BAY OF PLENTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23149, 22 September 1938, Page 15

BAY OF PLENTY

NATIONAL ASPIRANT , MR. SULLIVAN AT OPOTIKI HIGHER COST OF LIVING 1 [by telegraph—owx correspondent} OPOTIKI, Wednesday The National Party candidate for the Bay of Plenty, Mr. W. Sullivan, addressed a meeting of 220 electors in Opotiki last night. The Mayor, Mr. G. S. Moody, presided. Mr. Sullivan referred to the splendid organisation that had been brought into operation to further the interests of the National Party. Many of the Labour promises had rot been carried out, said Mr. Sullivan. The National Party would not make promises it could not carry out. The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, had stated on the eve:of the last election that the sales tax woutd be abolished and the exchange rate reduced. The party had also promised to reduce the cost of living. Instead of that the cost of living had been increased from .'SO to 40 per cent. House rents had also been increased, and the Government had lost the confidence of the people. Clear-cut Campaign Tho Government was definitely going on to State socialisation. If the people could not maintain liberty and freedom, then it was a" sorry state of affairs. He believed that many electors who had joined up with the Labour. Party did not understand the position. Ho would say that the Labour Party was going to socialise land and industry, and would take complete., control of exchange.

There were certain people in the country, Communists, who were strongly supporting the Labour Party. The Nationals had wanted, and had got, a clear-cut campaign, so that the people could say if they wanted Social-, ism or the freedom of the people. The Government had claimed that it had been responsible for the.present prosperity, but the speaker pointed out' that exports had dropped in the last year, and the sales tas reTurns were also falling, while imports had increased. It was time the Government. produced its insulation theory. The Old Usehold Policy

The National Party would institute a land policy which would assist and build up the country. The Govern-; ment was building up an immense pub-'* lie works policy and taking away men from foundation industries. Its policy was the old usehold one. The National Party wanted to maintain the right of individualism. Air. Sullivan said the Public Works Department men were compelled to pay toward the Labour Party campaign, funds. The freedom of the workers wa3 being taken away. He condemned the Government's action in allowing the privilege of broadcasting to two Independents, who, he claimed, were on the side of the Government.

Mr. C. Black moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Sullivan and the National Party. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. Shove and carried by acclamation. -.jst-

MINISTER OF LABOUR CONSTITUENTS' ASSURANCE NATIONAL POLICY ATTACKED [BV TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday Approximately 900 electors of Christchurch East assured the 'Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, of his success at the coining general election after lie had addressed them for two hours last night. Prolonged applause greeted the Minister at the conclusion of his address, and his request that he should be permitted to conduct a short campaign in his own electorate and then depart on a tour of the North Island to "help wiiii some more seats'' was readily complied with. New Zealand had at last been made acquainted with the long-awaited policy of the National Party, said Mr. Armstrong. It looked impressive at first sight, but on examination proved to/ be merely a mass of words taken from the legislation that the Labour Government had already placed on the Statute Book. "Three years ago" we faced you with a policy of 12 points," continued the Minister. "Every one of those points has been written into the law of New Zealand The last of them was the Social Security Act. The National Party says if will not put this into operation. It is certainly right for once." Mr. Armstrong will leave to-morrow night for Wellington on the first staga of a tour of the North Island. FUTURE FOR MAORIS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SIR APIRANA NGATA'S DESIRE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] DANNEVTRKE, "Wednesday Addressing local Maoris this afternoon, Sir Apirana Ngata. National member for the Westerp Maori seat, said the next five or* six years were going to be very important in the life of the Maori people, and the Maori should be able to make a distinct step forward. Ho should be careful not t<j be side-tracked by temporary measures and lose sight of longer-range benefits. The Maori must look not only fot equality in wages find conditions, but for equality of opportunity. Sir Apirana said. At present/the "Maori defi«" nitely was not getting the same opportunities in regard to public works and the civil service. The latter should be a distinct opening for Maori boys who went through schools. The Maoris now had far less land than they needed, continued tlw speaker, and many would have to get somewhere. They had got to see the Maori youth had education and n better opportunitv to make use of it in employment. Existing Maori settlements should ha<-e around thfem sufficient land so that those who wished to take no different types-tgjf employ* ment could do so.

BALLOT PAPERS CARE AFTER ELECTION [bt TEI.EGRAVH OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Strict care will be taken by those ii) charge of the elections in the variouj districts to see that the voting paper? at the general election are properly safeguarded during the week-end aftei election day. The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. G. G. Hodgkins, said yesterday that every precaution would be taken. "The ballot boxes will be in the safe custody of the Post Office or the returning officer for the district," be added.