ON THE HUSTINGS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 303, 20 November 1935, Page 2

ON THE HUSTINGS

WHAT CANDIDATES SAY

LABOUR AND MONETARY REFORM. “Mr Mackenzie King fought his election in Canada on the same lines as the New Zealand Labour Party is—monetary reform—and won handsomely,’’ stated Mr Oliver at Feilding last night. “MOST LUCID SPEECH.” At the conclusion of Mr T. J. Fleming’s (National candidate for Roskill) meeting at Waikowhai, the chairman, Itev. J. Ward, a retired Presbyterian minister, congratulated Mr Fleming, on what he described as “the most lucid and most interesting political address I have ever heard in my life.” This remark was greeted with applause. “SPEAKER’S THROAT.” The exasperating experience of being deprived of the use of his voice at the height of his election campaign befel Mr W. E. Parry, the Labour candidate for Auckland Central, the other day.. Later he recovered his voice. Being suddenly affected by what is known as “speaker’s throat” Mr Parry enlisted the aid of Mr W. J. Jordan, Labour candidate for Manukau, who addressed a meeting for him. A PROMISE KEPT. “Oh, that’s an election dodge!” said an interjector at Mr H. F. Toogood’s (Nationalist) meeting at Island Bay last night, when the candidate mentioned that the Government had kept its promise and restored the “cuts” in salaries and wages. “Well,” retorted Air Toogood, “if the Government hod failed to keep its promise, what sort of curs would you have called them? They kept their promise and then you say ‘that’s only an election dodge.’ ” A LABOUR PROPHECY. “I am going to prophesy,” said Dr D. G. McMillan at Kaikorai, “that the 1935 general elections will go down in history as the end of a period of conservatism and reactionary legislation. The year 1935 lias seen the election of the first Labour Council in Dunedin and it will also see the first Labour Government elected in New Zealand. Even though we have only the 36 or 38 seats of which we are certain,” he continued optimistically, “we shall form a Government for a while at least.” THE VOICE FROM HOKONUI. “Why not make your own whisky?” asked Mr N. Mclntyre, Independent candidate for Awarua, when speaking at Winton. “Why not make it here? We can manufacture good whisky in New Zealand, and grow splendid barley, too. When you are finished with the barley, it makes splendid fodder. The growing of barley would be a splendid sideline for the farmers. Why go out of the country for you whisky, when you can keep your money in your own country?” INFANT EDUCATION. There was special reason for Air Will Mason, National candidate for Wellington Central, assuring a crowded audience of electors last night that they were haying a better time than at a community sing. One of the many causes of merriment in which the candidate often turned the laugh was a wistful question about infant education. “Why did your party,” asked, an elector, “cut out the kidneygarten ?” THE RABBITS AND THE HAT. “When we were, young wo were mystified by the old trick of drawing rab-4 bits out of a hat, but now we are older we know the rabbits have to be put in first before the conjuror can get them out. All these promises and schemes of other parties have to be paid for by someone. The money lias to go into the hat first.” This simply analogy, used by the Prime Minister (Air Forbes) in one of liis Soutli Otago addresses yesterday, was keenly appreciated by his audience. A COMPELLING COAIPARISON. Speaking at Rotorua Hon. S. G. Smith compared the Government’s achievements during the depression years with that of a man who had rescued a motorist from the consequences of a bad accident. The motorist would feel grateful to such a rescuer, but instead of gratitude, in many quartersthe Government had met nothing hut criticism, particularly from the Labour Party, which in four years had advanced nothing that was constructive and helpful. QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES. “I have been asked how many times I go to church during the year; I have been asked whether 1 believe in giving children a hiding every week for their own good,” said Air S. G. Holland, Government candidate for Christchurch North. He was referring to the numerous questionnaires that he said he had received from all quarters, some containing as many as 39 questions. One had come from Wellington and had questioned him about affairs in Wellington. “You never know bow much excitement and thrill there can be in life till you become a candidate,” he said. THE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS. Speaking at Newstead Sir Alexander Young (Hamilton) maintained that a large volume of medical opinion agreed that it was unwise to send children to school till they were six or seven years of age. Sir Truby King, the child welfare expert, he said, also approved that view. The speaker emphasised that he did not necessarily associate himself with those opinions. As soon as finances permitted the National Government would restore the right of entry of five-year-olds. DEFINITELY. One word that has been thrashed mercilessly during the election campaign is the word “definitely.” Candidates lay it down “definitely,” they are “definitely” of the opinion, the Government “definitely” added extra burdens to the country, the exchange rate “definitely” was used to help the farmer, the policy of the party would “definitely” lead the country back to prosperity. The word impressed itself so much at a recent meeting that a note was taken of the number of times the word was used. A Labour man put up the remarkable record of wedging it into his speech eight times in one: minute. —Auckland Star. “A GOOD RUN.” Regret was expressed by Air Will Alason, National candidate for AVellington Central, that the Democrat Leader Air T. C. A. Hislop, had not entered the fight with him and Air P. Fraser (Labour). “We would have welcomed Mr Hislop’s advent,” said Air Alason. “Here is an electorate lacking the full explanation of the three parties and their programmes, and the issue could have been decided without anv need for him to go all these many miles to Alasterton. We would have triven him a good run on the straight next Wednesday.”—“lt would have claimed. noUVUe been riding tlxe donkey,” replied Air Mason.