NELSON SEAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 28 October 1925, Page 5

NELSON SEAT

MR. ATM ORE'S CANDIDATURE

Mr Harry At more speaks at Toi Toi \ alley Hall to-night. Spring Grove schoolroom to-morrow at 7 p.m.. and Rans.au schoolroom to-morrow at 8.15 p.m.

AIR GILBERT’S CANDIDATURE (( ommunicated by a correspondent.) Air A. Gilbert, Reform candidate for Nelson, addressed a small but keenly interested meeting of electors at Tasman on Saturday evening. Air E. E. Ni ttage was voted to the chair! and in « tnti'odueing the camlidiite, made reference to ins wide experience in local governing and public affairs, and to Ids well Known enthusiasm and enterprise. Mr Gilbert spoke interestingly with reference to the achievements of the Liberal Party under the leadership of 1 Air Seddon. and warmly commended the sane and solid legislation put forward J during the perir! when that party held a substantial majority in the limit* l , and contrasted this with the unsettled conditions which followed under** Sir Joseph Ward, culminating in tho’ callmg ol Air Massey to-the Hrcmiersltin. • I hen followed a further period of. solid advancement, in spite of the difficulties of war and industrial unrest. Air AI assay had not only upheld all the fine •\< rk accomplished by Air Scddmt, but liad further developed and liberalised it. The Dominion now had the opportunity of supporting, in the person of Mr f oales, a new leader who had already proved his mettle in several must : nj- ‘ portant port fi lies, and who bad a splendid record of service during the war. He. the speaker, was a straightout supporter of Mr Coates, and if elect-‘d would support him whether fusion of the

existing parties was brought about u not. Mr Gilbert referred to llu; need for increasing production, and dealt with the need for more attention to top dressing pasture lands, to culling tho dairy herds, and to the intelligent use of fertiliser in the- orchards. If elected lie would support a policy of development along these lines, as ho considered it would pay la th the Stale arid the individual settlers. healing with public works, Mr Gilbert ulvoratod the abolition of the out-of-date "long handled shovel” method*?, and sia'.'.i that Mr Coates had already shown tl at lie was quite equal to the task of toorganising on sound modern lines, flic contract system of railway construction, with the aid of modern machinery would soon change tho present snail pace in railway construction. Mr Gilbert was aocorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr A. 'V. Tocher, seconded by Mr \V. H. Ilcmir. A similar motion was carried with reference to the chairman.

MR A. GILBERT'S CANDIDATURE

MEETING AT STOKE

(Communicated) A crowded attendance greeted Mr A. Gilbert, the Coates candidate, at Stoke last evening, several people having to content themselves hy listening trom the doorways. Mr Harry Chisiiall. vicepresident of the Stoke' Fruitgrowers’ Association, occupied the elmir. He said

it gave him very much pleasure to introduce Mr Gilbert. Nelson would be very fortunate indeed to have a man like him to represent them, lie knows thoroughly the needs of the district, lie ban energy and ability, lias made a. success of pis own undertakings aid would make a successful member. Mr Gilbert, who received a, rousing reception, spoke of the statements being mafic* concerning bis' candidature. The statements were absolute absurdities, unworthy of public men and beneath contempt. There was a perfectly clear

under-standing between himself and the Ministers and they wished him well. ’I he Ministers knew and ,thc Nelson electors knew exactly where and how lie stood

politically and that ho. could bo depended upon to stand loyally and staunchly for Mi- Coates and good government, lie showed ir.’. a- convincing manner that strong, capable and honest leadership was the chief essential in securing stable government and wise, prudent, and progressive legislation, and in a brief review of Mr Coates's public career allowed conclusively that he possessed those fine qualities of leadership and ww undoubtedly the outstanding leader in New Zealand to-day. lie commanded the confidence of Ids colleagues, political friends and opponents and the pro-

pie and, what is of still greater importance, he commands the confidence’ of those over seas who are interested in us financially and who critically watch how we are" conducting the business of the country. Mr Gilbert emphasised the fact that a vote cast for the Nationalist candidate could not possibly be a vote for both Forbes and Coates, lie quoted statements made by Mr Coates and Mr McLeod, making it quite clear that those who wanted Mr Forbes to lead must vote for the. Nationalist candidate and those who wanted Air Coates to lead must vote for the Coates candidate. Mr Veiteh and other prominentleaders of the Nationalist I’arty state

definitely Unit- they “will vole to put. Reform out of power. - ’ That, continued Mr Gilbert, is the greatest danger on the political horizon to-day. The gaining of the Treasury benches by the Nationalists would result in a period of weak, unstable and confidence wrecking Government which, in view of our heavy financial obligations and the need of fresh loans to complete our public works, would be a very serious matter for New Zealand generally. The only way to avoid t.iis is to vote solid for Coates and return him with a good majority over both the other parties, and we can then face the future with confi denca

