EVE OF BATTLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 283, 3 November 1925, Page 4

EVE OF BATTLE.

An attentive and generally most appreciative audience greeted - Mr J. A. Nash, the Reform candidate, when, at the Coronation Hall last evening, ho addressed the electors. The candidate’s appearance on the platform was signalised by loud and sustained applause, and as he rose to speak after being introduced by the chairman (Mr J. H. Gilchrist), he was accorded a further splendid ovation. It was most essential, said Mr Nash, at this period to return a. stable Government which could give the. best possible legislation for the people as a whole, and he felt confident that, “when the numbers went up” on Wednesday, it would be found that such a Government had been elected. (Loud applause.) After paying a tribute to the memory - of the late Mr Massey, Mr Nash alluded to the fortunate choice of Mr Coates as his - successor, his remarks in this connection being roundly applauded. ■ • DISCOURTEOUSNESS DENIED. Mr Hodgens, said the candidate, turning to local affairs, had publicly stated that he (Mr Nash) had refused to shake hands with him after the last election. Well, he had never knowing , ly been discourteous to anyone. Ire remembered nothing of tile incident, and if Mr Hodgens honestly believed that he had been slighted, he (the speaker) would willingly tender him un apology, just as lie would to any other man in like case. (Applause.) On the lines of his major Opera House speech Mr Nash proceeded to deal .with the achievements of the Eelorm Government, commencing with a reference to the State Advances Department and touching upon hydroelectric schemes, the railways and other undertakings. After dealing with the necessity for enlarging the Palmerston North Hospital—tile cost of which he felt sure would be gladly met —lie proceeded to express his views on hospital board subsidies which, lie thought, should be sd)s in the £l. The deserving pensions increases granted and what they cost tiie country and the £22,000,b0d spent in soldier settlement were dealt with, Mr Nash stating that, of the 100,000 men from New Zealand wiio served in the war, 84,51!) had been repatriated with Government assistance, at a total cost of £00,610,000 —-the Government, he declared, amidst applause, had done its duty. His opponent had attempted to make cajiital out of tli-e railway deviation question, but what did he, an' imported candidate, know of such a local matter ? lilie speaker could assure his hearers that it was going to be an accomplished tact, and that before very long. ; Applause.)

A HUMANITARIAN GOVERNMENT. The Dominion’s equitable incidence ot taxation ho advantageously compared with the systems obtaining under Australian State Labour Governments, and proceeded to cite the economical administration of such valuable Scute departments as the Public trust Office, which had decreased its overhead charges while vastly expanding its business. Mr Mas's jv's, the candidate declared, had been a humanitarian Government which, inter alia, had found £600,000 in the time ol the war commandeer to niaka butter available more cheaply to the people Much had been done to keep down the price of bread, too. The Dairy Control Board Mr Nasn deemed unnecessarily expensive, but lie would not judge it until it had bad a failtrial, although he criticised its expenditure. The candidate justiliod die Government’s immigration policy and proceeded to tell of what a strike meant to the small > farmer and the menace which would arise should there be in power a Labour Government dominated by outside influences In the final stages c.l his address Mr Nash voiced a criticism of Labour's nsehold” policy and a denunciation of Labour’s general policy and tactics.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Questioned by Mr Robinson as to his attitude in voting against a motion by Mr Holland in reference to civil servants’ salaries, Mr Nash said that he had before made it clear that-he supported and voted with the Government he was elected to be loyal to. He had no time for the Labour Party, who wore a lot of arrant humbugs. A questioner who admitted that he had not been present all the time asked Mr Nash how he reconciled his statement as to what the Government had done for the farmer with Mr Coates’s statement at Eeilding that there was little in the pockets of 99 per cent, of the farmers. The candidate replied that that was a reply by Mr Coates to the Labour Party which desired to put all the charges on the farmer, and he told his questioner that had he been present all the time and heard what the Government had done for the man on the land the question would have been needless. Replying to other questions Mr Nash said that lie favoured increasing the old age pension; also the allowance lor money earned by pensioners before a deduction was made. He favoured extending the life of Parliaments to allow of members being able to give of their best by increased experience over a longer term. A member of the audience asked Mr Nash if lie favoured a flat tax on those who at present escaped direct taxation, such as many bachelors, to provide free hospitals. The candidate voiced his agreement with the idea of free hospitals, but deemd this an impracticable manner of securing them. He would support any practical measure for providing free hospitals. The questioner then suggested appeals for voluntary contributions for hospitals such as Were so-successful in Sydney. Mr Nash was accorded a 'hearty vote of thanks and confidence carried by acclamation, the candidate being cheered by the audience. FINAL SHOTS TO-NIGHT. The final shots in the election campaign will be fired this evening when Mr Nash will speak at Everybody’s Theatre at 8 o’clock. The Reform telephone is No. 6899. “Scientific investigation had proved that there was sufficient coal here to last for 2000 years, with the possibility of enough existing to last eight to nine thousand years. Yet,” declared Mr H. E. Holland at Invercargill, “20 per

