CAMPAIGN NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 October 1928, Page 9

CAMPAIGN NOTES

WITH THE CANDIDATES POINTS FROM SPEECHES In the course of an address at Inaha Mr C. A. Wilkinson, Independent candidate, who is opposed to tire Alinister of Agriculture in the Egmont electorate, said: “To-day there is no party in the field to whose policy I can altogether subscribe. I cannot wholly subscribe to the policy of the United Parly or to any policy of wholesale borrowing as announced by Sir Joseph Ward.’’

“I would like Mr Archer to answer this question: How can lie do three jobs —save souls, save the City, and save the country?’’ asked a young man at one of the Christchurch Mayo'Fs' meetin'gs last week.

Mr E. j. Howard (chairman) answered for Air Archer: “He says lie can do it,” lie declared. Mr Archer ■ added that his Church had asked him' riot to sever his connection with it if elected. ■

“I make no apology for criticising the Government—a good policy is always worth good criticism,” said Air Bertram Bunn, Reform candidate for Alanukau. “The Opposition has no policy, so 1 have no criticism to offer,” lie continued. “I have been an' optimist all my life, and ] believe in the cheerful ‘good morning’ spirit.” A Alelancholy Voice: “And no breakfast.”

The Candidate: “I was watching a happy gathering oil the' bowling green the other day, and I thought a great many people would be better off if they were playing bowls instead of drinking bowls in. the bar.”

An interjector remarked that everybody would be better off'if the Government was put out. Mr Bunn : “If you go on talking like tlnit you will have the country run by trade union secretaries. You do not believe you are being treated well because so much is done silently. I think some men in Parliament are inclined to stay too much in the background. Yon would be better satisfied if they came out on the-platform frequently and spent less time in their offices.”

Speaking of the decline of Liberalism in the Dominion, Mr F. B. Hughes, Reform- candidate for the Avon seat, staked that marly old Liberals had seen fit to change their coats until after the last General’Election, the' only Liberal left was’Sir Joseph Ward. “And now Sir Joseph lias pushed off his coat tod, and joined the United Party,” he added. • ■

What was the essential difference between Labour and anti-Labour? (asked Mr J. Iv. Archer, Mayor of Christchurch and Labour candidate for Christchurch North). It was the interest of the five per cent, versus the interest of the 95 per cent. Anti-Labour stood for the individual, or group of individuals; Labour for the community. Anti-Labour stood for the rights of property; Labour for the rights of people. In. the eyes of anti-Labour money was supreme; in Labour’s eyes men and women and children were supreme. Anti-Labour was the parent of war —industrial war, social war, international war'. Labour was world-wide in its outlook and sympathy and friendships. It was the only instrument for the establishment of peace. * * * *

It lias been persistently rumoured during the last lew days (writes a Dunedin correspondent), that Air W. B. Taverner (A lay or of the city, and United Party candidate for Dunedin South) contemplates withdrawing from the contest. These reports are denied by the officials of the Party, but nevertheless it is understood that enquiries have been instituted respecting the prospects of securing another candidate to carry the banner of the United Party. Air J. 'P. Walls (Mayor of Mosgiel) whose name went to the selection ballot with that of Air John Loudon, has now definitely announced that lie Will contest the seat. Mr Loudon intimated his withdrawal on Afonday, oil the ground that he could not support the huge borrowing proposals of Sir Joseph Ward. # # * #

Speaking at Wahsend, AH’ D. AL Robertson, the Reform candidate for Buller* said that the electors in the Buller electorate might think it appeared peculiar that a resident in Westland should contest a seat in another electorate, but he had assisted in the Reform movement in Christchurch six years ago. His personal endeavours were for the common welfare of the West Coast. As the president of the Progress League, a member of the Grey Chamber of Commerce, and the Grey Borough Council, he had used his endeavours to advance the interest of the West Coast as ii whole. Air Robertson, Who is a fluent speaker, is being accorded good receptions at all Ins meetings (states a West Coast correspondent).

