THE CONTEST FOR EDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19298, 10 April 1926, Page 12

THE CONTEST FOR EDEN

LABOUR LEADER'S SPEECH. ATTACK ON REFORM POLICY. RAILWAY WORKSHOP STAFFS. ALLEGED BREACH OF FAITH. Confidently predicting that the Labour candidate, Mr. H. G. ,R. Mascfn, would I win at tho Eden by-election next Thursday, Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, entered the compaign last night, addressing a large meeting in the Kosio Theatre, Mount Albert. The meeting, over which Mr, T. Bloodworth presided, was composed chiefly of Labour supporters. Some of Mr. Holland's statements were challenged by individual members of tho audience, but he received frequent loud applause and a vote of thanks. Mr. Mason also delivered a short address, and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Holland's speech consisted mainly of an attack upon the Government., its policy, and administration. He intended, he said, to place the Government on the defensive, and to contrast its policy in a number of particulars with that of Labour. As tho present situation greatly affected the useful section of tho community, ho would ask for support for the candidature of Mr. Mason, one of tho ablest young men in the New Zealand Labour movement. As the first count in his indictment, Mr. Holland charged the' Minister of Railways, Mr. Coates, with departing from his pro-election undertaking that there would bo no dismissals from the railway workshops staffs as a result of the reorganisation scheme. Mr. Coates, ho declared, had stated in Parliament, on September 1, that so far as he knew there was no foundation for the rumour that there would bo reductions in the staffs. It was possible that when the new shops were i completed certain transfers would be i made, but single men and men without homes would be dealt with first, and an endeavour would be mado to effect any necessary reductions by not replacing men who retired. This, said Mr. Holland, amounted to a definite promise that thore would be no dismissals. At tho beginning of April, in reply to an urgent inquiry by Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., after certain tradesmen had received notice of dismissal, Mr. Coates had replied that it was necessary to curtail the staffs, but an effort would bo mado to carry out the arrangements gradually, giving preference to married man and ex-soldiers. This, remarked the speaker, was a complete reversal "I venture to say," he added, "that if this statement had been mado before the'election, certain of tho railwaymen who voted for the Government would not have done so. Well, they have got what they voted for. i\s I have said to audiences- in Auckland before, better vote for what you want and not get it than vote for what you don't want —and get it." (Laughtor.) The Rates of Interest. Passing on to tho increase in rates of interest on State advances to settlers and workers, Air. Holland said Labour had predicted before the election that the rates would be raised, and its prophecy had come true. The party had challenged tho clause in the Finance Bill which had Xriadc the increase possible, and had lost by 23 to 17 in a very thin House. The change meant that on a loan of £IOOO approximately £375 would have to be paid in all by the borrower. It was part of a movement that had been in progress ever since Reform assumed office. From that movement the rates on Stato advances and on mortgages generally had begun to rise, and they had gono on rising ever since. Obviously, said Mr. Holland, a member of Parliament who was directly interested in banks, insurance companies, and other large financial institutions, could not be expected to show any enthusiasm fur measures intended to. lower rates of interest to farmers and workers. Public Debt and Taxes. After dealing with remissions in income tax and alleged general increases in customs duties. Mr. Holland said that while the national debt remained it was impossible to reduce taxation upon one section of tho community, and not to increaso that upon another; hence tho greater customs duties, tho lower wages, and tho lower purchasing-power of the people. Mr. Holland quoted figures showing the fluctuations m Post Office Savings .Bank deposits and withdrawals. These, he said, showed a steady decline in the amount on deposit. "The meaning of it is that the condition of' tho rank and file of tho workers is 'getting steadily worse," bo declared, "and that they; are being obliged to draw upon their savings to keep Roing. Tho Government will find it hard to explain these figuros. The decline is dno largely to wage reductions and lack of employment." The Labour Party, said tho speaker, would most strenuously oppose any moasuse to increase the lifo of Parliament from three years to five, as had been suggested. Orio had only to look back upon the harm done by tho Reform' Government in the past 'throe years, when it had boon held in office by threo renegade Liberals, to realise what harm and damage might bo inflicted if five years were allowed to elapse without an appeal to tho country. Labour would exhaust all the forms "of tho House, and would fight by every legitimate means every stage of any measure introduced to make tho change. The State of Parties, Mr. Holland denounced th© Government for failing to send delegates to tho International Labour Convention at Geneva and condemned tho censorship of literature as ridiculous and unworthy of an educated democracy. Dealing with the state of parties in the House, ho said that Labour would ho the official Opposition, as logically it had the right to be. It would in any event be the real fighting Opposition. An appeal had been made to women to vote for Miss Melville. .As to this, he would say that politically there was no distinction between men and women. Women should vote not upon sex, but upon principles. In the present contest to vote for cither of tho non-Labour candidates was to vote for Reform. If Miss Melville were elected, the Reform Party would at once open its ranks to her. _Slto would sit on a Reform bench and if better wages for tho worker were proposed, she would vote against them. "The Fighting Opposition." "Wo have to be the fighting Opposition for tho next three years," declared" Mr. Holland. "An attack will come upon wages and working conditions. I shall not bo surprised if wo have'a-replica of Mr. Bruco's Crimes Act, making it almost a crime to belong to a trade union/ A woman may vote'for'her own sex but it will not help her when her husband comes homo and-says that his wages have been reduced and she has to keep houso on the lessened income. Labour can win this fight. It will win arid in order to make suro that Labour will win it is vonr duty to see that you and all belonging to yon corno and vote cm polling day."