economy

and if elected, lie hoped the party would get a fair run. Their guaranteed price oroposal required careful consideration, however. Mr Hornblow advocated a National Health Insurance scheme based on the lines laid down by the Hospital Boards’ Association. Ithad consulted with the British Medical Association arid up to the present had evolved a scheme which might eventually prove satisfactory. He had been a member of the committee which had worked on that scheme and as a representative in Parliament he would advocate that it be known as the Unemployment' and National Health Scheme and that the fundamentals be: (1) A cash payment to the worfkier to maintain his home when he is sick or out of work, sufficient to cover his rent and necessary food for his family; (2) a payment to the worker’s doctor whenever the Avorker consults him, on a definite scale, such as the English National Health Insurance provides; (3) a payment to the Hospital of the district to cover the cost of the treatment of those contributing to the scheme; (4) a payment to cover specialist medical and dental services and embracing the present school dental service. It was quite wrong that the present school dental services should be dependent partly on direct contributions from parents and it Avas also Avrong thatthe service should be restricted it should be aA’ailable to all school children. (5) Pensions at the age of 55 for females and 60. for males. If such a scheme Avas brought doAvn, said Mr HornbloAV, the worker would have social security; health and happiness would talkie the place of much of the present misery and sadness. If men knew that Avhen sickness came along their faririlies would be provided with essentials they would feel justified in seeking hospital treatment and illness Avould thus be treated at a much earlier stage than at the present time, and in the aggregate expense to the community avoided. With regard to pensions, Mr. Hornblow said that the electors always got the kind of half promises that they had recently had from the Government on the eve of an election, but what Avas wanted was that there should be Avithin the Government a man who Avould see that these promises were not all pie-crust. (Applause).

Mr HornbloAV dealt with the necessitv for a Maori Health and Housing scheme.'The Maori population from Waikanae to this district was about 2,000 and the noimal death rate about 25 per thousand. Recently, however, this figure had risen alarmingly, the chief causes being pneumonia as a result of bad housing conditions and attendance at tangis. This. Avas a matter that required immediate attention. Maori land settlement and farming schemes ivere allied with this and no improvement could be expected Avithout palkeha , supervision Had the pakeha co-operated Avith the Native administration in times past gross mismanagement would have been avoided. He advocated immediate attention by the Government to these matters in the interest of the physical and social welfare of the Native race. Closer' land settlement and development in the ManaAvatu Avas advocated by the speaker. One Avho travelled the district Could not but be impressed by the fact that there Avas Avithin the electorate the finest dairying land’in NeAv Zealand, said Mr HornbloAV, and while one had sympathy with the larger fanning interests, especially the type of farmer Avho sub-divided for sharemilkers and Avlio treated them decently, there Avas great room, for sub-division for dairy farming purposes. He advocated closer settlement, not by “mortgage holding,” or Douglas Credit, but financed by a Government policy of long term loans on reasonable valuations, and on such terms as to ensure that the working farmer gets the Avages of a good tradesman. 'This could not' be brought about by guaranteeing prices; it would not be brought a* bout by Inflation; but by a sane valuation of land and by the Government having the right to acquire land Avhich was not properly farmed at a same valuation. Readjustments of rural land holdings would ha\ r e" to be brought about not by learned gentlemen drawing high salaries but by a common sense method of valuing land in accordance Avith what it would produce and allowing for labour costs on standard rates, not 10/- a week and keep for farm-lands, but sufficient for a farm-hand to live, have his own cottage on the farm, marry and raise a family. It was not hard in many instances, to IkinoAV why farm labourers were preferring the relief camps to farm work. Touching on unemployment, Mr Hornblow asked his audience to imagine the difference there Avould be to-day, had the Government 10 years ago initiated a contributory unemploynient scheme, inuring depressions (and these came in cycles) it Avas exceedingly difficult to initiate any such scheme but iioav, seeing avc Avere told that Ave ‘rivere around the corner” a scheme should be initiated. He advocated a 40hour Aveek and a scheme of subsidising every extra hand employed by one-third from the fund suggested. Mr HornbloAV said he could find lavo years Avork for all local unemployed on standard rates of pay. He said a road should be constructed from Mangahao across the ranges—six miles only Avas required to i complete the link —and give n. direct route joining up the tAVO coasts. Nearer at hand and more important still, they had the shockingly neglected and disgraceful state of affairs obtaining at Whiroikino. This road Avas of the utmost

importance and he Avould leave no stone unturned until it Avas safeguarded (applause). “Three and a half millions has been allocated for Public Works in the latest statement submitted,” said Mr HornbloAV, “and as far as 1 can see, not one penny piece for the Manawatu. Where is our member?”

Mr Hornblow briefly touched on educational matters and recommended a reorganisation of the Avhole system, Avith reduction in the size of classes and reintroduction of the fiye-year-olds. He criticised the squandering of money Avhich had taken place. He also touched on the Exchange Rate, recommending its gradual reduction and in sympathy therewith, the gradual abolition of the Sales Tax. He approved of the subsidising of the hemp industry and fostering of this industry which so vitally concerned'the Avelfare of the Manawatu. At the conclusion of his address Mr HornbloAV Avas asked several questions, the chief of Avhich Avas Avhether he favoured currency reform, to Avhich. he gave a negative reply, indicating that he Avas satisfied Avith the present position.

A hearty \ 7 ote of thanks to the speaker concluded an enthusiastic meeting.

MR, HOLLAND ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT. Christchurch, November 6. Mr H. Holland, M.P.. to-day announced his withdraAval from the Christchurch North seat, which he has held since 1925, at the forthcoming general election. \ His announcement is that, acting on medical advice, he had reluctantly decided to withdraAv his candidature. ' The seat Avrill be contested for the Government by Mr Holland’s son, Mr S. G. Holland. MR. FITZHERBERT WITHDRAWS. The withdrawal of his candidature for the Otaki seat has been announced by Ml* P. B. Fitzherbert. who had intended to stand a,s an Independent Labour candidate.