“We have in Air Archer one of the most remarkable men we have ever had in Christchurch,” said Air E. J. Howard at the Christchurch Alayor’s opening meeting. “He always prays for peace, but he is always in a fight somewhere.”

“As you all know, the Leader of the United Party is Sir Joseph Ward,” said the Rev. j. K, Archer, speaking at Timaru, “but I don’t know what claims he has to the leadership. He has already been turned down by the people of New Zealand, and lie lias done nothing to justify his return to office. Sir Joseph represents the financial interests of the Dominion, and I hope that we’re not fools enough to suppose- that a man of his type will do anything for the people.”

“Tlin country needs a change of Government,” stated Mr C. A. Wilkinson, Independent candidate for l’atea, at Eltliam on Wednesday. ‘‘The Reform Government Iras been in power for sixteen years. That is far too long for the good of the country or tire party. The Ship of State has become encrusted with barnacles.” A voice: “Since,you left!”

Mr Wilkinson: “It is in fact waterlogged and tire crew) is nob pulling well.”

The voice: “You supported it fifteen years ago.”

Mr Wilkinson: “Yes, a long while ago. It is time the Reform ship was put into dry dock for repairs.” The voice: "But you were a Reformft l 1

Mr Wilkinson: “Everyone knows that. Give us something fresh. I suggest that a new ship and fresh crew are required.”

Comments front the Greymoutlr "Star”:—“Buller is regarded as a Labour stronghold, and it cannot be denied that in some parts o-f the constituency, the Reform candidate is unlikely to obtain strong support, although eveir in these areas, there are many who do not bow the knee to Socialism and Communism, and who will take advantage of the protection the secret ballot gives them to record their votes as they think fit, and not as Union resolutions dictate. In some parts of Buller, notably Westport and Cobden, Reform should have an overwhelming majority, and if all those opposed to Labour would determine to vote on 14th November, Mr Holland might get an unpleasant surprise. Apparently, the Labour

leader thinks he has a mortgage on the Buller seat, as his programme for the next three weeks provides little attention. being given to his own constituency. 'lt is to he hoped that the Buller electors feel flattered by such indifference to their rights.”

“As you have changed.your political opinions three times, will you tel) us v/liat you aro' going id stand for next tini.nl”. was a question put to Mr Q: McKay, '•United candidate for Ilawkes Bay, at his Hastings meeting. Mr McKay replied that lie had never changed the principles that lie stood for when he first sought election.

“T was amused when I read the United Party’s advertisement the other day, lo find a photograph of Mr A. J. Stallworthy alongside that of Sir Joseph Ward,” said Mr J. A. Lee, Labour candidate for Auckland East, the other nigiit. “Fancy that, now, Mr Stallworthy sheltering under the very man his party worked hard to defeat—trying to rise the mantle of Sir Joseph Ward to secure votes, that’s all it is. It gives me cause to think that the United Party is composed of odds and ends—like the glorious ‘black pan,’ that dish they servo out to the firemen on ships. It is a dish of left food from the saloon. You might get a pork chop from, one end or a sausage' from the other. ••• [Laughter). You don’t know who you are going to get, the president of the P.P.A. or anybody.” (Laughter).

A self-denying ordinance has been put upon himself by Mr J. B. Donald, United Party candidate for Auckland East. It is that in the present election campaign he will address no meeting for more than an hour and a quarter. Mr Donald told a Kewmarket audience that ho had set his limit because lie believed plenty of time should be left for answering questions, and questions .brought a' candidate more into touch with the, electors than speechmaking. Mr Dunbar Sloane, Reform candidate for Wellington Central, betters this by a quarter of an hour. ITe limits himself to one hour only, so as to leave ample time for questions. * * * #

