MR MACPHERSON AT NGAPARA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13908, 8 November 1919, Page 3

MR MACPHERSON AT NGAPARA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) That interest in political matters has not die<i out was very evident on Tuesday night when Mr Macpherson met the electors at this end of the district. The attendance was large and representative and included a number of ladies. Mr ,1. McCulloch was voted to the chair and introduced the candidate as follows : . . 1 have great pleasure in presiding at this meeting, though Mr Macpherson is probably as well known here as I am. "Mr Macpherson is a local product, so to speak, and an old resident. We are rather proud of him, because he is /co-day the representative man amongst North Otago farmers and has represented them -on some very imnortant occasions and always with conspicuous ability. He has been instrumental in procuring for them free carriage for starving stock and free railage for fodder during the drought, which was no small matter., I have been informed by a man who was in a position to know that Mr Macpherson was the best member he had ever known on the Land Board, having a judicial mind and a knowledge of our land laws. Yet one of the first reforms of the great Reform Party was to remove Mr Macpherson and men like him and replace them with—well I won't say what- —you know what 1 think —but at all events with men who were responsible for the Omarama, Benmore and Gladbrook scandals. We are. being told so often and by high authorities that we are entering on a new era, and a new page in our history will have t-o be turned and closely wri'tten with Liberal and progressive legislation. Now the question for electors to decide is which party is to be entrusted to enact that legislation. Will it be the party ■that has been responsible for 95 percent. of the advanced legislation on our Statute Book, or will it- be the other party, which has opposed .most of these measures, and has been a brake on the wheels of progress ? Remember that 10 years ago New Zealand was leading the world in progressive legislation. Yes, this little country was in the forefront- in solving the problems of humanity. We are certainly not in that position now. Some think there should be no parties in politics, but I don't see how it can 'be avoided, while there are. large land-owners on the one hand and land hungry people on the other. Now, we are told that what t-he Empire needs is production and still more production, and it is only by increasing the volume of our products that we can meet our engagements, pay interest on our loans, and pursue a progressive policy. Surely, then, it is onlv common-sense to have representatives in Parliament who have a practical knowledge of the needs of producers. In the past we have sent too manv professional men lawyers and journalists —to represent us : adpiiramo men in many respects, good speakers, writers, debaters and critics, quite sunable for a town constituency, but regarding agricultural matters many ot them didn't know "chicken from turkey,"' or a mangold from a Maori head. For a district like ours we ought to have a farmer, a practical man with first-hand knowledge of our requirements. I need hardly ask you to give Mr Macpherson an attentive hearing. Everv candidate who asks our suffrages is entitled to every courtesy. Theonly oxception I make to that rule is when a candidate tells a deliberate falsehood. Theri make vour interjection and check 'him at once. I'm sure if you observe that rule you will give Mr Macpherson a courteous hearing. . Mr Macpherson spoke at considerable, length, his address occupying about two hours in delivery. He expressed his pleasure in standing before a Ngapara. audience, as it was his old friends of Ngapara who had first, induced him to enter upon the thorny road of politics. Ngapara, he said, had long been noted for its Liberal tendency, and it was among the Liberals of Ngapara that he had served his political apprenticeship. He felt when standing before them that, he was speaking to friends. It had been his wish to begin his campaign here,

but- the difficulty about halls, etc., had prevented him 'doing so. The main theme of the address was the stern time which we had just passed through, the conditions which lay in front of us, i and the special need for men who had J practical . experience in developing the. | couiitrv's primary products. Mr Mae- • phersou claimed that with thirty-two ) years' residence in the district, during all of which time lie had been engaged J in farming and allied interests, he could | claim the right to speak with authority 1 on the needs of the country at the preI sent time. The need for the developi ment of all our resources at the prej sent time was most strongly stressed, ' and Mr Mac-pherson pointed out'that it was only by producing more than we had ever done before that we could hope to meet our obligations in the years before us. The need for better landi administration also' received attention, and'the meeting was decidedly with the speaker when he gave instances of some of the peculiar methods in vogue at the present time for the purpose of making the public estate available for hind-seekers. The exploitation going on at the present time also received attention, and the need for the Government taking drastic had the speaker's firm support. Various iiistances were given of the way in which prices were engineered upwards. The proposed extension of military training was touched on. and strong objections expressed thereto. A considerable number of other matters were dealt with. Then questions were invited. The bulk of the questions dealt with the cost of , living and Mr Macpherson's views in I connection therewith were verv much in ! accord with those of the questioners, j 'A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed bv Mr Mathie and carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman, pro-, posed by Mr Macpherson, terminated the meeting.