THE EDEN BY-ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19291, 1 April 1926, Page 10

THE EDEN BY-ELECTION.

THE ELECTORAL IiOLL

LENDING BY THE STATE. HIGHER RATES OF INTEREST. MR. MASON'S NEW ARGUMENT. SUBSIDY DUE TO WORKERS. The Labour candidate for Eden, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, still maintains that the increased rates of interest on loans by the State Advances Offices are attributable to the present Government's large majority in Parliament. In a speech at Avondalc last night Mr. Mason referred his hearers to the reported speech of Mr. T. Bloodworth the night before, wherein the speaker had stated that an increase of _ lj- per cent, was not necessary, seeing that old long-term loans at low interest could be set off against the relatively high rates which the Government had to pay for new money. His own remarks on the subject had been criticised in the New Zealand Herald, which declared that the change had been made by Parliament last session, and so had nothing to do with the Government's present majority, as he had alleged. It was quite true that legislation making the change possible had been passed last year. A passage in a bill had been put through in the dying hours of the session. Nothing was then said about the amount of the intended alteration, but certainly no one expected it to be as much as per cent. Half the members had left to open their electoral campaigns, there were few speeches, and the voting list was a small one. The whole Labour Party opposed the plan, but only one Liberal member voted against it. In the course of discussion it was stated that the rates of interest would not be altered more than was necessary. Actually the change was made, not by the bill but by Gazette notice on March 4 last. It was thus easy to see the absurdity and inaccuracy of the statement that the change had been made before the election. At that time many people, on a mere guess, might have expected that the increase would be a quarter per cent., but there was no one outside Government circles to whom the per cent, did not come as a severe shock. The Government gave large subsidies to shipping, to companies interested in immigration, and, by import duties and embargoes, to the wheatgrowers. Why, he would ask, should it not grant a subsidy at the public's expense to the State Advances Office? "What institution was more useful to the public and in what other could the Government more justifiably risk a loss ? "Why had the rates of interest been raised 1 It was because the present Government stood for those who made a living out of high rates of interest. It stood for the banks and the insurance companies. He mentioned the latter because they had made vast sums out of the public, in earlier days and were now more in the nature of money-lending institutions than insurance companies. The official Government candidate was directly interested in such institutions, and his interests were therefore against those of the people in general. The Government knew that the State Advances Office was the chief competitor of the private money-lending concerns, and that if its rates were raised there would bo a tendency toward a general rise. It had therefore made the change, in face of the fundamental fact that cheap money was one of the Dominion's primary nesds. The meeting, which numbered between 40 and 50 people, had no questions to ask the candidate, who- received a unanimous vote of thank 3 and confidence. SIR J. GUNSON'S CAMPAIGN. WELL RECEIVED IN COUNTRY. A well-attended meeting at Whenuapai was addressed yesterday afternoon by Sir James Gunson, official Reform candidate for Eden. Mr. F. W. Grigg, chairman of the Waitemata County Council, presided. On the conclusion of his speech, Sir James received a vote of thanks and confidence, and three cheers were given for him and for Lady Gunson, who was present. In the evening Sir James Gunson addressed the electors at Titirangi. Mr. W. Bishop presided. Despite the inclement weather there was a good attendance and the candidate received a good hearing, punctuated by frequent applause. A vote of thanks arid confidence was carried unanimously. ALLEGED OFFER TO WITHDRAW. STATEMENT BY MR. COATES. [by telegraph.—-own correspondent.J WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An Auckland telegram regarding the allegations made by Miss Melville concerning an offer made to her to withdraw from the contest for Eden was referred to-day to the Prime Minister, who stated that he knew nothing whatever about the matter. The Reform Party would deprecate any such practices. At no time had anybody been authorised, directly or indirectly, by the executive of the Reform Party to approach any candidates with the object of inducing them to retire from any contest. Anything in the nature of n financial inducement to affect a candidate's actions was abhorent to the party. The selection of candidates in electorates was left entirely to the electors, and once a candidate was chosen by the delegates assembled the party executive took no further action. LABOUR'S STRUGGLE. MR. HOLLAND TO SFEAK. The Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Tartv, Mr. H. E. Holland, who returned to Wellington on Tuesday from Australia, stated yesterday that he intends to take part in the Eden byelection campaign. First of all he will proceed to Wanganui to take part in the annua] conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, and from Wanganui he will proceed to Auckland. CANDIDATES MEETINGS. Candidates for the Eden seat will address meetings to-day as follows: Sir James Gunson.—-Massey School, 3 p.m.; Green Bay Mission Hall, Avondale South, 8 p.m. Miss Ellen Melville.—Hirst's Hall, Morningsidc, 2.30 p.m.; St. Thomas' Hall, New Lynn, 8 p.m. Mr. H. G. R. Mason.—Hobsonville, Public Hall 8, p.m.

TOTAL OF 13,604 VOTERS. The No. 2 supplementary roll compiled for i the Eden by-election has now been printed, and copies are'available from the office of the registrar of electors, n High Street. The total effective roll is 13,804, after allowing for removals on account of transfers of electors, deaths or change of names through - marriage.