PALMERSTON ELECTORATE. ME NASH AT TEEKACE END. A SPLENDID BECEPTION

EX-SERVICE MEN. SUPPORT FOR PREMIER. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2. At a meeting of returned soldiers and their wives, which was addressed by Messrs W. E. Leadley and M. E. Lyons, the following resolution was carried: “That this meeting of returned soldiers and their dependents desires to convey congratulations to Major J. G. Coates, M.C., on his attainment of the Prime Ministership of the Dominion and wishes him every success on Wednesday.” ALLEGED DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS. WRITS ISSUED IN AUCKLAND. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Oct. 2. Two writs were sworn to-day under the Legislature Act against Henry Hastings Seabrook, president of the rßoskill branch of the Protestant Political Association, in respect of alleged defamatory statements contained in a circular headed “Hall Skelton and the ltoskill Electors,” as being grossly false and untrue and calculated to influence the vote of the electors. The first is for the alleged issue of tho circular and the second for the alleged publication of another document bearing his signature as president of 'the branch. A writ is being issued for £SOOO damages against both the signatory and' tho printer of the same document.

THE WALLACE SEAT. AIR G. S. EDIE DESIRES TO RETIRE. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Nov. 2. Air G. S. Edie, Nationalist candidate for AVallace, has announced his retirement. Later. Mr Edie finds that under the regulations he cannot withdraw from the contest at this (stage, and he will therefore continue nis campaign and go to the poll.

THE EDEN CONTEST. MR GRIGG’S POSITION. RETIREMENT NOT LEGAL. The announcement that the National candidate for Eden, Mr F. AV. Grigg, has withdrawn from the coni test at the general election does liot mean that Mr Grigg has legally retired. The Legislature Act, 1908, provides that no candidate can retire from a contest after the nominations have closed. Mr "Gvigg’s name will therefore appear on the Eden ballot papers, although Mr Grigg is not llbw soliciting votes. The Act also provides that if a candidate does not poll onefourth the number of votes gained by the winning candidate ho forfeits the amount of his deposit, £lO, which goes to the Consolidated Fund. A systematic interrupter at Mr Dunbar Sloane’s meeting' at Cambridge Terrace, was dealt with in an effective manner. “I gather from your remarks that you are a supporter of the Labour Party,” observed the candidate. “Yes,” . replied the interjector. Mr Sloane: And you support their platform entirely? The man again replied in the affirmative. “And you don’t want any defence for your country?” queried the candidate in tones of surprise. “Now, then, stick to the point and don’t equivocate,” said Mr Sloane, when the heckler attempted to sidetrack him. “Stand up and let’s have a look at you. Now, this is the man who has the impertinence to be an advocate of real labour. Any one of you workers standing here to-night

MANAWATU ELECTORATE. Ml?; LINKLATER’S CAMPAIGN. In furtherance of bis election campaign Mr J. Linklater addressed a I gathering of some 40 residents at CnrI narvon on Saturday night, MV ,J. ]<’. MoKelvie presiding. The candidate was accorded, on the motion, of Mr Scott, a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Linklater spoke at Kopntaroa last night. Mr Hood presiding over a i good attendance of electors-of* the district. Mr Linkiater’s address was on [the'lines of that delivered by him at ] Levin, and at its conclusion lie was nej corded a vote of thanks on the motion of Mr Broadbelt. MAKING POSITION CLEAR. RUMOURED CUT IN WAGES. MINISTER’S EMPHATIC DENIAL. Per Press Association. GORE, Nov. 2. On being asked if lie had anything to say regarding the report of the remarks of Mr 'W.'Nush, of "Wellington, regarding tiic alleged intention of making a cut of Vs 6d in workers’ wages and the statement that he was responsible for the Labour Department report, in which the “possible method” was discussed, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, said he had merely to repeat what lie had previously made' quite plain—that the report was compiled by the Secretary of Labour, that it had been the practice for him to discuss labour problems in that report, that these discussions did not bind either the Minister or the Government to adopt them, that he personally had never held the opinion that either Mr Piddington’s scheme or Mr Rowley’s variation were practicable, that the subject as presented in the report had not been discussed by Cabinet, nor recommended by himself., and that Air Nash was merely endeavouring to make political capital out of the Secretary of Labour’s “academical discussion.” He, personally, was not responsible for the report, and it having been so emphatically repudiated by the Prime Minister’and himself, the honourable course was tor Mr Holland and Mr Nash to acknowledge the fact that they had been wrong in their statements and allegations.