THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18724, 30 November 1922, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION

THE PRIME MINISTER. CROWDED MEETING AT HOKITIKA. (Pee United Press Association.) HOKITIKA, November 29. The Prime Minister (Mr Massey) arrived from Nelson at 6.10 p.m. and addressed a meeting in the Princess Theatre at 6.35, speaking for an hour. In the course of his address he referred to the improved financial position,, stating that revenue was increasing and expenditure was decreasing. Ho looked forward optimistically to increased prices for primary products, thus creating general prosperity throughout the dominion.. Referring to soldiers’ settlements Mr Massey spoke of the necessity after investigation to cut the loss that would result from a drop in prices of land and produce. He referred also to the Advances to Settlers’ Department as a most useful department of the State, and explained that the legislation of the recent session gave power to grant advances against chattels. The legislation would be brought into force immediately, as he hoped to sign the final documents on Saturday. Dir Massey announced that numerous applications had already been received, indicating that the legislation would prove very useful. He concluded with an appeal to support Mr Jesse Steer, Official Reform candidate, and so assist to send the Government back with a sustaining majority to carry cut the policy which had proved so successful through the past strenuous years. Mr Massey received a cordial hearing throughout, with very little interruption. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried and the meeting concluded with cheers. Mr Massey left at 7.45 p.m. for Greymouth.. MR HOLLAND AT HOKITIKA. . (Pee United Press Association.) HOKITIKA, November 29 Mr H. E. Holland, Labour leader, addressed a large gathering at the Operahouse last night in support of Mr James O’Brien. Labour candidate for Westland. Mr William Jeffries (county chairman) presided. Air Holland spoke for two hours, making a strong appeal for the support of Labour, criticising the actions of both the Reform and Liberal Parties. He was accorded an attentive hearing, with a vote of thanks at the conclusion of his address. DUNEDIN NORTH. Another very successful meeting was held by Air J. J. Clark at St. Leonards last evening, when ; the hall was filled. The chair was occupied bv Mr A. Struthers, who introduced the candidate. Air Clark, who received an ovation on rising to speak, gave an interesting and striking speech, in'which he expressed his views on very many questions which are prominently before the public at the -present time. He dealt with the question of Legislative Council reform, and also gave an interesting resume on the financial position. He also explained the principles underlying taxation and suggested various alterations in the incidence. The candidate strongly supported the Arbitration Court, and emphasised the necessity of its awards being adhered to by all parties 'concerned. A cordial hearing was accorded the candidate, who afterwards answered a considerable number of questions. A motion of thanks was carried with enthusiasm. DUNEDIN WEST. Air C. M. Aloss, Labour candidate for -Dunedin West, addressed the electors at the Mission Hall, Russell street, last night. Air APDonnell presided over an attendance of. 80 people. The candidate dealt with Customs and taxation in relation to industry, . pointing out that the policy of the Government in having power to raise off all Customs tariffs has a tendency to stop investments in industry. Air Aloss criticised, the land policy of the Government, stating that it had decreased production, which had reflected itself on the railways and secondary industries. He contended that it was only by the adoption of the Labour Party’s land policy that production would be increased; therefore it was in the interest of the manufacturer to support the Labour candidates. The speaker dealt with the platform, of the Labour Party, and explained that the party s platform would be put in operation by the principles of extending State ownership, etc. The candidate answered a number of questions dealing with indentured labour and land speculation. He was accorded-a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. DUNEDIN SOUTH. Air J. E. AlaoMamis, the Labour candidate lor the Dunedin South seat, addressed a meeting in the St. Kilda Coronation Hall last evening. Mr R. W. Hall occupied the chair, and there were about 80 people present. Dealing with defence matters, the candidate said (hat to' think that no army would moan no more war was just as senseless as td assert that if they had ho unions they-would have no strikes. That was the attitude ho took up, and ho had made his attitude clear to the Labour Party, Nevertheless he considered that the compulsory military service system could very well bo scrapped. Continuing, the candidate said that Air Sidey had given as his reason for voting for the second reading of (ho Public Expenditure Reduction Bill that he desired to reduce the wages of the highest paid civil , servants. By that means only, he claimed, could his desire, be given effect to. Well, in 1920 124 of the front rank of the railway employees received £77,110 , and in 1922 they received £76;999 —a reduction of 17s lid each man per year. But the men on the bottom rungs had had their wages reduced by 10s per week. The workers in the dominion had had their wages reduced by £7,000,000 per annum in all, and on the other hand their burdens had been added to by the fact that the Customs duties since 1918 had been increased by no less a sum than £1,952,951. As regards the statements of the press that the land policy of the labour Party meant the confiscation of the people's properties, he wanted to say that the press was taking advantage of a badly drafted clause. Ho did not consider himself pledged to anything so absurd as that. It was only n blind on the part of the press to divert attention from the awful land scandals of the present Government. He claimed that the' Labour Party was the only parly that had come forward with a constructive policy. The Otago Daily Times said: “Look at Australia—she has boon ruined by the Labour Parly.” Well, they looked at Australia and found that a Labour Ministry had turned a balance on the wrong side when it took office into a hamhomc credit 1 the ond of three years. The Ministry had also during that time started (he Commonwealth Navy —the navy which was there to defend'Australia and also Now. Zealand against the Gormans. The men who had boon responsible for the building up of this navy were to-day in some quarters branded as disloyal. The total public and private indebtedness of Now Zealand was about £557,000,900, and some £50.000,000 per annum was required- for interest. ' It was the wealthy men and the wealthy institutions which received most of that interest, and yet the Massey Government had granted a handsome rebate as regards the taxation imposed on those wealthy concerns. A vote of thanks to and confidence in the candidate wag carried unanimously. DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Air J. Gilchrist addressed about 100 worker's in Burt’s foundry. Cumberland street, at noon yesterday, the attendance coming from different works in the neighbourhood, and received a sympathetic hearing. Last night Air Gilchrist spoke to about 70 persons in the Presbyterian Church Hall at Kensington. Air J. _ S. Loydall was in the chair. Following largely oh iho lines of previous addresses. Air Gilchrist elaborated various planks in the Labour parly’s platform, and called attention to (ho work done in Parliament by the Labour party, which was very watchful of the interests of the people of Now Zealand. Tie referred particularly to the action of the Labour parly in regard to the Public Expenditure Adjustment Bill, the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Bill, and the Customs Duties Bill. The Labour, party had put up a good fight for nurses in private hospitals, who were at present being sweated; many of them wore paid very low wages. He mentioned other matters for which the Labour party had'-contended, though in some cases with little success. After speaking for close on two hours and answering some questions. Air Gilchrist was • accorded ■ a unanimous 'vote of thunks and confidence. Cheers were given for Labour and lor Air Holland. Air W. S. Alaslin, Independent Liberal candidate, addressed about .100 electors in the High Street School lust evening. The chair was occupied by Air Caldwell, who referred to the oner getic manner in which Air Ma'slih was prosecuting his election campaign. Mr Alaslin. on rising to speak, was greeted with applause, and spoke for nearly two hours on the chief political questions of the day. While dealing with the licensing question ho stated that he is and always had been a staunch Prohibitionist and an ardent worker for the cause of uplifting'of humanity. The candidate

