ELECTION "CAMPAIGN:

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17335, 5 December 1919, Page 8

ELECTION "CAMPAIGN:

THE TAURANGA SEAT. SPEECH BY MR. HERRIES. TRIBUTE TO MR. MASSEY. "STRONGER EVEN THAN SEDDON." [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MORRINSVTLLE, Thursday. alio Hon- W. H. Hemes, M.P., Government candidate for Tauranga, addressed a larpe audience at Morrinsvillo last night. The chairman said Mr. Hemes had represented Tauranga for 23 years, and ho hoped he would represent the constituency for 23 years more. In defending the legislation of the National" Government the speaker said that the measures adopted should be regarded in the light of war experience, and not as peace-time legislation. The cost of living was .cheaper in New Zealand than anywhere else. The Railway Department had paid from 4* to 5 per cent, during the war, as against 3 per cent, returned by the railways of Australia. The' people of New Zealand, he continued, were exceedingly prosperous. Many ladies were now la be seen with fur coats. A. Voice: They were allotment coats <L Tho Candidate: Whether they were allotment coats or not, they are a sign of •prosperity. .... j Sugar, continued the Minister, was cheaper in New Zealand than in any other j part of the world. Mr. Massey had assured him that the present shortage, which | was duo to watersiders refusing to unload a ship, would be relieved before Christmas or January-. Mr. Hemes strongly condemned the '•go-slow" policy, which he described as a " national menace. The speaker described Mr.. Massey as the greatest leader ho had known. He was even stronger than the late Mr. Seadon in getting business through the House, although ho did not have Mr. Seddon s power to sway an audience. Mr. Massey had never once been defeated on a government or money measure. In England and in New Zealand he was being regarded as a statesman -of outstanding ability. Right through the Dominion he had noted the feeling of admiration and sympathy towards Mr. Massey since Sir Joseph Ward & defection from the coalition. Mr. MasseVs star seemed to be, in the ascendant, and ins influence was waxing, while Sir Joseph Ward's was waning. Mr. Henries, who received a quiet and attentive hearing, was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. MEMBERS' HONORARIA. AN AMUSING DISCUSSION. Some little amusement was created at Mr. Clutha Mackenzie's meeting last evening by the insistence of an aged and earnest questioner who sought to know the candidate's views with regard to the proposed increase of members' honoraria. Was he in favour of the' jncreaie, in view of the fact that many members also eat en ' committees and received a total payment considerably in excess of £300 a year? Mr. Mackenzie approached the matter with some diffidence; £300 a year 25 or SO years ago, he said, would be almost equal to £600 or £700 nowadays. Wages in every branch of industry had greatly increased, but not so the payment of members of Parliament. The whole question of increase, however, was a difficult one; he considered members should not be asked to vote on it. but that electors jdiould.; bring their views before Parliament. "They have no opportunity of doing it," was the immediate reply. " Oh, yes they have," said Mr. Mackenzie. "Oh, no they haven't, excuse me!" ' The Candidate : I beg to differ. Since I announced my candidature I have received fully 40 or 50 suggestions from' leagues and associations as to measures I ] should bring forward if elected, and I would propose that electors should form a league. "Suggested Honoraria of M.P.'b," and bring their views before the House." The Questioner rose gallantly to the attack once more by demanding to know how long members had been receiving £300. Not for 25 years past, he was sure. Mr Mackenzie was unable to enlighten him, and the old gentleman's parting shot, " Well, your father only got £150, anyway!" closed the little argument with laughter. . CANDIDATES NOMINATED. SIX AUCKLAND ELECTORATES. Candidates were nominated yesterday for Auckland constituencies a* follows: — Auckland West: Mr. A. J. Entrican (Opposition). _ Auckland Central: Mr. A. E. Glover .(Opposition). Auckland East: Mr. R. F. Way (Labour). Roskill: Mr. J. H. Gunson (Independent. Grey i/ynn: Mr. L. G. J. F. Garmson (Independent Labour). Franklin: Mr. J. Rea (Opposition). SETTLEMENT OP SOLDIERS. SUCCESS OF REFORM POLICY. Referring to the Government's policy of soldier settlement during his address at Epsom last evening, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Government candidate for Parnell, said the opponents of the Government had sought to make political capital out of the soldier settlement scheme. Exception had been taken to the prices paid for land on which to settle returned men, and it had been freely stated that the Government's policy had created a land boom, and that the soldier settlers would be burdened for all time with excessive values. These statements were not correct. He had met many soldier settlers, and not one of them was dissatisfied with his lot. The best defence to the statements that had been so freely circulated was the actual return I showing the prices paid for land by tha ' Government. Taking the areas acquired up to October 31 last, the price paid | worked out at an average of £11 an acre. j The private estates purchased by the Go- I vernment, comprised a total area of 147.384 acres. The number of settlers assisted totalled 6902. The manner in : which closer settlement had been encour- ' aged was indicated by the fact that 162 estate!* had been subdivided into 1061 holdings. OTAKI. [Br TF.LECEArH. — PIIESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON. Thursday. Mi' A. .7. R. Isherwood, an Opposition rai.didate for Otaki. held a meeting at I ppei Unit, to-night. Mr. P. Robertson, who pie-siilcd over a large attendance, explained th.it the candidate was suffering firm, a heart attack, and probably would not ho able to speak very lull". Mr. lnlirrwood then rose and said he ■pus standing as ■~ Liberal, although he war not supported by the Liberal Party <" any trade or profession. He denied a' htatem.nt, alleged to have been made that i iii- wa« ii,.. nominee ~f Hie liquor trade. I At tins sUge Mi. Isherwood announced I thai he wis too unwell to proceed, but' ;-""<l address Hie electors ~„ a future j on asiun. I The meeting then terminate I.