LABOUR RALLY AT OPERA HOUSE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6755, 7 November 1928, Page 8

LABOUR RALLY AT OPERA HOUSE

“Only One Issue” ADDRESSES BY MESSRS THORN AND BE (BILE'S Mr, J. Thorn, of Wellington, vicepresident of the New Zealand Labour Party, was the principal speaker at last night's Labour rally at the Opera House. Associated with him on the platform was Mr. Walter Bromley Labour candidate for Palmerston and Mr. J. Hodgens. The Mayor (Mr. A J. Graham) presided. Disunited Unlteds. In his opening remarks, Mr. Thorn stated that this election was a contest between three parties but although there were three main parties in the contest, there was only one issue—between Labour on the one hand and Reform on the other. He proposed to show that the only real alternative to the Coates administration, was the Party he represented. There was no difference at all between the Uniteds and Reform and a vote for Sir Joseph Ward would be really a vote for Mr. Coates. -! It was difficult to know where the United i-'arty stood. Mr. Wilford had declared that on a vote of no-confidence he would vote with Mr Coates.

A voice: Quite right, too. Mr. Thom: If the Uniteds are prepared to vote for Mr. Coates, where is the necessity for a United Party? Then on the other hand, continued the speaker, there were other United candidates who declared they preferred Mr. Holland. It seemed the Party was disunited. The United Party reminded the speaker of “Mr. Both Ways’’ of John Bnnyan’s Pit grims Progress (laughter). They werft engaged In a sham fight, got up deliberately to divert the attention of the people from the issues that really counted. On every issue of fundamental importance raised by the Labour Party in the House during the last 10 to 15 years, the Uniteds had invariably voted in the same lobby as the Reform Party. “It is a game of tweedltp-dsfe and tweedledum, pots calling kettles black,’’ added the speaker “to distract attention from matters of importance. If you want a determined opposition to Reform, there is only one thing' to do and that is to vote solidlyfor Mr, Bromley.” (Applause). The speaker proceeded to the question of borrowing, stating that Uniteds and Reform criticised each other 'for their borrowing propensities. Each was appalled at the borrowing tactics of the other, yet no sooner had the House risen, than Sir Joseph went to Auckland and propounded a policy of borrowing, telling the people that what was needed to save New Zealand was a loan of i7O millions. And then Reformers tramped throughout the land declaring that such a course would bring the country to ruin. Asking Sir Joseph a Question. The Labour Party was opposed to the principles of both United and Reform. It stood for new principles of Government,” principles that were calculated to elevate the public wellbeing as against the well-being of any individual or section (applause). Sir Joseph Ward had proposed a loan or 70 millions without one penny of additional taxation. That took a bit of swallowing and New Zealand would bo a simpleton if it did swallow it. A voice: He can do it. Mr Thorn added that after that Sit Joseph promised a revision of the income tax, a reduction of company taxation as a preliminary to its repeal, a reduction in the customs, followed by a statement that ho was prepared to subsidise industries. Was there anything more remarkable? A voice. He*s a financier. The speaker: As he’s going to da all that where is he going to get the money from to run the country? Not one United Party man can answer that, (Cries of dissent). Mr. Thorn: I can see I am getting, on the nerves of some of she United Party supporters hdre. A voice:. Give us your policy, we don’t want criticism. Mr. Thorn: The United supporters will now laugh, as I am going to criticise (laughter and further dissent). The speaker said he was only criticising the United Party because he wanted to show the people that it was a negligible quantity and doomed to be squeezed out of existence, “The United Party supporters will be able now to gloat over the discomfiture of Reformers here to-night,” stated tuo speaker, as he proceeded to deal with the Government. Performance and Pledge. He, recalled the political battle-cry of the Reformers “Coates and Confidence.” A voice: Coates and chaos (laughter). The speaker: Coates and the confidence trick.

Mr. Thorn declared that the Prime Minister, with the majority he had in the House> could have carried out all his promises. Contrast the performance with the pledge and nobody could deny that Coates had been one of the greatest political failures of the country (hear hear). Without a policy of land' settlement that really added to the humbier o* settlers and brought more land under cultivation there could be no prosperity, no relief of unemployment, no progress with secondary industries > and no settled scheme of immigration. The Prime Minister had promised a survey of unoccupied lands to see what areas could bo cultivated, to assist land owners to subdivide their land, to break in the pumice lands and finally to bring into force the clauses of the Act. What was the performance i The total oe-

cupied land had declined by 44,674 acres, the number of holdings had declined by 349 and the number of workers employed on the land, had declined by slightly under 10,000 in the last three years. Mr. W. Poison, the president of the Farmers' Union, had declared, in addition, to that that 100,000 acres had gone back each year to fern and scrub. Where, the speaker, asked, was the Reform land settlement policy in those circumstances 'i Mr Coates, in an election speech at Christchurch, had spoken of further land settlement and yet figures showed that there had not been any progress as yet. He had promised closer rural settlement and yet Hon. A. D. McLeod (Land Minister) had said in Parliament that the country had reached saturation point in that respect. And finally Mr. Coates hail promised development of the clay and pumice lands. He hail promised the pumice land investigations three years ago and now he added the clay (laughter). The speaker: I fancy I can see a Liberal smile (further laughter). Workers and Homes. Mr. Thorn next dealt with industrial matters, declaring that the Prime Minister had first of all voted in Parliament in November 1927 against a national industrial conference but as the session ended and Labour threatened a stone wall, he adopted the suggestion and took credit to himself for it (laughter). Mr Coates had sllso promised the speeding up of the building, of homes for the people and he professed to be shocked at what ho had seen in the slums of Wellington. Mr. Coates had. promised to eliminate the slum areas but his first act when returned to power was to raise the rate of interest on loans to workers. The result was to increase the cost of the £IOOO house by £387. This -.-u was followed by the practical suspension of loans, with the result that the Department was about two years behind i 4 meeting applications. The Advances Department got millions of pounds of cheap money from the Post Office Savings Bank when people were allowed interest on deposits up to £SOOO. Then an Act was passed to reduce the,maximum to £2OOO and in six months no less a sum than six millions was withdrawn from the Post Office and placeu in the coffers of the private banks on fixed deposit. The outcome was that Public Departments had to borrow from private banks in order to pay back what they had borrowed from the Post Office. The speaker declared that not only had the Post Office Savings Bank been betrayed but it could have advanced all the money required by the Advances Department for the erection of workers’ houses.

