MARSDEN SEAT.

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1919, Page 3

MARSDEN SEAT.

THE INDEPENDENT PROGRESSIVE.

ADDRESS BY MR MURDOCH

IX WiIAXUARUI TOWN HAL I

It is the matter-of-fact due of Mr. Fred Murdoch the Independent Progressive candidate for Mtusden, and the last of the four in the field to address the Whangurei electors, to say that he drew a larger audience at the Town Hall last night than any of tho preceding speakers had done. The auditorium was about two-thirds filled, which means that some five or six hundred people were present, amongst them being a substantial proportion of ladies. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. .1. S. Dent) was in the chair, and in a brief introduction of the candidate said thut the latter was a young aspirant of whom the Mayor did not know much personally, but what he did know was that the candidate was respected from one end of the district to the other. Mr. Murdoch had a hard nut to crack, but if he (the Mayor) might venture on a prediction, it was to the effect that when the last round came Mr. Murdoch "would not be far away. ,, (Applause). The candidate would be prepared to answer any reasonable questions at the close of his address. THE REASON WHY. Greeted with hearty acclamation on rising to speak, Mr. Murdoch said that in coming out to contest the seat he had been so persuaded by a large number of men of various shades of political opinions and parties. He realised that he would be up against a hard proposition in opposing Mr. Mander, who had represented the district for 17 years and against whom no one could pay an adverse word (applause), but on looking round and investigating the position generally he (the speaker) was convinced that he had a sporting chance, and that was a factor he was always ready to accept. The prime condition of his candidature acceptance was, however, that he must have a free and independent hand, without attachment to any political faction. He did not believe in party government, and had f-lic-jcn the "progressive" slogan as King, in his belief, to the best interests of the community. He must be understood on the point that "progressive", as his policy, was not allied in eny sense to the same terms which Air. iVeraon Beed had adopted on one memjDTable occasion, but was purely for the greatest good of the greatest number. SYSTEM OF ELECTION. Four candidates were out for Marsden, and under the present method of voting any one of them could get in on B minority vote, which was manifestly unfair and inequitable. The Reform party had abolished the Second Ballot, which was at least a reasonably democratic method, and the old style had been reverted to. In the near future Parliament would have to adopt preferential voting, which undoubtedly gave the best results. THE UPPER HOUSE. Distinctly the candidate declared that he had '' no use for the Legislative Council as at present constituted. It amounted to this: that the people elected tho House of Representatives to do their bidding to make laws for the country at large, and then the Legislative Council whittled those kvws about and mutilated them as it listed, Glthotigh the members of that chamber were but nominees of party leaders; in fact, anyone, could be placed there by influential means if suitable to party purposes. The instance was given of Mr. W. Stewart (who might -certainly be a good man individually), who had kept Mr. Vemon Reed's place warm end then been put in the Upper House as a species of reward, though no more entitled to membership actually than anyone else. It had been said that members of the Legislative Council were a •'lot of old women", but while he was not prepared to accept that dictum he was quite assured on the point of the method of appointment being utterly wrong, and tho country was just as well without them under the existing conditions of membership If it were necessary to have a revisory chamber, then the members thereof should be placed there by election and not by preference. (Applause). ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. The Parliamentary system could be infinitely improved by the elective executive process, under which the best brains of the 80 members' of the House could be utilised in the Ministry. As it stood now, a party strength of 42 members as against 38 could hold sway, the members invariably backing up their leader, though ostensibly criticising him on occasion. The Cabinet portfolios should be filled by the best men in the House, which was impossible under the present procedure, as instanced by Mr. Hemes (whose performance as Minister of Railways had not been a success), while the same could be said of Sir Win, Fraser (Public Works), who was too old for a job—the most important in the country —which required a young and energetic man; also Mr. "Ricketty" Russell, whose Public Health administration was not exactly perfect. (Laughter). The House personnel should be elected by popular franchise first, then tho whole of the members so elected should nominate the men most worthy of Cabinet rank, and the latter elect their own chairman. Thus sound government WPulrt ensue, filling the ideal function of h-gis'laiion for the whole country, and there would be no more worry about the present despicable dependence ot: (folps and pittances. (Applause).

THE MIXERS.