The Reform banner in the contest for Grey Lynn will he carried by Mr Patrick Buckley Fitzherbert, a solicitor of Auckland, whose candidature was announced last week. He was horn in Lower Hutt in 1879. Mr Fitzherbert comes of Parliamentary stock. He is a grandson of Sir William Fitzherbert, who was prominent in the. early political history of New Zealand, being successively Speaker of both Houses. Mr F itzherbert’s father was Mr 11. S. Fitziierhert, who represented the Ilutt electorate for nine years, when he retired and was succeeded by Mr T. M. Wilpresent member. Sir Patrick Buckley, who was Attorney-General in the Ballance and Seddon Ministries, was Mr Fitzherhert’s uncle. Another candidate for Grey Lynn, Mrs Louise Patterson, has entered the lists. Uer nomination was lodged with the returning officer on Friday. She is standing as an Independent. Mr F. N. Bartram (Labour) is the sitting member, and until Friday his only opponent was Mr J. S. Fletcher (United Party). ' * * * *

Cries of “Liar.” “Sit down!” and “Talk truth!” were heard at a rowdy meeting at Onehunga, when Mr Bertram Bunn, official Reform candidate for Manukau, was speaking on the Labour party’s policy. The candidate took it all in good part, and towards the close was given a reasonably good hearing. "There has* been an organised attempt to stop me from speaking,” said Mr Bunn at one stage, “but I will be master of the situation on 14th November.” (Ironical laughter and dissent.) When references to Air Bunn’s war services were made a voice came from the audience, “Go for your life, corporal!” Mr Bunn: “It is quite right. I was not a captain or a major but a common ordinary Digger. A dozen men in this hall knew me. I ask them if I did not plav the game.” ’(Applause.) * * * *

“T am up every morning at six o’clock, and I work till I go to bed,” declared Mrs C. E. Maguire, Reform candidate for Auckland East, in a spirited speech at Newmarket. She said she would like to see some of those at her meeting try to do what she got through. A Voice: “How' much land have you got ?” Mrs Maguire: “Me? I haven’t got any.” “Then yon haven’t got a stake in the country. ” (Laughter.) There were several interjections when Mrs Maguire spoke of unemployment. One man who shouted something about “nine hob a day” was promptly told that 9s a day was about all some men were worth —and some would rather draw it without work. “How much would a doctor do for nine shillings?” Mrs Maguire said a doctor very often did a great deal for very much less than that. There were no men in the world who did more work for nothing than did the doctors. * * * * Speaking to an overcrowded meeting in St. Andrew’s Hall, Auckland, Mr j. a, Lee (Labour) said the Coates “wave” had washed much queer political flotsam and jetsam -into Parliament. Elderly men of Victorian sentiment had been washed out of armchairs into the House, where they had busied themselves in trying to turn the political clock hack to their own periods. But, at the moment, _ there were probably quaking hearts in Reform homes, and many the wife of an elderly statesman would he warming the M.P.’s slippers and making the armchair ready again. At the hearth these gentlemen were a decoration, and east an atmosphere of bliss over the domestic, scene, where they could air their views to the click of knitting needles. In Parliament they were an anachronism. It was yesterday trying to govern to-day. Parliament - wanted men with eves to the future.

* * * * “I say it in a spirit of kindness that the Labour Party is not making progress. and that it is dying on its feet,” declared Mr 0. E. Burton, Christian Socialist candidate for Eden.. “Without the influx of new life, the Labour Party in New Zealand is doomed, just as any party which raises barriers against men of Christian belief is doomed. Its future is not bright, unless its present horizon is widened. The Labour Party cannot win seats until people believe that they have something to gain. * * * * “The United Party is a ‘shake-up’ of resurrected Liberals, disgruntled politicians and others, chiefly differing from Reform in their readiness to borrow a few more millions. --Mr A. IT. Curtis, an Auckland Independent candidate.

“They sit there disgruntled and mumble away to themselves day after day.” _Mv E. J. Howard, Labour, referring to the attitude of three prominent members of the United Parly in Parliament