Mr. R.E. Hornblow Speaks at Kaitaia

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 5, 1 November 1935, Page 3

Mr. R.E. Hornblow Speaks at Kaitaia

There was not a large gathering of electors to hear Mr. R. E. Hornblow, the unofficial Labour candidate for this electorate, speak at the Princess theatre, Kaitaia, on Tuesday evening. In the unavoidable absence of the Town Board chairman, Mr. D. Rutledge occupied the chair. In his opening remarks, Mr. Hornblow said trfat he was not an official candidate of the National Labour party, but as he had been connected with the old Liberal-Labour Federation during the past 30 years, he naturally, when the old Liberal party ceased to exist, had joined the ranks of the Labour party. There was no official Labour candidate in the field for this electorate. The speaker prophesied that after the election the Labour party would have 40 members in the new Parliament, and that there would be a change of Government.

Dealing with the first plank of his platform, the speaker said that there was urgent need for the reduction, not only in the cost of Government but also in the number of members in both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. The cost to the country of maintaining the present Government was staggering, said the speaker, and he quoted figures to prove his contention. Although the Government was contented to carry on with this high expenditure and not reduce when it should, it had cut the wages of the working men and made wholesale dismissals, and private employers and local bodies had followed the example set by the Government. This had reduced the purchasing power of the consumer and so intensified the depression. Mr. Hornblow then quoted at length from the manifesto that he had issued

to the electors, and also spoke of his record of public service that entitled him to the consideration of the voters. In conclusion the speaker gave a flat denial to the statements current, that he had at any time accepted any

funds from any party to assist in his electioneering expenses. During the week Mr. Hornblow has been visiting various parts of this district renewing his acquaintance with the electors and speaking of his policy.