Halcombe

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 236, 6 October 1938, Page 16

Halcombe

From Our Own Correspondent. Mr Hunter's Meeting, A crowded hall greeted Mr C. L. Hunter, M.R., at Halcombe on Tuesday evening when he delivered an address along similar lines to his previous speeches in Halcombe. There was no doubt that the speaker had the support of a large section of his audience. Mr E. Markhan, president of the local .Labour branch, occupied the chair. Mr Hunter, in referring to the bogey of socialism, said that the late XL J. Seddon was definitely socialistic in his legislation. Did we not all practice socialism in the home? Did not the strong protect the weak? New Zealand was just one big family and the same principles applied. Frequent reference had been made by the Opposition to the commandeer of the primary produce. At least a farmer now knew where ho stood. He could count on a certain price for the season.and that; price was the maximum that could be paid. The Labour Party's objective was a higher standard of living, but their opponents thought that we should not have a standard higher than the rest of the world. Mr Hunter asserted that his party had not borrowed one penny overseas, but had paid off two and throe-quarter millions of tho National Debt. We now borrow from ourselves through the Reserve Bank. People have been told that their P.O. Savings Bank deposits would not be safe, but under the present Government they were safer than ever before. Mr Hunter said that the National Party would not be able to reduce taxation. The present Government wanted to place more men on . the land. The graduated land tax was designed to break up the huge estates so that more land would be available. Despite many assertions to the contrary, tho speaker said that. 1724 freehold titles bad been granted by the Government. Also during its first year in office the Labour Party granted more State Advance loans thau the National Party did in tho previous four years. Asked why tho sales tax had not been reduced, Mr Hunter said that thousands of articles were now exempt from the tax. Referring to Social Security, Mr Hunter said that no working mac could save for his old ago. One of the Opposition speakers, Mr .Full, had voiced objection to paying pensions to "beer soakers.” This was a strange statement from a man who was himself a brewer New Zealand was a radical country. People left England because they wished to escape from tho system there lyid tney did not want New Zealand to be patterned on the Old Country. Unfortunately, reactionaries had secured control and had crippled the working people of the countrv. Mr Hunter made a strong appeal for the welfare of the cliildren of poor parents, who under the social legislation would have free hospital and medical treatment. No longer should a small section of the community nave all while the majority had nothing. After answering questions, Mr Hunter was accorded a “most hearty vote of thanks,” the audience showing their confidence in no uncertain manner. _ oil a strong body of public opinion to the doctrine of Rhodes, “Equal rights for all civilised men.” Included in this body of opinion is Mr Huggins, the Prime Minister, and the devoted men of the Native Affairs Department. Happily,, too, these official quarters are supported by most of the big business men of Southern Rhodesia. TV hether they can withstand the steadily advancing tide of racial discrimination is another matter, for there are unfortunately some, even in Rhodesia, who support tho other doctrine —namely, that the Bantu natives are not merely a race on a lower social scale, but are a creation with a biology entirely different from that of the white races. Which of the two conflicting policies will ultimately triumph depends largely on the terms of settlement of the protectorates question by the Government and Parliament in Westminister.