was given a very attentive hearing throughout, and after answering questions was, at the call of one of the audience, accorded three hearty cheers. Mr Maslin received a unanimous vole of thanks. CHALMERS. , Mr J. Stephens, Labour candidate for Chalmers, has addressed good meetings during the week at Karitanc, Warrington, and Waitati. Speaking at Waitati to a largo audience Mr Stephens stated that the land policy of the Labour party was for keeping the people in their own homes rather than putting them out of their homes, or having them rackrentod by mortgagees. l ( or this reason surveillance by the State of transfers is insisted upon. With regard to the glowing account in the Otago Daily Times as to the prospects of the Reform party in the North Island, the candidate stated that as a strong opposition was vital to good government, every opportunity should be taken in the South to return a member of the Opposition. Cordial votes of thanks to the candidate and the chatrman, the Rev. J. C. Jameson, concluded the meeting.

TO-DAY’S MEETINGS. Wingatui.—Mr T. K. Sidey. Albany Street. —Hon, W. Downie Stewart. Balclutha.—Mr J. Edie. Henley, Mil burn.—Mr J. Stephens. Pembroke.—Mr J. Horn. Glondhu, Maungawera, Hawea Flat. —Mr J. Ritchie. Warrington.—Mr J. M. Dickson. Wakari,—Mr J. J. Clark. Moeraki, Karligi.—Mr J. A. Macphereon. Caversham.—Mr C. E'. Statham. Shag Point, Hillgrove.—Hon. E. P. Lee. Sawyers’ Bay.—Mr J. W. Munro. Moruington.—Mr J. Gilchrist. St. Clair.—Mr J. E. MacManue. .