TRIBUTES TO REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20555, 5 May 1930, Page 11

TRIBUTES TO REFORM.

SIR J. WARD'S BUDGET. TESTIMONY TO ECONOMY. SUBDIVISION OF ESTATES "The Budget of 1929 contained many statements which must be taken as an involuntary tribute by the Prime Minister to the previous Reform Administration," said Mr. H. Holland, M.P. for Cliristeluirch North, speaking at the Epsom Library on Saturday evening in support of Mr. W. P. Endean, Reform candidate for Parnell. Mr. Holland referred first, to Sir Joseph Ward's declaration in the Budget that no economy was possiblo in regard to tho social services. This was a confession that the Reform Government had eliminated wastage arid placed the social services on a truly economical basis, as economical as possible without sacrificing efficiency. Mr. Holland then quoted the passage in which Sir Joseph Ward explained the fall in land-tax returns. The Prime Minister had said that this was due to the process of subdivision of large estates which, had been going on steadily under the Reform regime. In face of this it, was absurd for the United and Labour speakers to assert that Reform was hostile to subdivision, or that, the Reform Government had not, stimulated subdivision. Sir Joseph Ward's own words supplied the answer lo that. Dealing with the surplus in this vear's accounts, Mr. Holland drew attention to two changes in the method of keeping accounts which had enabled a surplus to be shown. There was. first, the debiting of an additional £185.000 to the railways. The railway deficit had been increased by £185,000 in order to show a surplus of £150,000 in tho Consolidated Account. Secondly, there was the introduction of a new method of book-keeping in regard lo the Post Office Accounts. Mr. Endean and Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., also addressed Iho meeting. A vote, of confidence in the candidate was carried with some dissent. TIIE LABOUR CANDIDATE. TWO MEETINGS ADDRESSED. TRIBUTE TO HON. W. D. STEWART There was a good attendance at. the Remuera Library Hall on Saturday evening, when Mr. T. Bioodworth, Labour candidate in Parnell, addressed electors. Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., presided. Mr. Bioodworth said the electors would be glad that at last one gentleman had come into the field who dealt with real political issues—Tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart. He was regarded, irrespective of party considerations, as a careful student of political economy, and what he had to say would bo listened to with great interest. "It is generally conceded that I myself am something of a student of political economy," Mr. Bioodworth added. "I would therefore welcome an opportunity of a debate with Mr. Stewart." Mr. Bioodworth said it, had been pu£gested in tho press that he should be judged not only upon his personal qualifications, ,but also upon the platform and policy of the party in whose interests he stood. He was quite content, to be judged in that way, provided the same test were applied to the other candidates. Subsequently Mr. Bioodworth addressed" another meeting at St. George's Hall, where he was supported bv Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., and Mr. Walter Nash, M.P. RAILWAY WORKERS. TIME FOR VOTING SOUGHT. A request that time off should be allowed the men at tho Otahuhu railway workshops living in the Parnell electorate to enable them to record their votes was made on Saturday to the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Railways, by Mr. 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party. Mr. Taverner replied yesterday to the effect that the men would have time to vote between 4 o'clock, when they finished work, and 7 o'clock, when the booths closed. Further representations aro to be made by Mr. Holland to-day. QUALITY OF "TALKIES." VIEWS OF MR. ENDEAN. , "I learn that one of my remarks at a public meeting has given rise to some misunderstanding," said Mr. W. P. Endean, Reform candidate in Parnell, in a statement on Saturday. ''l refer to what one of tho newspapers reported me as having said with regard to American 'talkies.' Perhaps I did not make my thought quite clear. But, of course, T had no intention of criticising the, quality of talkies—even American talkies—in general. I referred only to those of a certain undesirable type, which I am sure we all deplore."