CONTEST AT ROTORUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20083, 22 October 1928, Page 11

CONTEST AT ROTORUA.

UNITED PARTY CANDIDATE. REFORM POLICY ' CRITICISED. SIR JOSEPH WARD DEFENDED. [ r;y TK I, lili It A PII. —OWN COM lIKSI'ONWKNT. J ROTC) RUA, Sim day. Tlio United Party candidato for the Kotorua scat. Mr. C. If. Clinkard, addressed a large meeting at llolorua at the week-end. The Mayor, Mr. J. N. McLean, presided. Mr. Clinkard said at (lie last election the. cry was "Coates and Confidence," but ill his opinion there was not so much confidence in Mr. Coates this lime. lie believed the country would return a different verdict from last election. 'i lie speaker gave credit to Mr. F. I<\ Ilockly for his work as member for the district. Mr. Clinkard said in his opinion tho cause of so many farmers walking off their farms was that tho price paid for their holdings was too high. This was brought about by the Reform Party booming tlio land. Many ex-soldiers had to pay too much for their farms, and eventually they abandoned them, at a loss of over £5.000,000 to the country. When Sir Joseph Ward introduced the Stato Advances Act petitions were circulated against the measure. Sir Joseph then said that ho could borrow money ar, 33 per cent, and lend it at 4A per cent. This was ridiculed, but events proved that he was right. Now he proposed to borrow £70.000,000, and in the opinion of tho speaker his proposal was equally sound.

When tho Liberal Party took office it found that a large immigration scheme had flooded the country with immigrants who had nothing to do. Tho steps taken by the Liberals transformed matters then, and so it would do again if tho United Party was returned under Sir Joseph Ward.

Tho reason the Liberal Party suffered such a defeat at tlio last election was. ho thought, that it changed its name to tho National Party, and that its leader, Mr. G. W. Forbes, was not known in tho North Island. The candidato said he was in favour of election by an absolute majority.

Dealing with Reform finance, Mr. Clinkard said lie considered ;i comprehensive policy, as outlined by Sir Joseph Ward, was needed to meet (lie present position. The principle of making arrangements 10 years ahead was sound Thorn was then no danger of a short ago of funds when the work was half-finished lie was opposed (o the present piecemeal policy of raising loans. The Coates Government had spent more in nine years than Sir Joseph proposed to spend in ten years. Criticising tho relief given to taxpayers with largo incomes, tho candidate said it was most unfair. He thought everyone with an incomo of over £IOOO a year should ho taxed. Food supplies should lit* placed on the free list. Mr. C'linkard urged his audience to support New Zealand industries and thus help to relieve the unemployed. H« touched upon the great possibilities /if the forests in and around Rotorua, which, he said, would eventually establish a great industry, such as wood-pulping. Sir Joseph Ward was the first to recoc nise the possibilities of tho tourist traffic in New Zealand. ITe was responsible for the erection of the bath buildings at Rotorua. The outcry was great at tho expenditure, but the years had proved him right and his critics wrong. Much more could be done to develop this great asset. The policy of importing Australian pole* for electric wiring was wrong. They were only saplings and could be seen decaying all over (ho country. Much belter local timber could bo obtained In answer (o a question whether (ho United Party would vote with the Labour Party on a no-confidence motion against the Reform Party, Mr. Clinkard told his questioner to wait and see. A vote of thanks and confidence in (ho candidate was carried with applause. " GOVERNMENT ON TRIAL." LABOUR CANDIDATE'S ADDRESS. [r.Y TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ROTORUA, Sunday. The Labour candidate for Rotorua, Mr A. G. Christopher, addressed a meeting of electors In the Ngo ngo tali a Hall last week, Tho candidate said tlx* Reform Government was on its (rial before the bar of public opinion, for broken and unfulfilled promises. He asserted that the Government was bankrupt as far as a land policy was concerned, and hafi increased the interest on State advances by lj- per cent. The (fovernment, he alleged, had introduced immigrants info tho Dominion under misrepresentation, thereby increasing unemployment. Labour, on file other hand, represented humanity and enlightened progress, and it would be to Labour that the people, seeking security and a better life, would turn. The eandidMo was accorded a vote of thanks, which was carried unanimously.