TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19158, 26 October 1925, Page 11

TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

MR. BARTRAM'S ALLEGATIONS

PRICE OF COAL AND JAM

INTERESTED QUESTIONERS. A well-attended and extremely attentive open-air gathering was addressed by Mr. F. N. Bartram, Labour candidate for Grey Lynn, at Newton West School on Saturday evening. Mr. Bartram commenced by saying the fight was much the. same as ever this time. Although the personnel of the Reform Party might be rather different, its principles were the same. He had much to say on the subject of trusts. Everything that went into the building of a house, even to the latch-key, was controlled by a trust or combine. It was the same with the coal trade. A man had told him he could land coal in Auckland for 3s a full sack. Voices: Who is he ? Where can I see him ? I want to get my coal there. The Candidate: If you would only think I have just about told you who he is.

At question time a member of the audience returned to this point, saying he was interested in the coal trade. Mr. Bartram then said his informant was an ex-M.P. of the Reform Party, who used to represent Auckland West. Next Mr. Bartram turned his attention to the combine which he said was controlling groceries. Take, for example, jam.

A Voice: That is cheap enough. Mr. Bartram: Is it ? In 1914 you could get a lib. tin of jam for 4.jd.

A babel of voices then arose as speakers declaimed about the price of jam in 1914. Apparently some, people got their jam very cheaply before the war. When silence was restored, Mr. Bartram went on to say that the. same jam now cost lOd, although the price of sugar was lower and the other ingredients cost no more.

After traversing more planks of tlio Labour Party's platform, Mr. Bartiram dealt with motherhood endowment, which would be needed until all men handed over the whole of their week's wages to their wives.

A Voice: That will be when the hotels are closed.

After dealing with Labour's land policy, and answering questions, Mr. Bartram was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

SIR J. WARD'S SPEECH.

CRITICISM BY MR. HARGEST.

" NOW A SPENT FORCE." A reference to Sir Joseph Ward's speech in Invercargill was made last Wednesday in an address by Mr. J. Margest, Government candidate for 'that seat. Mr. Hargest said that it was true that Sir Joseph had been a useful member of the community and had done valuable work in the past, though he claimed that he was now a spent force. Furthermore, Sir Joseph had been out of Parliament for several years and was not now. he claimed, fit to take a place as a member of Parliament. M,r. Hargest referred to Sir Joseph Ward's claim that he had raised the £29,000,000 necessary to meet the country's war debt to the Imperial Government, but in his opinion it amounted to nothing more than attaching his signature to an 1.0. U. and handing it over to the Home authorities. Then Sir Joseph had referred to the public expenditure in this country, and had suggested the issuing of bonds for the purpose of having the four uncompleted railway lines linked up. Such a suggestion did not obviate the necessity of \he country paying the necessary interest charges. THE LOWER WAIKATO. CONFIDENCE IN MR. RHODES. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] PUKEKOHE, Saturday. The Government candidate for Thames, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, completed his tour of the Lower Waikato portion of the electorate to-day. He addressed about fifty people at Bombay this evening. Continued confidence in Mr. Rhodes as member and the hope that Mr. Coates would be returned with a good working majority was expressed by resolution. THE NORTHERN MAORIS. four candidates in field. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] KAIKOHE. Saturday. The election for a member for the Northern Maori constituency has drawn four candidates into the field, all of whom are at present busy wooing the suffrages of their constituents. Mr. Tau Henare, who hits represented the Northern Maoris for six years, is the Government candidate. while Ripi Wihongi and Pita Kingi both profess to be. disciples of the Labour Party and Hone Wikaitaia has.announced himself as an Independent, out to conserve the rights of *he Maori race and promote its welfare.