It' tho industries of the country were to go forward sis they ought (said .Mr. .Murdoch), tho employees I herein must be encouraged to do their best under the most satisfactory condition* procurable for theui. Speaking more particularly of the coal miners, tin' candidate said thai he lisul spent, two hours iv ilit , Hikurangi mines, sisn )ii)\v die men Worked fhcre, used the pii-k liiiti.St'lf, breathed the s:;me du.-i-hulen ntmospliore, and lie whs quite satisfied to let them have tin* job. Ti.ey worked under very Hying conditions, many of which, however, could be iinpuned with very little outhiy. He Jj;\d also visited the Kiripaka mine, and noted there the inadequate provisions in tbe "change house", which lacked proper bath facilities and other necessities. The Board of Trade report on the miuing industry he had perused closely, and he agreed with the recommendation for nationalising the industry. Tin; report stated that one-third of the extra cost of coal was due to tho cost of labour, but neglected to any anything about the other two-thirds. It \\;;s also sigiiiiicant and to the point that 1 lie report claimed that tho JStaio mined were working at a proiit and silling coal at less than the propriet- i ary mines did. Probably the strongest point made was that rings and combinations were hampering the industry, and he was satislied that this was the case. He had been told, per example, by men who had worked in the Harrison mine (which was not in any ring) that coal therefrom had been sold to various concerns, such as the Chelsea Sugar Works, Limestone Island, etc., amounting .to between 700 and 1000 tons, and that when coal was generally scarce the concerns mentioned declared that the Harrison product was just the thing, but when coal was generally plentiful, then the Harrison mine product was no good at all. The upshot was that the balance of coal on hand was refused by the Government at 18/ per ton and sold privately for 23/ per ton and the mine had to close down because of the "ring" operating against v. If industry could be blocked in such a way, then it was time that the State stepped in and remedied the position. Under nationalisation of the industry State depots could be set up for the purpose of retailing coal to the people at the cheapest possible rate. The shipping combine, which entered largely into the argument, could be combated by the provision of Stateowned "hookers". There should also be a nationalised superannuation scheme for coal miners, taking effect at the age of 55, which was fully old enough for men eugaged in such a trying occupation. Also there should be recreation clubs, where the miners could find congenial pastime in their off hours and thus be kept contented. (Applause). STATE BANK. Mr. Murdoch was a decided advocate, he said, of a State Bank, showing from a Bank of New Zealand report by Mr. Beauchnmp that the net profit of that bank in the last financial year had been £388,022, after paying everything else off, while perhaps a less liberal writing off for depreciation, etc., would have shown a £500,000 proiit. Given a State Bank instead, that profit would mean 10/ per head for a million population, which would be at least some help to the community. Any industry, in fact, which was prospectually profitable, would be worth while taking up by the State. (Applause). EDUCATION. The candidate espoused, as first essentials, the free and compulsory tenets of education. There was a lot, he contended, which should be cut out of the present-day primary school syllabus. Children were sent to school at the age of five, when they were only just out of their cradles so to speak, and were converted into machines. At such an early period.a child was altogether too young to be dealt with. automatically, and between the age of live and seven nothing should be attempted beyond the kindergarten process. At one time a teacher was expected to be exclusively a scholar, but with the list of subjects now presented he had to be a botanist, an agriculturist, a carpenter, a gardener, and several other things as well. The seats in use were unsuitable for children to sit upon for five hours on five days per week, and because they had been considered good enough in the past was no reason why they should be still in vogue. Chairs or something similar should be substituted, so that the children might gather knowledge in a comfortable manner. Tho age' limitation for acquiring a proficiency certificate ought to be extended, so that a scholar up to 1C or even 17 years might qualify for secondary education. In the primary school it ought to be permissible for tho teacher to discover the individual bent of his pupils and report on the same to the secondary school, so that specialised training might be continued. It was no use to fill up with Greek and Latin boys who were speeificially intended for farming pursuits in their future, Up-to-date appliances in all manual and technical branches must be insisted on, and scholars who were meant for careers in the Public Service should receive the tuition requisite for such calling. The candidate pointed out that school inspectors were much underlaid iv proportion to the value of their work, and lie heard of a man in charge of a pig market receiving about £1800 per annum as against £o"00 paid to a school inspector. The establishment of an Agricultural College for North Auckland was a matter that must not only be considered, but become an accomplished fact. He failed to see why they should back up Ituakura nil the time. No doubt it was nn excellent institution in its way, but there were differences of soil, climate, and other conditions to take into account as between 'Kuukura and the Far North. These were entirely different, and it was plain that agricultural instruction, to be fully effective, must comply with the particular elements of the locality. Further, it was imperative to have a college as accessible as possible to the prospective students. Such an institution was a necessity in the North, and they meant to have it. END OF SEC. 1.

RAILWAY MATTERS.

