ELECTION NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20087, 26 October 1928, Page 15

ELECTION NOTES.

SURPRISE FOR UNITED PARTY.

NO WARNING OF £70,000,000.

That the proposal to borrow £70,000,000 was not made by the conference of the United Party, held in Wellington to frame its policy, has been disclosed by Mr. John Loudon, in a further statement explaining his withdrawal from, the Chalmers contest. Referring to "the vital point of the trouble," Mr. Loudon said:—"Mr. Wing (the provincial organiser) was as much worried as I was at not getting the party's policy earlier, and I saw him daily. The first manifesto we got was Sir Joseph Ward's speech in Auckland, published in the Press, and I got a great surprise when I saw his borrowing plank. I regarded it as the end of my chance and felt much upset, as I was certain that a large proportion of the Chalmers electors would bo up in arms against it. I am much opposed personally to the large borrowing, and feel that I would tho party and myself in a false position if I did nob take the stand I have done,"

MILITARY TRAINING. One of the most frequent questions asked candidates is whether they are in favour of compulsory military training. Some of those supporting the United Party's banner have stated they are strongly in favour of its abolition, and a less costly and less arbitrary system introduced. At least two candidates have declared that the sum of something like £190,000 spent annually in this direction is waste. When question time came last evening at the meeting addressed by Mr. J. S. Dickson, Reform member for Parnell, he was asked his view, and his reply was greeted with enthusiasm. "If a country's worth living in it is worth fighting for," he said. LEADER FOLLOWS LEADER. "It is quite correct we have been travelling rapidly," said the Prime Ministei, Mr. Coates, at Whangarei, last evening, when the Mayor, Mr. L. J. Brake, referred to the vast amount of territory which Mi". Coate3 had to cover in the election campaign and to the speed with which he had to move. "But we are not the only ones who have been travelling," added Mr. Coates. "There is someone following me as hard as he can —tho Lea.der of the Lubour Party, Mr. Holland—and when the election is over and I am home in power again he will still bo running." (Applause.)

DEGREES OF INTELLIGENCE. "Perhaps I should bo equally offended with another statement made by Sir. Clayton," said the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, in an address at Toko mar u Bay, when referring to certain statements made by the United Party candidate for Gisborne, Mr. W. Lissanfc Clayton. "That is his allegation that only two members of the Cabinet have any brains. Perhaps he is right. The man with brains keeps clear of Parliament altogether and stays at home to find fault with those who are giving their services to the public. Those with a little intelli- ®. genee are honoured by the electors, but the least intelligent of ail are those who mistakenly imagine that they are going to •• find their way into Parliament by getting on tho platform and confining their policy to unfair criticism and personal attacks upon their political opponents." UNITED PARTY AND LABOUR. Sir. G. McKay, United candidate' for Hawke's Bay, told a Hastings audience that, while he might vote with the Labour Parly if it were, for the good of the country, he was not prepared to be a - blind follower of Mr. Holland, who, in ' 1918, had said in Parliament: "I do not pose as a pacifist, but I am prepared to carry the brand of a revolutionary Socialist." "THREATENED BOMBSHELL." According to Mr. R. McKeen (Labour), a "bombshell" is to be dropped during the election campaign in connection with the recent Dairy Control Board trouble. "Within the next two weeks," he said; when speaking at Newtown, Wellington, on Tuesday evening, "there will be a 'bombshell' as to what took place in connection with the Dairy Control Board, and I hope that the' explosion will be enough to smash the present Government." KEEN RURAL ELECTORS. A feature of this year's political campaign, as far as the rural districts of the Waikato- are concerned, has been th« large attendances and the keen interest displayed in current politics by the farmers. In many cases the time devoted to questions, which have particularly referred to land problems, has exceeded the time occupied by the candidates in theie addresses. Many. of the meetings havq not closed until close upon midnight. OPTIMIST AND PESSIMIST. A pessimist saw an obstacle in every) opportunity, but an optimist saw an op« port unity in every obstacle, said the Hon. J. A. Young, Reform candidate for Ham< ill on, in an address to the' electors of his constituency. Tho Reform Government had acted the part of. the optimist during the past two years, and had applied itself resolutely to solve the many difficulties with which the country had been faced.

CAUTION IN MAKING REPLIES. An adroit skill and not a little caution were displayed by Mr. R. B. Speirs, United Party candidate for Auckland West, in answering questions at his Poni sonby meeting last evening. "Are you in favour of summer time 1" he was asked. "Well, are < there any; farmers present ?" inquired the candidate. One hand shot up. "Well, I would like to take a referendum of mothers before I answer," Mr. Speirs then said. "After all. it is the mothers who are most concorned, and if they favour it, I will voto N for it."

As ho did not expect to be Minister of Defence in tho United Cabinet, Mr* Speirs also thought it inadvisable to say whether he would take any steps toward providing another naval training depoi ship to replace tho condemned Philomel. On the Bible in Schools question ha preferred to give an explanation of his views at a later meeting. "I think that question and the one of prohibition ara outside the.realm of legitimate politics," he added. "I would make it a criminal offence for tho introduction of questions affecting tho conscience,pf the people into politics." THE IRISH JUDGE. " You are like tho Irish Judge who did not want to hear two sides of a question because it confused him," Miss Melville told a restless interjector at her Mount Albert meeting last evening. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS. " I am in favour of Biblo reading in schools," said Mr. Frank Adcane, Reform candidate, for Auckland West, last evening. "We are rapidly approaching a state of paganism in some directions* Many children never see the Bible in their homes, and they are growing up without enough knowledge even to appreciate the significance of the Bible w ica taking an oath. In secondary schools all over the Empire some religious exerciso is practised each day, ar ]' , yet to meet a secondary school boy who does not approach tins exego m soirit of reverence. ihe JiJWo ' 3 foundation of British law, and[lw.ll support its reading in the schools.