CAMPAIGN OPENS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18224, 18 October 1922, Page 6

CAMPAIGN OPENS.

ADDRESS BY MISS MELVILLE.

RELATION TO REFORM PARTY

EDUCATION AND ECONOMY.

The opening address in the electio campaign in Auckland was delivered b Miss E. Melville. Independent- Refori candidate for Rosktll, in the Empire Pi ture Theatre, Dominion Road, last evei ing. The Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. < AY. Shackelford, presided, and the t>uil< ing was crowded to t,he doors, it beir estimated th./L about 1300 persons wei present. Others were unable to gai admittance. A good reception was a corded tile candidate, and sho was coi stantly applauded during her speeel while there was an almost complel absence of interruption. Reasons why she was standing for Ro kill, instead of again contesting the Gro Lynn seat, w<Te first given by Miss Mo ville. Sho was, at last election, the Rt form Party's nominee for Grev Lynn, an in her innocence she had thought tha "would be the case again. She had, i fact:, thought so tin til quite reoentlj when sho heard somo whispers, and o making inquiries found that the gt>ntlc men of the Reform Party had imdorgon a change of heart. After diplomatic "oti yersations thov told her they we.ro suj porting for Grey Lynn a gentleman wh was one of her opponents last- time, a least he w;;,s one of the Hon. Georg Fowlds' election committee. Sho hai always thought h-i was a Liberal. Strength oj Women's Movement. Mfss Melville said she asked the gentle men of tho Reform Party for their reaso; but they could not give "one and she sup plied it" herself, saving it was that the; did not want women in Parliament. Sh had ?aid to them : " Do you not knov there is a woman movement in the wori< to-dav?" Apparently they had not hear* of it. There could, however, be no resist inc the t:de of the women's movement which was sweeping through the world to day. (Applause.) The decision that shi should contest the Roskill scat- was mad. at a meeting of women in the Town Hall and that was why she now stood befori the electors. Continuing, Miss Melville said she die not claim that she should be elected jus because shis was a woman, any more thai a man could claim election because he wa; a man. Tho question of qualifications wa tho important factor. For 9£ years fh« had been a member of the Auckland C-itj Council, the most important local body u New Zealand. A voice. What, more important thar Mount Eden? (Laughter.) The candidate said she was ploas-ed tc eav that bes : des bei-itr a resident of Auck land she v.-as a resident- of Mount Eden For over ten years she had practised Jaw in Auckland and in that profession mow than a passing knowledge of business wni acquired. Vote lor Government on No-Confidence Motion. Regarding her political platform, Mis: Melville said she was not keer on party politics, but under the present conditions they could hardlv be avoided. Sho was a supporter of the Reform Party, but she was an independent supporter Bacanse she considered she had not beer fairly treated by a few men in the Reform Party that was no reason why sh( should change her politics. (Applause.' On a vote of no confidence she woulc support the present Government, bnt 01 other matters she claimed independence of action. The candidate said she placed educa lion in the forefront, of tho business o the country. She did not think t'here wa anvtbing so vital as education. An nation which -wanted to keep abreast c the times must devote more attention t education than had been the case in th past. The general cail for economy shoul not be allowed to interfere with the pre vision of proper facilities for educafcin the vounf;. She looked upon the junic liieh schools as an important step in th right direction. Housing wsr a burning question tc dav, and she thought the Government, i spite of the necessitv for economy, shoul oncourage the building of houses. Ir litead, however, of the Government build ing the houses itself, she would prefe that it should lend the monev to peopl to build their own houses. (Applause.) Hallways, Eoads and Land. There had, Miss Melville continued been a lot of criticism of the rail ways, and they needed criticism (Laughter,) But even more importan than railways was the question of roads She could not understand why the Govern ment had hesitated so long over it Main Highways Bill. There was n< doubt the railways must be put on a bet ter footing, and she did net think thi personnel of the recently-appointed boarc represented a very workmanlike way o going about the matter. There must bi no more "political" railways, and ii this regard the Minister for Public Worki was to be commcnded for the stand h< had taken. Another thing even more im portant than railways was hydro-electrii power. She laid emphasis upon its bear ing in relation to industries, and saic there should be an insistent demand foi the prosecution of the Arapuni schemi at tne earliest possible moment. (Ap planse.) On tho subject of land she ha« never been able to understand why thi Government, in opening the land for thi soldiers, bought so much expensive im E roved land. If it had taken areas o rown land and unimproved land, th' development of the country would havbeen greatly assisted. Necessity ior Social Reforms, Outlining her views on the liquo question, Miss Melville said she wis prohibitionist and always had been a pre nibitionist. (Applause.) She. dealt wit the necessity foi various social reform; particularly a child welfare department t control the whole of the life of the chili the raising oi the age of consent, wome patrols and the appointment of a -sroma censor of picture films. A Voice: There is one at present. Miss Melviille; No. There is a lac ■who is a member of the Appeal Boan but she ii? nominated by the picture peop themselvei?. We want a woman as censi who can cut objectionable films out he eelf. (Applause). Many queations were asked ar answered, the candidate drawing part cularlv hearty applause when she declare that i,f approached by the Reform Pari to withdraw from the contest she wou certainly refuse. The chairman comp' mented Miss Melville on the prompt ai straightforward manner in which she h; replied to questions, and added that could riot be said she had burked any. A motion of thanks and confidence w proposed, seconded in a number of place and carried practically unanimously.