The speaker proceeded to criticise the"“N.Z. Welfare League” and “The 1928 Committee” which ho declared were one and the same organisation. These two bodies had been attacking the Public Trust, which was one of the greatest humanitarian institutions in the world and had great financial powers for good. The Labour Party, if returned to power, would lift all restrictions placed upon the Trust by the Coates Government and work it* in conjunction with the State Advances Department. (Applause).

The Labour Party was the response to the desire of the working people and persons with consciences, for the repeal of all those problems that created poverty and' misery. He believed that men and women could live in freedom, giving honourable service to the State. Election time offered the occasion for expressing that desire (applause). The Labour Party stood for a full life for all the people and it was the people’s duty before God and man to vote for the Labour candidates (applause). Mr. Bromley’s Address.

Mr. Walter Bromley, in a brief address, answered the criticism that Mr, Thorn had not given the Labour Party policy. He (the speaker) had given that policy at all his meetings and was prepared to stay notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, and give it now (applause). He criticised the declaration of Mr. J. A. Nash (delivered in Palmerston North recently) that the policy of the Labour Party differed from its official programme. It was a fact that the Labour land policy had been altered in details as a result of conferences. Those alterations had been made in the light of the experiences of the farmers attending the conferences and the policy was improving each time (applause). The Labour policy was a kind of religion with its candidates. It was preached all the year round from the street corners and in such circumstances could promises be made and not carried out?

Referring to the suggestion that the New Zealand Labour . Party was in league with Russia, Mr. Bromley declared that a similar dictatorship could not bo enforced in any part of the British Empire (applause). The British constitutional monarchy offered greater freedom than any other constitution (applause). The Now Zealand Labour Party was, hated just as much by the Communists as was the Reform Party. By 106 votes to 9, the “Reds” had been refused admission to the last conference of the Labour Party which had been complimented on its decision. When Mr. Nash had declared that the Labour Party was a party of communists, he had spoken with his tongue in his cheek.

In answer to questions, Mr. Bromley said he was in favour of reducing school classes to 35 pupils, of having classrooms erected so that two classes could not be taught in the same room; of restoring the cuts to civil servants; and was in sympathy with special attention being given retardates. He was opposed to the censorship of literature and also, to the importation of coal if it was to aggravate unemployment. A pension for chronic invalids was a necessity?as well as a right when it was remerrtbered that a woman whose husband was insane, received a pension. | Mr. J. Holgcns moved votes of thanks to the two speakers. A vote of thanks to the Mayor concluded tha meeting,

MR. NASH AT MILSON. Mr. J. A. Nash addressed the electors at Milson last evening, Mr. A. Lalcy presiding. Mr. Nash dealt exhaustively with the United Party’s proposals, showing the attitude adopted by the leader in his criticism of the Government in 1919, 192 G and 1928, also educational, railway and ether matters.

At the conclusion of his speech, which was received with applause, he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, a similar motion being passed to the chairman. MR. SMALL SPEAKS AT BANGIOTU. A record political gathering was addressed by Mr. P. J. Small, United Party candidate for Manawatu, at Eangiotu last night, Mr. H. Simmons being in the chair. The candidate gave a comprehensive account of the party’s platform, criticism of tho Reform administration, and at tho conclusion of his speech, answered a great number of questions. A vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. Buckeridge and seconded by Mr. Robin was carried unanimously.

Manawatu Contest MR. LINKLATER AT BANGIOTXJ. On Monday evening, Mr. J. Linklatei addressed the largest audience that has attended a political Electing in Eangiotu this election. There were 61 settlers present and the meeting elected Mr. H. Bond to the chair. In introducing the speaker, Mr. Bond said that during Mr. Linklater’s sis years as the representative of Manawatu in Parliament, he had carried on*, his duties honourably and well, independent of whether he had offended anyone or not. In the speaker’s opinion. Mr. Linklater was one of the best men they could have to represent the_ district. He was an honest, straightforward man. (Applause.) On rising to speak, the candidate was accorded a warm ovation, Mr. Link • later’s address was listened to with interest and at the ’conclusion, aftei answering several questions, the speaker was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of the chairman and Mr. Brook-Taylor.

MR. J. LINKLATER AT TAIKOREA Mr J. Linklater, Reform candidate for Manawatu, addressed a large audience at Taikorea. Mr J. B. Bennett' occupied the chair and briefly introduced the speaker. Mr Linklater’s address followed along the lines of his previous utterances and was attentively followed by the audience. A number of questions wore asked .and satisfactorily answered, and tho speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. ,