GREY LYNN ELECTORATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17336, 6 December 1919, Page 12

GREY LYNN ELECTORATE

ADDRESS BY MISS MELVILLE. PROBLEMS OF THE DAY. PARTY LEADERS CONTRASTED. The Government candidate for Grey Lynn, Miss K. Melville, addressed a gathering of about ' ISO electors in the Jubilee Hall, Kingsland, last evening, and was given a very hearty reception. Mr. G. L. Taylor presided. Miss Melville, who spoke on the lines of her previous addresses, showed her thorough grasp of social, economic, and political problems, and the lucid manner m which she explained her views frequently gained generous applause. ■Referring brietiy at the outset to her candidature Miss Melville said there were many problems in national life to-day in which women could help. There never had been a time when there had been such an active public conscience. Many questions were receiving more serious attention than ever before, and in the consideration of many of these the woman's point of view should be represented. She re-terated her previous statement that no woman candidate should ask for Votes because she was a woman. It was necessary for all members of Parliament to have some knowledge of business and public affairs, but she thought her experience had given her some measure of the necessarv qualifications. Dealing with, the present political situation and the need for a strong and stable Government, Miss Melville said the Parliamentary Labour Party did not represent the working people, than whom there was a no more loyal section of the community, bat the same could not be said of the socalled leaders of the party. In tins regard the cand date remarked, "If a country is not worth fighting for it seems to me it is not worth living in." (Applause.) Mr. Massey, she continued, was a big ger man to-day than he ever had been before. (Applause.) He had evidently profited by his association with the great men - of the earth, but Sir Joseph Ward had not shown that he had similarly benefited. , Assistance to Soldiers. Miss Melville detailed much of the legislation passed by the Reform Government to refute the contention that Mr. Massey stood for the "big man." Dealing with the repatriation question, she said there must be no repetition of the neglect of soldiers which had occurred after other wars, and the financial help and training they gave to soldiers must oe given as an absolute right and not as a charity. (Applause.) They had found j money to fight, and they ,-must find the

iuuuejr w nej.p tne soldiers to get bacK to their normal conditions. (Applause.) The candidate said she could not promise I them a remedy for the high cost of living i—a most serious defect in a politician. The only real solution she thought must be increased production. Dealing with the housing question, Miss Melville expressed her belief in people owning their own homes, declaring that the. wider individual ownership was extended the less ; would be the discontent. (Applause.) ■ The incidence of pensions should be more ,' generously dealt with, particularly in re|spect to widows, who should receive a ' larger pension, so that they could have their own little homes and bring up their ■ children. It was a much better investment for the State for fatherless children I to be brought up by their mothers than by institutions. Womea ia Parliament. In conclusion, Miss Melville spoke of the law which has given Parliamentary rights to women, stating', that although Sir Joseph Ward had said he had always favoured the change he had made no attempt to Ijring it into operation during his term of office. ' 'The fact that the points of view of men and women are different," concluded the speaker, "is an unanswerable argument why women should be in Parliament, where laws are made for both men and women." (Loud applause.) When questions were called for an elderly man pose to state that if he had 10 votes he would give them to Miss Melville, and in spite of the chairman's remonstrance he gave his political views before he sat down. In answer to a question which claimed for the Labour Party the credit of giving Parliamentary rights to women, Miss Melville said this certainly was a plank of the Labour platform, but Labour was not consistent, because it had not selected a single woman candidate. Dealing with a question upon the Protestant Political Association quest ; on. Miss Melville said she was a Scotch Presbyterian, and she hoped she would have the support of the ■ Protestant Political Association and every other political organisation in the electorate. (Laughter.) In conclusion, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried almost unanimously. WAITEMATA. The Government candidate for Waitcmata, Mr. A. Harris, delivered an adi, dress to the electors at the Birkdale school last evening. Mr. E. C. Walton presided over a large audience. The candidate dealt with the political question., of the moment, and referred particularly to the progressive legislation that had beert passed by the Massey Administration. A number of questions were answered by the candidate. A resolution was passed expressing confidence in the candidate as representative of the electorate in Parliament and in the Reform Party as the most suitable to hold the reins of Government during the coming critical years of reconstruction. Mr. A. E. Greenslade, Opposition can?didate for Waiternata, addressed the electors at Riverhead on Thusday evening, when the Public Hall was crowded. Mr. W. Masson presided. The meeting was one of <,he largest and most successful held at Riverhead, and the candidate was accorded a, good hearing. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried with two or three dissentients. MANUKA U. Sir Frederick Lang, the bitting member and Government candidate for Manukau, addressed the electors in the Panmnre Mission Hall on Thursday evening. Mr. J. Woods, chairman of the Mount Wellington Road Board, presided over an audience numbering 80. The candidate who was given an excellent hearing, enumerated the numerous humanitarian Acts placed on the Statute Book in the last session of Parliament and pointed out that such were mainly in the interests of the struggling poor. He dealt at length with education, defence and good roads On the motion of Messrs. G. Vause and G. Seccker, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, followed by three cheers for Sir Frederick. Mr. C. E. Major, Opposition candidate lor Manukau, addressed a well-attended meeting at East Tamaki o„ Thursday evening. Mr. A. Harris, who occupier! the chair, said Mr. Major had had much political experience and had had many activities in municipal affairs He also was known throughout New Zealand for the part he had taken in all outdoor sports and recreations. Mr. Major spoke for nearly two hours on a wide range of polj. tical questions, some destructive and some constructive. He received an attentive hearing and after having answered a numher of questions, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. J