ELECTION NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 14

ELECTION NOTES

ISSUE IN HAWKE'S BAY STRAIGHT-OUT CONTESTS Another district in which a keen political fight is being waged at present is Hawke's Bay. This district differs materially from the Waikato and Taranaki in that dairying is not its main industry. The result of the last general election, when Labour won three out. of the four Hawke's Bay seats, was somewhat surprising, but on this occasion straight-out contests are practically assured between Labour and National candidates in Napier, Hawke's Bay, Waipawa and Pahiatua. Reports from the province indicate that election prospects at the moment are somewhat obscure. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. \Y. E. Barnard, is generally regarded as having a strong hold on the Napier seat, although his opponent, Air. ,J. D. Ormoiul, jun.. an Independent candidate for Waipawa three years ago, is putting up a vigorous fight.. Mr. H. M. Christie, one of the most popular of Labour members ot Parliament,. is opposed in Waipawa by .Mr. A. K. ,J nil, the former member for tho district nnd an experienced campaigner. The impression is that Mr. Christie may have difficulty in retaining the seat. The contest in the Hawke's Bay electorate promises to bo very even. Tho sitting Labour member, Mr. F. L. C'ullcn, is opposed by Mr. G. A. Maddison, who has been prominent for some years in tho public life of Hastings. It is thought that the existence of extensive relief works in the district., resulting from the disastrous floods earlier this year, may have a bearing on the result. In Pahiatua, a determined light is being waged by Labour's fanner candidate, Mr. G. A. Hansen, against the sitting National member, Sir Alfred Ransom. Socialism Defined "I will give you two and you can take your pick," said Mr. S. G. Holland, M.P. for Christchnrch North, to an interjector at one of his recent meetings who asked for a definition of Socialism. "One is that we all pool all our money and resources and then cut it up 'into shares." Mr. Holland continued. ''When each has got bis share he puts it back into the heap again. But I don't think that definition will do. Mr. Bernard Shaw is accepted as an authority and he says in the Encyclopaedia Britannica that Socialism, reduced to its simplest terms, means tho complete discarding of the institution of private property and the conversion of it into public property; and that equality of income is Socialism." Another Definition A definition of Socialism was also sought this week from Mr. J. W. McMillan. Labour candidate for Stratford. His reply was as follows: — "Socialism is what tho Maoris carried out before the pakeha came to New Zealand." Rise to "Another Place"

An indication that room may be found in the Legislative Council for Mr. A. Campbell, M.P. for Chalmers, whose electorate has disappeared as a result of changes in boundaries, was given by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, at a Labour Party social in Dunedin. "Archie is not going down to the grave unhonoured and unsung." said Mr. Savage. "He will still be able to do his job in the legislative scheme of things." Dominion's Army Tho inadequacy of New Zealand's land forces was emphasised by Mr. W. P. Endean, M.P. for Parncll, in an address at St. Heliers Bay last night. "Wo say tho ar-mv has shrunk to a low' level," he said. "As an Australian newspaper said, 'New Zealand has .'>ooo in the army, less the four colonels, making 2996.' " A Pledge Recalled An assurance that the National Party would reduce* taxation, if returned to power, was given by Mr. Donald Pool, the party's candidate for Eden, during his address in tho Congregational Hall, View Road, Mount Eden, last evening. They would not be like the Labour Party, he said, which had promised to remove the sales tax and had failed to do so. In addition to quoting the statements of and members of the Labour Party deploring the existence of the sales tax and its effect on poorer people, the candidate recalled the words of Mr. Savage, uttered prior to the last election: "One point in our policy is to abolish the sales tax. My pledge to the people is not made without thought and it will not be violated." Why, asked Mr. Pool, had that pledge not been carried out? "His Master's Voice" "The voice is the voice of Mr. Savage, but the hand is the hand of Mr. Roberts," said Mr. A. E. J nil, National candidate for Waipawa, in discussing the Labour Party's policy for the present election. Tho real authors of the Government's policy, said Mr. Jul], were lhe Labour "bosses" and union leaders. }lr. Roberts, secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation, was the head of tho party, and, with the Hon. 13. Wilson, M.L.C., secretary of tlip party, was entitled to attend party caucuses. The executive of the Labour Party and the Trades Hall group were the real rulers of New Zealand to-day.

"Not For Sale" "Why is no provision made for tenants of Government houses to purchase tlieni outright if they wish to do sop" asked a lady questioner at a meeting addressed by Mr. J. W. Monro. M.P. for Dunedin North, this week. "Because they were built to bo let," was the candidate's short reply. This did not satisfy the questioner and Mr. Munro added that people who wished to own tfieir own homes could obtain finance through the State Advances Corporation. "Anyway," he concluded, after further questions, "we are not going to build houses to sell." New Unemployment Statistics "During tho last eight years the brains of the world have been centred on solving the problem of unemployment," said Mr. W. H. Hall, National candidate for Timaru, at a meeting this week. "The Socialist party, in Opposition, said that, given a chance, it coukl solve unemployment in six montlis, if not in six weeks. We are told there is no unemployment to-day. vet the Timaru Borough Council has men on its books and the weekly cost for each man of LI 12s 6(1 is paid by the Slate. In tile depths of tlic depression, the largest number we had at one time was 202." Short Cut to Parliament

Advice given by the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser, to an audience of schoolchildren, as to the best method of getting into Parliament, was accepted by Mr. Will Apploton, Mr. Eraser's National opponent for Wellington Central, at a recent election meeting. Mr. Apploton recalled that tlio Minister had requested the children to drink up their milk "like Popeye ate his spinach." That was the wnv to get into Parliament and become a Minister. "Profiting by this advice," said Mr. Appleion, "I shall take a drink of milk at each of my meetings." The candidate then produced a bottle of milk, poured himself a glass and took a copious draught before starting his speech.