After referring to several of the main political questions of the day, Mr Gilbert said the main question for the electors to decide is whether Coates, i |- orbee, or Holland is to lead, and he urged those present to take a broad view, do their duty and vote in the best interests of their country. Mr Coates was worthy of our confidence and would give equal opportunity and a fair spin, for all. Mr Gilbert concluded by saying a. vote cast for himself was a vote cast for Coalec-i and a strong, safe government. There were no questions, but Mr Condell asked for a ruling as to whether it was the condidate or the chairman to order a questioner to sit down. Mr Chisnall said it was for the chairman to do so if necessary. Mr Condell replied: Very well. Mr Atmore, when speaking at Stoke had ordered him (Mr Condell) to sit down when he asked a question, and he felt that he had been insulted.

Mr It. Higliet, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Gilbert, said the address had been a real education to him. He bad dealt in .an able and instructive manner with our main primary industries and requircoer.ts of the district and bad also given us much valuable information concerning our secondary industries. Speaking as a returned soldier, he could endorse all that Mr Gilbert had said regarding the splendid treatment the soldiers had received from the Government and they all had perfect confidence that in Mr Coates they would continue to receive the same considerate treatment. The resolution was seconded by Major Dagger and carried by acclamation. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair. Mr Gilbert invites the electors to meet him at Hampden Street School, to-night at. 8 o’clock; Brook Street School, tomorrow. 'Thursday, at f 3 o’clock ; Spring Grove School, Friday at 8 o’clock ; Appleby School, Saturday at 7 o'clock; Waimea West School, Saturday at 8.15.

MR BRIN DLL’S CANDIDATURE

MEETING IN HAMPDEN STREET SCHOOL

(Communicated)

There was a good attendance of electors to hear Mr Rrindlc, the Labour candidate, in the Hampden Street school last night. Mr Gardiner was voted to the chair. Mr Brindlo devoted a considerable- portion of his address to the question of housing, and mentioned a case of overcrowding in Auckland, where no fewer than 27 people were crowded in one house; the rent was £3 per week, two basement, rooms being occupied by two separate families, who each paid a guinea a week for their room. In one of these dens lived ;i man, wife and three children. There was no room for chairs, the only furniture being two beds and a dressing table, in the drawers of which were stored till their food and provisions. There was no gas ring or cooking convenience of any kind. A baby was born in one of these rooms under these conditions. It was nr. use talking about morality and ethics or purity when people were living under conditions like these. If fifteen people are eating, .sleeping, living and dying in one room morality became a by-word. The Prime Minister on his recent tour made a point that the Government would try to do something to ease the shameful overcrowding conditions. Tit criticising the Government, lie- said they had had thirteen vears to do something and had failed/ Their claim to have provided 30.459 houses would not bear examination. The total dumber of building permits for private dwellings issued in the cities, boroughs and town districts for the years 1921-22

i 1922 23, 1923 21 was 15,C00, or an average of 5200 per annum. the Gi/\ernI incut Loans exceeded the average tiuiu--1 her built hv all agencies combined. A large number of the loans made hy the ! Government was ft- purchase existing houses, bill that system could not solve (the housing ptoblem. The preset.' ! system was uttd ■riutn;: g t.it-* In me life •>f the people. Homos are no', possible, without houses Tit.*, objective of tut l,nbo.;y P.i'cfy, ew.,'hided Mr Baird]. \ is ft ippv homes for ail. : A vote of thanks was accorded both ' the speaker and the chairman. | Mr Krit.tdle will .speak in the Brook Street school to-night at 8 p.nt., and on Thursday night in the Tasman Street school at 8 p.nt.