ROSKILL ELECTORATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17338, 9 December 1919, Page 10

ROSKILL ELECTORATE.

MR. GUNSON'S CANDIDATURE. j ' . I ADDRESSES BY HIS FRIENDS. AI ' A HOSTILE AMENDMENT. Two addresses in support of Mr. J. H. Gunson's candidature for the Roakill seat S were delivered in -the Empire Theatre, Dominion Road, last evening. Mr. A. St. C. Brown presided over an audience that numbered about 25C people. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth he had felt that, knowing Mr. Gunson's outstanding ability, he would be failing in a public duty if he did not take up the election fight in his absence. The problems to be ; grappled with by Parliament were of Ihe utmost importance, and on'.v capable and | experienced men could undertake them. i The doubling of the national debt meant double taxation, and men should be sent to, Parliament who would place the taxai tion on the shoulders best able to bear it. Mr. Gunson was a tried and true man, ! and it was men of his stamp that were required in Parliament—men who judged for themselves as to what was right, and then went ahead with it in spite of all criticisms. As chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. Gunson had made the port the foremost in the Southern Hemisphere as Mayor of Auckland he had shown his "business ability. Mr. Gunson's Absence. Mr. Gunson had worked at his best pace, until his medical attendant found him on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and ordered him away. It had been his intention to return in November, and but for the seamen's strike in Australia disarranging the time-tables, he would have done so. (Dissent.) Some people, continued Mr. Holds- ! worth, were saying that Mr. Gunson was i afraid to face the electors. Voices : Hear, hear. Mr. Holdsworth said if there was one thing Mi*. Gunson was not afraid of it was ; facing an audience. (Applause.) He had never known James Gunson to do a dishonourable act. Capital -was being made of the fact that Mr. Gunson was an Independent candidate. The electors could not follow, better advice than that of Mr. Massey, who was going about the country telling people that owing to the gigantic problems ahead it was essential that the brainiest and most capable men of the Dominion should be in Parliament, : and urging people to put aside party feeling and vote for the most able men. j Mr. Gunson had a profound grip of all ! the public questions of the day. Nine months ago his mind was fully made up on all these questions. Mr. Massey, on his return to New Zealand from Europe, pre- i pared an able and progressive platform, and in doing so" he adopted Mr. Gunson's politics. Interruptions : "Bats," and "Mr. Mas- ', sey will be pleased." j Approached by Both Parties. Mr. Holdsworth said that of course Mr. Massey would be pleased, because he was always pleased to have able men on his side. Beiore his departure for America an effort was made to get Mr. Gunson to attach himself to the Liberal Party, but he said, "No, I am out for new men and new methods." Mr. Massey also approached him, and was "turned down." A voice: He would not have him at a gift. Mr. Holdsworth said Mr. Massey would bo in the district in a day or l two, and would probably, say he had asked Mr. Gunson to join his party. A voice : I'll bet he doesn't. Mr. Holdsworth said the Reform Party recognised Mr. Gunson as a man of special ability, and had -wanted him to fight under their banner. An ' advertisement which had been published criticising Mr. Gunson had emanated from' an unscrupulous person. Such actions sapped the foundations of British fair play.* That advertisement was an insult to every Roskill elector, because it insinuated that the electors were prepared to put a. man into Parliament not because of his outstanding ability, not because tie. had superior qualifications, but through blasting the character and condemning the reputation of another candidate. If the author of that advertisement was present he would not dare to come upon the platform and repeat his statements. The Candidate's Character. Mr. C. J. Tunks, who said this was the first time he had " butted into" politics, began with praise of Mr. Gunson's ability and straightforwardness of character. After years of constant association with Mr. Gunson in Patriotic Associatidn matters he found that the more he had seen of him the more he had. been impressed with his capacity, his straightforwardness, his grasp of. business, and his earnest desire to do what was best in regard to any matter with which he was dealing. Mr. Tunks said a man who bad served his country deserved well of the country, but it was another question whether he was the best fitted to sit in the councils of the State. The man required was the man with practical experience of public affairs, and they should consider very carefully before "turning down" a man who had had not less than eight years' experience in public life. The problems" of reconstruction should be faced apart from party lines. The man who was under no obligation to any party was a man in the strongest possible position in the House. Mr. Massey was in perfect accord with Mr. Gunson in his attitude towards the revolutionary party. They were also agreed in -desiring a businesslike Administration.

As to Mr. Gunson's support of a national education system, he was himself a product of that system. Then, as to returned soldiers, there had never been a question with regard to returned soldiers which had not had his full sympathy and his most cordial and very efficient support. As to his public career, he had served the city well. If the electors admitted that the times were anxious, if they admitted that men of head and heart and true capacity were wanted, if they valued true public spirit, business capacity, backbone and energy, and sound constitutional government without pandering to the crowd, they would cast their votes in Mr. Gunson's favour.

Ascot Park Transaction. Dealing with the transactions concerning the purchase of the Ascot Estate at ' Mangere, Mr. Tunks read letters from Messrs. Inder and Metcalf, solicitors for the vendor, and Mr. G. E. Eliott, chairman of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and also gave his own recollection of th facts. The suggestion had, he said, been made that when the purchase was made by the Patriotic Association Mr. Gunson was practically the owner of the estate, and that th e least valuable portion of the estate was picked out for the soldiers. That suggestion was absolutely false. Prom the fact that the property was sold at a profit of £2696 it it did not appear that the association was misled very much. Mr. Tunks challenged anyone to say that there was a tittle of evidence that Mr. Gunson had done anything in connection with the transaction that was unworthy of his position, or in the slightest degree detrimental to the returned soldiers, or to any of their interests. Motion and Amendment. Several questions as to Mr. Gunson's views on public questions were answered by his representatives. Mr. Q. Eiiott moved and Mr. F. A. Smith seconded a vote of confidence in Mr. Gunson." Mr. Forbes Kadie moved as an amendment "That this meeting regrets that the speakers have not dealt with any definite policy on Mr. Gunson's behalf, and accordingly resolves that it has no confidence in a candidate who has not delivered his policy personally, clearly, and concisely on the public platform." The amendment was -put, and the voices appeared to be about equal in strength for and against it. The motion was then put with a similar result, the chairman declaring it to have been carried.