CONTEST FOR THAMES.

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

CONTEST FOR THAMES.

UNITED PARTY CANDIDATE.

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT.

MR. MrGREGOR AT MATATOKI

[by TELEGItAPU. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES. Thursday.

Tho campaign 111 the Thames electorate was opened in the Matatoki llall last evening by Mr. E. McGregor, official candidate for tho United Party. Mr. McGregor received an attentive hearing from a small attendance, llis speech was mostly a criticism of (he Reform Government, which he said had failed to carry out its promise of reform. Mr. McGregor said the Reform Party ceased to exist when Mr. Massey died, and it was now purely a Coates party. Tlie policy expounded by Mr. Coates was certainly the policy of the Reform Party, but the way it was carried out was not 111 the spirit of reform. Mr Coates had said he was opposed to Socialism in all its forms, but he had introduced a Socialism that was worso in its effects than that of the Labour Party. Mr. Coates had said it would be unwise to interfere in business, continued the candidate, but he was found stopping the farmer selling his produce except through a board and 011 terms dictated by that board. The same thing happened with tho fruit, sheep and cattle farmers. Tho miller could not buy his wheat where he liked. There was unnecessary Government interference everywhere. "lelephones have to be paid for in advance and if thoy are used while a gramophone is running the lessor is liable for a penalty of £20," remarked Mr. McGregor. "If the baby tears the telephone book or a cover is placed over it there is a chance of a penalty of £SO. There is too much pinpricking and interference." Referring to tho customs tariff, and particularly to duties on oats, wheat and bran, Mr. McGregor said tho collection of revenue by tax on the necessities of life was the most inequitable duty possible to imagine. The man who paid the greatest dutv on these goods was tho man with a family who was providing the bulk of tha revenue for the Dominion. The tariff taxed those who should be exempted and was a most expensive way to collect revenue. If the customs tax were reduced the cost of living would be reduced by one-third. If tho revenue was collected bv income tax it would lie a more just scheme. Mr. McGregor spoke at length on the necessity for development of secondary industries*. The method of protection carried out in the case of Onakaka iron was the right one. A subsidy was paid on output and last year Onakaka produced iron that could compare with tho world in price. Referring to immigration, Mr. McGregor said in the last three years 27.000 immigrants had been brought out, with no policy to settle them 011 the land, and no attempt had been made to frame any policy to absorb them. No wonder there were unemployed. Mr. Coates" had said a general survey of unoccupied land would be made, but this had not been done. The speaker suggested that the failure was a condemnation of the administration. He contended the Government had no land policy. Mr. McGregor was accorded a unanimous vo!e of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Messrs. A. Maxwell and T. McLoughlan. REFORM AT GLEN EDEN. SIR J. GUNSON SUPPORTED. A forcible address was delivered to a crowded audience by Sir James Gunson, official Reform candidate for Auckland Suburbs, at Glen Eden last evening. Mr. W. E. Martin presided. There were few interruptions and the candidate made scoring points of questions. At the conclusion, Mr. W. 11. Shepherd, in moving a vote of thanks and confidence, described Sir James Gunson's exposition of the Government's past works and future policy as the most lucid and forcible he had heard. He referred to Sir James' extensive past public service and counted the electorate fortunate in securing a man of such capacity to offer himself as its representative. Tho motion was seconded by Mr. W. P. Levy and was carried without dissent.

MR. MINN'S CANDIDATURE. PANMURE REFORM SUPPORT. .A wcll-at tended meeting of Reform Party supporters in the Manukau electorate was held at Panmure last evening. Mr. Maurice Harding presided. Mr. Bertram Buim, official Reform candidate for Manukau, spoke for over hnlf-an-hour on some of his platform planks, and at the conclusion was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Harding and Mr. S. Hamlin were appointed members of the Manukan Central Reform exocutive. A strong committee of both ladies and men was set up to assist the candidate.