UNITED PARTY'S AIMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 15

UNITED PARTY'S AIMS.

CANDIDATE FOR MANUKAU.

MR. MASON AT ELLERSLIE.

FARMERS AND INCOME TAX. The United Party candidate for Manukau, Mr. Kells Mason, had a mixed reception from an audience of about 200 at Elterslio last evening, when lie opened his campaign. Labour supporters indulged in some heckling, but 110 animosity was shown, and a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, a motion of confidence being dropped by common consent. The chairman, Dr. W. 11. Horton, in introducing Mr. Mason, declared the present Government had outlived its usefulness, and referred to the period of its administration as "eighteen barren years." Reform had been guilty of reckless extravagance, and had made New Zealand almost the highest-taxed community on the planet. Financial ruin was staring the countr> in the faco. There was need of tho restoration to power of a strong practical Government standing for the welfare of all classes —a description which did not apply to either Reform or Labour. Mr. Mason began by asserting that it was necessary to go back to tho last days of the Atkinson Government in order to find a parallel with the present condition of New Zealand. Unemployment then, as now, wai rife, with its accompaniment of soup-kitchens, bankruptcies and suicides, but 011 the advent of Ballancc and tho Liberals all was changed. Then we if some sounds of incredulity when the candidate asserted the brains behind most of what tho Seddon Administration had dono had been those of Sir Josoph Ward. Sir Joseph's Health. mt say that those who say Sir Joseph Ward is not in tho best of health or 111 full possession of his faculties are telling downright untruths," Mr. Mason said. Those who had met Sir Joseph recently 111 conference, and had heard him deliver a long and able address without tho aid of a single note, were convinced ho tvas a leader without equal in New Zealand. Speaking of the formation of the United Party, tie said that never before had representative men from every class and section of the community, and every part if New Zealand, como together and reached so unanimous an agreement as to tho country's needs and the remedies for its present troubles. Out of the conference had come a party whose slogan was "The Country Rcforo Self," and whoso policy was second to none. Next the speaker turned his attention to the Government, which, lie asserted, had done a great number of "cruel end wicked things." Among these were its unwarranted interferences in business, of which lie could name no fewer ''ban 41Theso included the Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, the building of the steamei Maui Pomare, and the recent administration of the railways. The latter had made huge losses, which the Government was discuisiiig. To crown all, it had appointed a general manager at £3500 a year, knowing 1;p would ret'ro before many years on a pension of £2500 ft year. A Voice: You have got to pay for brains, yon know. Mr. Mason: Yes, but *>o object to tho arbitrary way in which" Mr. Coates acted without giving his Parliament a chance to express an opinion. Group Settlement. Another ground for attack lipou the Government was its utter lack of a land policy Whereas the. Liberal Government had spent £11,000,000 on land settlement Reform had spent £43,000,000. yet so unwisely that during its regime thousands ol farmers had walked off their farms, with the result that twice as many other men had been thrown out of employment.. To cap it all, the Government had gone on bringing in immigrants to tho number of 10,000 01 so yearly. The L T nited Party hao everx sympathy with those who wished to come into the Dominion, but it held to Lie principle, "work for New Zealanders first."

Under the Reform system of land taxation large farmers were escaping the payment, of about £500,000 a year which they ought to provide for the country's revenue. Ho considered no farmer should he given exemption from income tax, excfcpt on the first £IOOO of income or thereabouts. This inequity reacted on the people of the cities, who had to pay in place of tho farmer.

The candidate said lie did not blame the Government for all these wrongs; ho Warned those who by their votes allowed it. to remain in office. The public must realise that politics wero not a joke, but a serious business affecting the interests of each and every citizen.

Explaining that he would not, attempt to set forth the whole policy of the United Party, pending Sir Joseopti Ward's speech in Anckland next week, Mr. Mason said he proposed to give some of tho ideas the partv had behind its proposals. Tt stood for the gr°np system of land settlement, such as had given wonderfully successful results in Western Australia. The Reform Government had never had I lie wit to adopt group settlement, nor had the Labour Party had the wit to suggest it in Parliament.

Voter Threatens Boycott. The candidate condemned the Government's policy of relief works, and submitted the £1.000.000 in hand from tho petrol tax should ho used immediately to provide a complete remedy for the present distress from unemployment. This statement provoked some dissent. Tn conclusion. Mr. Mason said he would advise electors to vote for Reform or Labour if the policy of the. United Party did not appeal to them as hetfer than that of either, ffe hoped he had sketched a policy more original than the others. A Voice: f will say you have not. Mr. Mason: Well, if we have submitted it we solicit your vote. The candidate answered several questions asked by Labour supporters. A vole of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr. R. P». Spiers, whereupon the chairman became involved in a healed altercation with a man at the back of the hall who wished to move an amendment and for a while refused to sit down when told to do so. An amendment, that a vote of thanks only lie passed, was eventually moved and seconded. " I am disappointed," said the seconder, Mr. J. Parlanc. " f am sorry to soo a lot of promising young men handicapping themselves bv taking over (he remnants of the old Liberal Party. The country is still suffering from legislation put, on the Statute Rook by the man whffm they have chosen as their leader. Mr. Massev was a good man, but he was not of the stuff that reformers are made of. I mean to stop at home on polling-day." Mr. J. R. T.undon suggested it was unfair to a new candidate to propose a vote of confidence in him at the outset of his campaign, and that a vote of thanks should be carried by acclamation. This was done forthwith. THE PRIME MINISTER. VISJT TO CHRISTCHURCH. [ jIY TELEGRAPH.— WiESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The Prime Minisier will open his election campaign ir. Christchurch next Wednesday, when ho will speak in tho new municipal concert hall.