HAURAKI BY-ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20870, 12 May 1931, Page 11

HAURAKI BY-ELECTION.

- iREFOIM tarty campaign. MR. MASSEY'S PLATFORM. INTEREST of the farmers. GOVERNMENT'S PRODIGALITY. "If yo" £ IVO mo y° ur confidence on [|\lay 27, I can honestly say I will not you down in any shapo or form," I 'declared Mr. W. W. Massey, amid applause, in opening tho Reform Party's campaign in connection with the by-elec-tion for tho Ilauraki seat in (lie Mnngere JSast Hall last evening. The candidate dealt with the question of fusion, and in a thoughtful and reasoned speech appealed for support 011 the ground that the Reform Tarty was the ono whoso policy offered the best hope ci restoring prosperity. Mr Massev, who mentioned that his ancestors 011 both sides ]jad been farmers for generations, also dealt with many problems of vital moment- to tho man on the land. Ho was given a very attentive hearing by an audience of 250 people, who later tendered him a unanimous vote of confidence. In view of tho prominence the recent fusion overtures are likely to assume in the campaign, Mr. Massey's views on tho question were heard with particular interest. . "Personally, 1 think that question should not have run the course ithas," ho said. "Two and a-half years Ago Mr. Coates made an offer to sink all party differences and to give Sir Joseph Ward and his party all the assistance jl, was possible for tho Reform Party to give. Mr. Coates was th.-n curtly told that the United Party had been elected 011 a policy it was prepared to carry out without assistance from any ether party. To my mind, if it was not reasonable for the two parties to come together theu, now is hardly the time." (Applause.)

Government's Broken Promises. In opening his speech, Mr. Massey expressed regret at tho cause of the byelection, and he paid a tribute of respect io the memory of Mr. A. W. Hall, whose death had caused tho vacancy in Hau-j-aki. "If you elect ino I will endeavour to carry on tho task Mr. Hall set frimte]f —to serve tho interests of Hauraki, *.nd not only of Hauraki, but of t&« whole Dominion," said Mr. Massey. Recalling tho promises made by the United Party during the 1928 election campaign, Mr. Massey showed huw that party had actually acted in a manner contrary to tho undertakings made on the hustings. Tho United Party, which had promised reduced taxation, for instance, had increased taxation by £2,325,000 to £19,470,000 in its first year in office. "The United Party also promised a permanent solution of the unemployment problem by a policy of land settlement and railway construction," continued the candidate. "We know how the workers were gulled in that connection. Far from solving the unemployment problem, thero has been greater want and distress during the United Party's term of office than at any other period of New Zealand's history. Jn the winter of 1928 the unemployed numbered 2536; a week a;o the official figure was 36,900." Land Settlement Failure. The prodigality of the Government in other directions was also illustrated by Mr. Massey. The Government, he said, had spent £750,000 in the purchase of 21 estates. There were now on thoso estates 182 settlers. Prior to their purchase there were already 65 farmers and farm workers there, so that the Government's lavish expenditure had resulted in setfling only 117 new settlers. "1 clo riot know what you think about that sort of land settlement," said Mr. Massey, "but to my mind it represents ihe most futile attempt made by any Government to settle land." The growth in the public debt and in taxation under the United Government, was also traced by the candidate. He said' the gross public debt was new £278,000,000, or £lB4 3s 5d a head, compared with £251,396,000. or £172 19s 2d a head, in 1928. Tho Reform Party had followed a policy of tapering off borrowing, realising that the trend of events made that course necessary. Reform borrowed £5,500.000 in 1928, but in the three subsequent venrs the United Partv had borrowed £7,400,000, £3,C0C.000 and £10,000,000. respectively. Taxation was £ll 17s 7d a. head in the last, year of llie Reform regime; to-day it was £l3 17s. Other main points in Mr. Massey s platform were: —The expenditure of unemployment fund's on productive works only, particularly by placing the unemployed on Crown and other unoccupied Jands; the immediate delating of land; money provided by the users of roads to he spent in making and maintaining roads; a reduction in production costs of nll kinds, and the placing of all transport under one control. The candidate also f.iid he thought it. unreasonable that a land tax should bo levied irrespective, of whether the taxpayer was making a profit pr a loss on his operations. Country Party's Position.

" Thr 10 is no man in this country to whom I will qive second place in guarding the interests of the farming community," said Mi. Massev, in referring to the presence of a Country Party candidate in .the contest. "lam a farmer myself, 1 always have been, and I am always iikelv to he." A ' Voice: "And \ou will be a member ot P.iiliaiiicnf fhoitly. (Applause.) Mr. Massey: I think I may safely claim to nudeistand the farmer's point of view n.s well as any Country Party man. A purely farmers' party would, to my mind, antagonise other sections of the community. There is nothing to be gained by farmers separating themselves from the lest of the community for political purposes. 1 think farmers have most to gain bv supporting the. Reform Party, which is headed by a farmer. Referring to the Labour Party, Mr. Masfey said it was still the same party, ex«opt that; it. had changed from red to ]'ink. That party's main objective was Mill the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and socialisation meant confiscation. It was not a policy which should appeal to Ilaulaki electniLabour had supported the Government for two years and among tlie effects of that policy had been increased .unemployment, increased primage and extravagant expenditure in all directions. Now that a general election was drawing near Labour had deserted its ally Hid left it to shoulder the burden alone. Unanimous Vote of Confidence.

" I [irwlH I hat another sot of promises v 'ill bo made at this year's general election, " said Mr. Massey. "They probably lie promises which will not lie fulfiiled,.but 1 do not believe tho Hauraki electors bo deceived. We have seen 'he disastrous effect, of socialistic rule in -Australia—misery and want, financial upheaval, and, last but nut least, disiior.ourable repudiation." In conclusion, Mr. Massey said that, if elected, he would strive to represent all Interests and not one particular section. In reply to questions, Mr. Massey said he favoured a revision of the sliding scale f'f duties on wheat. Tho liquor issue was in tho hands of the electors to decide. A unanimous vote of confidence was nccoidod Mr Massey, the opinion being mispressed that ho was a worthy son of an illustrious father and well qualified to represent the electorate in Parliament. Jlr. F. F. Hockly presided.