Mr Murdoch then dealt with railway matters and explained that he had just made a personal tour of the work under construction. From his inspection and inquiries he had come to the conclusion ihat it was an error to blame the Public Works Department for tlie long , delay in completing the railway to Auckland. 'The Railway Department is to blame." The statement made thai, there were 20 miles of the line idle was incorrect. There were 200 people in Portland who could not use the line. The railway department carried coal, but would not carry passengers. The Public Works Department was paying for this upkeep out of the people's pockets. The fall of an embankment at one place of 1000 yards which had gone to the flat below would take two years to conso lidate. In the Waiotira section of seven miles no pick had been in yet. Roughly speaking, if we got the men the line could be put through in three years at the normal rate at a cost approximately of £150,000. The system under which we were working , wanted improvement. We had two steam navvies, but we wanted more. We were wasting money while we dallied. More latitude should be gjiven to 'dne (engineers \aaxd there should be less red tape. There was too much delay occasioned by a policy of official obstruction represented by "you don't want six barrows, you only want three." In some cases, when good men got together they earned 14s or 15s a day but the Government did not wantthat, and the price per yard was reduced to such an extent that one gang made only 8s lid a day per man Mr Murdoch advocated a better system, the engineer to assess the price and if the men made 16s a day let them. In many instances great delay had resulted owing to the lack of appliances due to the need of better organisation. The fault was in departmental management in Wellington. ROADS. The speaker advocated the -Government taking over the main arterial roads. The Wairoa and Whangarei road was a disgrace being impassable in wet seasons for three months in the year. The Government should, by subsidising up to the full amount, encourage road development and set- j tlement in the country. The only way to keep people in the country was to make better roading communication. Old antiquated trains going at a snail pace were denounced. If fares and freights were reduced we should get more; "but," said Mr Murdoch, "the Government does not reckon to run trains for the people. Whangarei was a great road centre, and the means of communication generally should be brought up-to-date. GRANTS. Mr Murdoch referred to the anomalies existing in the estimates just out, and said that in some ridings there were too many £ for £ subsidies When taking the amount of work to be got through "the thing is absurd." CIVIL SERVICE. There was a deal of friction in the railway and other departments, and in the railway section, it was attributable to the head. References were made to the Appeal Board and the veto, and, said the speaker, the system could ! be altered with advantage. He would eliminate the veto altogether after altering certain elements in the Appeal Board. Retirement of all public servants at 65 years of age was urged by Mr Murdoch—they should be, "pulled right, out." MEDICAL SERVICE. The speaker recommended the establishment of cottage hospitals or homes of four or five beds under qualified nurses. Men needed attention and could not get it. Inspection of children in schools, especially for adenoids and eye-sight was approved, but the speaker was emphatic in stating that the inspecting doctors should be ordered to do the work, not merely say what should be done. TRAINING CAMPS. Mr Murdoch did not think there wa3 any likelihood of establishing the camps for youths for four months. He favoured plenty of physical drill to make strong men, and the establishment of rifle clubs with plenty of facility for practice. The speaker affirmed that the territorial system had not proved very satisfactory, as those who had been thus trained were kept practising with raw recruits in the camps. TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS, The speaker considered that the Government gratuity should be reckoned from the time the man 'began to be a soldier. Instances of unfairness in distributing pensions were given, and the work of the Returned Soldiers' Association emphasised in finding out cases of injustice and for the men themselves to press their claims, Mr Murdoch contended that it was useless to put a soldier on the land unless he had a natural bent for the work. A soldier who had had experience on the land could take care of himself. Those going on the land for the first time needed helping. Instances were given of men taking up land at high prices which, said the speaker, he personally would not take over at a price per acre reduced by £7 10s. A case was quoted of a man having given £5 to £7 an acre for a block of 200 acres, cutting the gorse, and spending £1000 in manures, and then selling it to a soldier at £28 10s an acre. He did not see how the new owner could get through with it.

