Oroua Electorate

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 278, 25 November 1935, Page 8

Oroua Electorate

HON. J. G. COBBE VISITS BACK COUNTRY Travelling on Friday in the remote parts of the Oroua electorate, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe visited Moawhanga, Omatane, and Ohutu, all three areas being some distance into tEe back country of Taihape. The weather, after so many wet days, brightened? into a little sunshine which made iliotoring very pleasant over good-surfaced roads of tho district. At Moawhanga Mr. Cobbe was entertainod at afternoon tea and subsequently met tho settlers in an informal w r ay, discussed w r ith them tho various issues, before the country in the general election. In the evening Mr Cobbe spoke at Omatane, there being not a vacant seat In the schoolhouse in which the meeting w T as held. On being voted to the chair, Mr. R. P. March gave Mr. Cobbe a warm welcome on behalf of the settlers.

In an hour’s speech, Mr. Cobbe stated the ease of the National Government which merited, he said, its return to the Treasury benches to continue the administration of its policy for the common welfare of tho people of the Dominion. The speaker also enlightened his audieneo in the flaws and weaknesses of tho Labour and Democrat policies. On the one hand, he declared, the Labour party- was keen to inflate the currency- and on the other hand tho Democrat party wanted to completely wipe out the exchange and to kill the cheap money provisions of tho Mortgage Corporation Act, all of which were of inestimable value to the man on tho land and to the people generally. The electors, however, could be trusted to quickly judge the worth of any plan which would work to their direct detriment and with that knowledge ho felt the people would decide to give a mandate to the National Government to continue to develop its sane and safe policy of the country’s affairs.

At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. A. McColl proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Cobbe for his instructive address and confidence in him as Parliamentary representative of the district.

Mr. Cobbe: “Thanks only-, Mr. chairman, please; the electors can show their confidence at the ballot-box. ” The chairman: “I insist on confidence” (hear! hear!) and the motion was carried with applause. Proceeding later to Ohutu Mr. Cobbe met tho settlers in the sehoolhousn and delivered a further address. Tho chairman of tho meeting was Mr. 11. A. Belk.

The settlers closely followed Mr. Cobbe in his remarks which embraced all the live political questions of the day. An appropriate motion moved by Mr F. C. Jurgens gave the audience an opportunity of greeting Mr. Cobbe with a round of applause. MR FAIR’S CANDIDATURE A good attendance greeted Mr. Ernest Fair, tho Democrat candidate, at Eangiwaliia on Friday. Mr. D. Coupcr was elected chairi/ian and introduced the speaker, outlining briefly- his career. Tho candidate dealt with the exchange question very thoroughly. Mr. Fair explained that when butter was at 60/- a cwt. the exchange benefit amounted to 15/- a cwt., but when butter rose to 120/- a ewt.y the benefit was 30/- a cwt. Tho Democrats pledged themselves to givo tho farmer a subsidy at least equal to the exchango benefit, but only when prices of produce were below a payable price and then only to those who needed it. Mr. Fair said it was necessary to

again explain and put before the meeting the Democrat Budget, in view of the statement made by tho Hon. J. G. Cobbo that tho Democrat promises could not be carried out. Mr. Fair also dealt with tho AuditorGeneral’s report and pointed out that it took the Coalition Government two years to heed the Auditor-General’s complaints about mal-administration in the Native Affairs Department. The audience listened most attentively to Mr. Fair’s address and on resuming his seat, rounds of applause greeted the conclusion of a clear and concise statement of the Democrat Party’s policy. Mr. J. Watt moved a vote of thanks to tho speaker, which was carried by acclamation. MR OLIVER’S CANDIDATURE One of the largest and most enthusiastic meetings ever held in Mangnweka, was held on Friday night when Mr. W. 11. Oliver, the Labour candidate, addressed over 200 people. Tho speaker was in great form, and drove his points homo with telling effect. Ho showed that while the Government was ou. to deal with effects, the Labour Party was out to deal with causes. In, or about 1945, there would bo another slump, according to Tirch's table of cycles, and nothing this Government proposed to do could prevent it. If that happened, and it most assuredly would, all tho misery suffered during t}io last five y-ears, would bo repeated. Mr. Forbes had said if prices fell again ho would reduce wages and pensions again. Therefore, said Mr. Oliver, if you vote for the Government you know just what to expect. Tho trouble would be that the innocent would have to suffer along with tho guilty. Major Douglas had said that when the “money-power” completed its chain of Central Banks thero would exist such a state of slavery as tho -world had never seen.

Dealing with New Zealand conditions, Mr. Oliver said there were *four things to be done: (1) Restore the purchasing power of the people; (2) sell cream in Now Zealand at butterfat prices instead of making it up and selling it as butter on an unpayable market; (3) use milk in the making of bread; (4) supply all children with a plentiful supply- of milk. If this wero attempted, there would not be sufficient cows iri New Zealand to do tho job. The benefit, physical and financial would bo enormous.

His emphatic protest against New Zealand being governed by foreigners was much applauded. Now Zealand, claimed Mr. Oliver, was not a selfgoverning Dominion. At tho close of his addresss Mr. Oliver was given an emphatic vote of thanks and confidence, to which were added cheers for tho Labour Party, #