HELP FOR PRODUCERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 13

HELP FOR PRODUCERS.

COUNTRY PARTY'S CLAIMS

SCHEMES FOR EASING BURDENS. FIRST ADDRESS IN FRANKLIN. [BY TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIUKU. Wednesday The Country Party candidate for Franklin. Mr. H. 0. Mellsop, opened his campaign this ovening when he addressed a meeting of about 100 electors. In introducing the candidate the chairman of the Waiuku Town Board. Mr. J. J. A. James, who presided, mentioned that Mr. Mellsop was the son of a Waiuku district pioneer and an ex-member of the Waiuku Town Board and other bodies. Mr. Mellsop said the present unsatisfactory position of the country, of which stagnation of land settlement was one phase, was the reason for the entry of the Country Party into the political fight. Thousands of acres of Crown laud were open foi selection but there was no demand for it. Yet thousands of unemployed weie walking round in towns. SomothniL' was wrong and the Country Party was out to deal with the root of the trouble.

High interest rates, protective customs and taxes, penal railway rates on imported goods and misuse of the Arbitra tion Court were among the factors that made it impossible to-day to bring unimproved land profitably into cultivation, and made it difficult for farmers to get. a fair return, continued the candidate. Expenditure on non-reproductive public works, such as the erection of the new Auckland railway station and Westfiold deviation, also increased the burden on primary producers. The Country Party s remedies for the present position included Imperial freo trade, flat rates on the railways for imported articles and New Zealand products, an agricultural bank, abolition of exchange on money between Britain and New Zealand, amendment of tho Arbitration Act and reproductive public works.

The Country Party would promote the prosperity of the farmers and thereby the prosperity of the whole Dominion. Encouragement of primary production and land settlement would result in lowering the cost of living and thus give a better real reward to labour in town and country. The Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. MeLeod, at Waitoa, had stressed the fact that the Government had urged the setting up of a permanent committee of the Farmers' Union in Wellington to confer with and advise the Government. The only difference between tho Country Party and Mr. McLeod was that the Country Party cons ; dered such advisers should be insido Parliament.

An elector asked how the Country Party would vote on a no-confidence motion.

Mr. Mellsop: We would vote against the Government on the first no-confidence motion. Wo consider the Government had a majority to restore tho economic balance of the country, but failed to do so. We must therefore first clear the ground bofore we can make progress with our own platform. If we had the balance of power to vote tho Reform Party out we would also have the power to vote any other party out. We are pledged only to our own platform. If Reform is prepared to put that platform into operation Country Party members would support Reform, but on tho first no-confi-denco motion they must express dissatisfaction with Reform's present policy by voting against Reform.

A vote of thanks to the candidate was proposed by Mr. J. Walters and seconded by Mr. A. Selby. An amendment of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. J. Whiteham and seconded by Mr. W. Sands, senr., was carried on tho voices by a substantial majority. TO-NIGIIT S PROGK AMME. ADDRESSES AND MEETINGS. Public meetings announced for this evening are as follows. —- Sir James Gunson (Auckland Suburbs). —Public Hall, Glon Eden, 8 p.m. Mr. Kells-Mason (Manukau). —Southern Cross Theatre, Ellerslio, 8 p.m. Meetings of candidates' supporters this evenng are as follows j—• Mr. Bertram Bunn (Manukau). — Dwyer's Hall, Panmuro, 8 p.m Mr. Harry R- Jenkins (Parnell). —Peerless Hall, St. Heliers Bay, 8 p.m.