CROWN AND NATIVE LANDS,

Settlement of returned men on Crown and native lands was recommended. Native lands, where not utilised, should be taken over by the Government, the owners to be given interest on the value. He would favour assisting the Maori in a similar manner to the European. The etiorj mous quantities of Crown land should be given to the soldier at a reasonI able price. The men should be settled on virgin country and advances made to clear at 30s an acre, grass at 30s an acre, find stock, and build. Under such considerate treatment there would be a fair chance of increasing production. He was against buying private estates for soldier settlement, and he would remit the payment on land for three years. THE BOARD OF TRADE. At the outset of the war the Government set up a Bonrd of Trade and it should liiive com rolled prices, but its provisions made it impossible to exercise any such control. The only thing it could do was to call upon a man to produce his books and if he did not do so line him £20. Vet both Ward and Massey had declared their intention to stop profiteering. The amendments to the Act made this session provided for imprisonment and an increase of the fine from £200 to £1000 in the case of a company. But the profiteers had enjoyed a iive years' run. When the price of coal cropped up in Wanganui Mr. Yeiteh. wrote the Acting Prime Minister asking why coal sold at 30/ j a ton pre-war in Wanganui was now sold at (32/ a ton and all the reply he got was that his inquiry should have been sent to the Board of Trade. In Auckland some time ago a merchant brought a debt case beforo a magistrate in which he asked for an order for the payment of £6 the price of a ladies' coat. The magistrate endeavoured to ascertain the cost price and finally was told 30/, showing an endeavour to make 400 per cent. The Board of Trade did nothing but fix the price of benzine at 28/ per case when the f.o.b. price from Sumatra was 4/10 a case. Why did not Mr. Massey send over a ship or two and get some of this oil. It was not a bit of good ."aying what he would do. Mr. Massey should have been here to do it or have left men in charge who would do it. (Applause). Look what the Board of Trade could have done in controlling the price of fertilisers, which had gone up 250 per cent. Superphosphate had increased from £2 12/6 to £9 12/6 per ton. Freights should also have been controlled. Freight on a ton of butter from Whangarei amounted to £2, whereas ordinary freight amounts to 1 7/(i per ton. The rate per ton from Auckland to Matakana was 17/ per ton, to Mangawai rate per ton from Auckland to Matakana was 17/ per ton, to Mangawai 23/, Waipu 30/. To ship butter it cost £2 9/ per ton from Waipu, and £2 from Parua. He could not understand why the companies should charge more for butter than anything else. He asked the manager and was informed that it got special treatment. The only special treatment he could discover was a tarpaulin thrown over it on the deck. The only case of profiteering the Board could find in Wellington was that in which a firm had sold some flannel and then it was found not to be profiteering after all because the court had to strike an average and as the flannel was sold for less a bit lower down the purchasers need not have gone to the profiteer. This was the way in which the Government had looked after the cost of living. No wonder things had gone up in price. THE COMMANDEER. Turning to the commandeer of New Zealand products he said Government had decided to commandeer all meat, butter, and wool in the country so as not to let prices soar. The farmers did not then complain as they thought Government would control other prices as well. They thought they would not have to pay more for their fertilisers, benzine, etc. Government took the butter and sent it Homo, where the consumers got it at any old price. Government .took prime mutton at 5d and 4jfd per lb and it was sold at Home for 2/3 and 3/ per lb. B% putting a penny on they should have been able to sell at Gd. Someone had got the profit. The same thing happened with the wool. It had been bought gi l/:\ per lb and sold jit a very high iigure.) They had now to pay m, £10, or £12 for a suit which they were able before the war to purchase at £;">. It had been estimated that 1(1/ worth of wool would make a suit. If the Government had had a better eye for business at the outset of the war the country would have been in a belter position to-day. If the existing woollen mills could not produce enough for New Zealand Government should see that there were more mills* erected to do the work. DISTRICT DEVE LOPMENT. He wanted to see scouring work* established on this harbour, where they 'iad all the facilities necessary. They were also importing fruit, while hundreds of tons were going to waste here every year.,. It did not now pay to bring that fruit in to the markets, but it would pay if cool storage wel'e provided. With cool stores nt Whangarei Harbour they would not have to pay 1/ a lb for apples. He also wished to see freezing works established here and it could be done with a bit of assistance. Government could start the works. Cooperation was tho way In whjeh to fight , j the Trust. If farmers sold to their own works they would get the full benefit, .lie gave an illustration from hia owa experience. He sent a line of sheep to the Auckland Fanners' Company and netted 7/0 per head more for them than was offered by the Whangarei Freezing Works. If they went the right way to work they should get the works established here. He did not want to see them lit Otiria. Whangarei was the right place. It was the centre and business should be drawn from the North, Wairoa, and south to Maungaturoto. If they pushed the right way they could do it.

J A SPORTS GROUND. > One other thing ho would like to i mention before concluding. Whaugarei had a Beautifying Society, and there was t>. piece of land winch he would like to see secured as a beauty spot for •he inwii He referred to tho pio:c below Harrison's. Jt would lake suit of u.oiiey but if the sports of Ih< , district got together it could be accomplished. There would bo room for a football ground, cricket field, tepid baths, etc. l>. would bo in the iiiteiesis of the town if ilie sports took the matter up and paid a deposit on the piucliase. (Applause). QUESTIONS. The speaker then resumed his seat and questions wore invited. Mr. I. W. Moore asked which side of the House the candidate would stand in the event of a no-eonfidenee motiou being moved, on the Liberal or Reform. In reply, Mi , . Murdoch repeated his reply at Hikurangi. He was not in favour of party government in any shape or form, but on a no-confidence motion he would vote against the Massey Government. A C|iiestioner asked if the candidate was in favour of Government lending money io employers to build houses for employees. Mr. Murdoch held that it would be better for Government to lend the money to individual employee himself. Mr. Williams wanted to know if the candidate was in favour of applying tho Civil Service Act —retirement at C 5 years—to members of Parliament. The Candidate: "You want to push out one of my biggest opponents." (Laughter). HEARTY THANKS. Mr. Williams then moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for his able and instructive address. The motion was seconded by Mr I. W. Moore and carried with applause. Mr. Murdoch returned thanks and assured the meeting that if confidence was placed in him on polling day he would do his best for Marsden and the country generally. A vote of thanks to the Mayor concluded a very cordial meeting.