A "LIBERAL" CHAMPION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19149, 15 October 1925, Page 13

A "LIBERAL" CHAMPION.

i MR. BROWNE'S SPEECH. i | AN opponent of reform. I HIS OWN VIRTUES OUTLINED. _ I The Liberal candidate in Auckland ' Fast Mr H. O. Browne, opened his I campaign' in St. Benedict's Hall last j evening, when he addressed a meeting lof about 600 people. Mr. R, T. Michaels presided. The candidate met with plenty of interruption, which, however, lie said he. welcomed. Proceedings wore decidedly merry at. times and those present thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Nevertheless, the meeting was always under control. "If 1 am returned for Auckland East (A Voice: Which you won't he), I shall vote against the Conservative Party, whether it is on a vote of no-confidence moved by Mr. Holland or anyone else," said Mr. Browne, in commencing his speech. "This has been a Liberal constituency for years, although there was not a Liberal candidate at the last election. J am a Liberal, and always have been. As far as the National Party is concerned, I will support it in respect of all Liberal measures and all Liberal | public policy. As far as this constituency | is concerned, I am the only candiciatc | professing Liberalism, and as I stand for j the Liberal principles and traditions of j the Ball a nee, Seddon and Ward period, I expect that I will receive support from ail those who support these aims and objects. That is my declaration of faith." Liberal Exponents Heeded. He would show, he continued, that ! the Liberals were as alive to-day as ever | they were. What was wanted, however, | was exponents of the party, and these | had been lacking for 13 years. _ The | I party had been wandering in the wilder- ! ness during that time. (Laughter.) Sir. I Browne said he would admit the failures i of the party as well as its achievements. ! The candidate said Liberalism was the only solution of the present difficulties. He was not- antagonistic to Labour and did not call Labour leaders "Red Feds, Bolshies and Communists." If only the vital spark of Liberalism could be raised again, New Zealand would be truly "God's own country." But why had the Labour Party sent a man from Auckland to Invercargill to fight Sir Joseph Ward ? A Voice: To win the seat. Another Tnterjector: Why did you contest Wellington North ? The Candidate: I contested it because we coukl not get a candidate. Liberalism stood for everything that meant healthy homes and good conditions for the people. The Liberals had opened the State Advances Office, but the people who had become prosperous because of the Liberal policy, turned round and voted for the Conservative Party. What were the rent, housing and land positions to-d-ay ? Were people better off ? There was more money to spend, but it would not buy as much. Aii Immigration Policy. " The young fellows won't get married to-day," continued the candidate.' A Voice: Good luck to tljem. " We want New Zealand sons for NewZealand soil," said Mr. Browne. " There are schemes for bringing boys from England to settle in New Zealand. I don't believe in bringing boys out. We should bring out people of a reproductive age. Chinamen, did I hear some one say ? No. I believe in a white New Zealand. It is high time for a change of Government in order to get back to sanity." (Applause.) The candidate referred to the record of Liberal legislation. There was the I Shops and Offices Act, Land Settlement I Act, Advances to Settlers Act, and Con- | ciliation and Arbitration Act. | An Interjector: What a rotten thing. | The Candidate: lam here on an educa- | tivc campaign, and that man who said I the Act was a rotten thing does not 1 understand it or why it was placed on j the Statute Book. I won't say it is | perfect, but when it was pnt on the j Statute Book it prevented ' sweating,' and that was worth while. " Uncompromising Opponent." | "I am an uncompromising opponent of j the. Reform Party," continued Mr. ; Browne, " because it stands for wealth, | property and vested interest. Anything I Reformers give to the public is because | they are squeezed into it. That is why I 2s 6d a week was added to the old age | pensions just before Parliament ended. They will give you nothing till they I have to, or else go out of office. The Rei form Party is a party of pretence, proi mise and non-performance. A Voice: A party of humbngs. i The Candidate: Yes, I agree with you. I Mr. Brown said Reform had promised ! tQ* reduce expenditure, reform the Legis- ! lative Council, promote industrial peace | and reduce the cost of living, but these i promises had not been fulfilled. If the i Reform Government had paid as much : attention to the electoral laws as it had | to the Gaming Act, it would have been a I good thing for New Zesland. The Reiorm I Party had remained in power by ini trigue, for it had never had a majority [ of'the people arid it never would. "What | was Reform doing ? | A Voice: Nothing. The Candidate: It is ruling the country i for reformers. It was easy for Mr. ' Coates to be a spectacular head with the ; backing of the press and money, but ! none of his promises had been carried ! out. | A Voice: He has started the Auckland | railway. | Impracticable Labour Policy. The Labour Party policy, said the can : didate, was a policy incapable of being | put into effect. He did not want to pull i everything down. He wanted to build ■ by an evolutionary process and not by a j revolutionary on®, | At this stage there was considerable : shouting on the part of some of the audience. ~ ; "I am <;lad to see you thrilled, dei dared the candidate. I want to infuse i some of the enthusiasm within mo into i Mhe people of Auckland Fast, arid they I will return me at the top of the poll. \ Voice: Lee is going to be at the top ; of the poll. (Cheers.) Mr. Browne: VVcll. if he is, I will he the first to congratulate him. There was not an inspiring plank in the whole Reform policy, and there were some v-ague absurdities in it. He spoke as a constructive critic and with sound practical eommonsense. 'lhe only way to pet social justice was by Liberalism. He did not believe in helping local monopolies. Referring to soldier settlement, the candidate said he would like a Royal Commission set up to inquire into the prices of land at which owners were prepared to sell prior to the Government coming on the market as purchaser, and afterwards. The establishment of industrial councils would minimise industrial unrest. He stood for majority ride, and could not see that minority rule in Parliament was right. The candidate did not ask for a vqte of confidence. If the electors had corifideuce in him, they could show.it on polling day. ; The mectitur concluded with cheers for the "Liberal Party." LABOrn BLANDISHMENTS. WARNING BY MR. J. A. YOUNG. In an address at Rukuhia Mr .1. A. Young warned electors to beware of the blandishments of Labour politicians, - especially the more experienced in the party, who were lately adopting a changed tune in the hope of charming vviral voters.