A LIBERAL RALLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 7

A LIBERAL RALLY.

GATHERING AT OAMARU.

MR J. A. MACPHERSON HONOURED.

(Special to the Times,) OAMARU, May 28. There was a very largo attendance in the Opera House to-night, when a Liberal rally was held, the whole of the seating accommodation being taken up. The Mayor (Mr M'Diarmid) presided, ai.d seats on the platform were occupied bv Mr J. A. Macpherson, M.P. (Oamaru), Mrs Macpherson, Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P.. Leader oi the Opposition, Mrs Wilford, Mr E. A. Ransom, M.P. (Pahiatua), Mr R. Masters, M.P. (Stratford), Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P. (Dunedin South), Mr J. Horn, M.P. (Wokaitpu), Mrs Horn, Mr J. Edie, M.P. (cmtha), and Mr P. de la Perrelle, M.P. (Awansa). * The speakers were accorded a very fine reception, and at the conclusion of their addresses they were heartily cheered. The meeting may be regarded as a most successful one from a party point of view. On behalf of the citizens. Air M‘Diarniid extended a very hearty welcome to the visitors, and then called on Mr Ransom to address the audience. Air Ransom said he could scarcely express the appreciation felt by the Liberals at the splendid campaign that had been conducted in Oamaru electorate. It had been an inspiration to the party throughout New Zealand to realise that the electors of Oamaru had demonstrated that the country was ripe for a change of Government, and that the change was' that the Liberal-Labour Party should come back into office. —(Applause.) The Reforqi press had told them at the general election the electors did not act wisely, and that in electing sq. many opponents of the Government, their intention? wa| to strengthen the Opposition; but not to weaken the Government beyond a fair working majority. The Reform press had told them that if they had an opportunity of reversing their previous decision the electors would strengthen the Government and enable it to carry on. Notwithstanding the extreme efforts of the Prime Minister and his supporters, the electors of Oamaru hod demonstrated that a mistake was not made at the general election, and that the people were prepared to reaffirm their previous decision. The speaker proceeded to deal with what he termed the want of policy of the Reform Government in regard to laud settlement. Speaking at Pahiatua on the eve of the general election, Air Massey stated that the ono thing that was going to save this country was increased production. The speaker contended that the Government had not carried its theories into practice. Ho stated that the Government had neglected its opportunities of settling much of our waste land, Huge areas of which were capable of. carrying large quantities of stock if properly handled. Land which hud not been brought into production by the Government was capable of producing enormous wealth. The Government stated that it was impossible at present to take advantage of the offer made ’’ by the Imperial Government in connection with land settlement, because there was no suitable land available. la the land legislation of the future they would have to see that men were not allowed to take up land so as to secure a large measure of wealth, but that they should have an opportunity of carrying on comfortably. The present Government was mailing absolutely no use of the present lantj. legislation, which should be of so much value to the country. We wanted increased population, principally because we produced some primary products which were not finding a ' ready sale in the markets of the world.. What was required was a policy whereby immigrants could bo brought into the country, and put on out*' waste areas under conditions that would allow them to be made properly productive. The Impona' Government had promised a subsidy oi pound for pound to the extent of £3,000,C00 spread over 15 years for such a purpose, but this dominion was making no use of the) offer. • ’ Mr Masters congratulated Air Macpherson on the, excellence of his win, and the Oamaru people for fce'ng Britishers and lovers of fair and just play. Tho 'speaker proceeded to state that the interests of the Reform Party were bound by vested interests.' When produce left our country an advance on it was made by the banks: Tho banks ha‘d been charging a very high rate of interest on the surpluses, and tlu merchants had adopted a scheme whereby they could send the money back to the farming community at 150 per cent, less than the banks wore charging. The Associated Banks, decided that that iort of thing must stop, and that the money must be sent through the banks. Letters had been sent out by all the banks to _ all companies intimating that the rate of interest would be increased by i per cent, to all' dairy companies which did not have the whole of ■ their London surpluses remitted through , the banks. The companies were asked tc note that the rate on their overdraft would be increased to 7 tier cent, from Alay 1. The speaker mentioned that the Government had a preponderance of directors or the Bank of New Zealand, and yet that bank was a party to the agreement he. had referred to. Mr Massey knew all about this, and lie (Air Alasters) wanted ,to know what Air Massey was going to do about it if he represented the farming community in New Zealand. The speaker went on to say that the Bank of Now Zealand was going to show a profit of £750,000 this year. The time was not very far distant when the farmers would realise who their true friends were, and their true friends were not the vested interests of this country.—(Applause.) When the Liberal Party came into 'power there would be a State Bank, and a commenciai bank for the farmers. Mr Masters proceeded to refer to land aggregation, and stated that as a result ot this schools were being closed down. He said they must have closer settlement rather than land aggregation. Mr Masters concluded by congratulating Mr Macpherson on his glorious win, and his committee which had worked so assiduously lor him. Mr Wilford, who was recorded a remarkably cordial reception, referred to the speeches delivered by Air Ransom end Mr Alasters, both of whom were new members of Parliament, as evidence that the Liberal' Party* possessed brains. He went on to say that we had a one-man Government running the country to-day, the rest of the Cabinet being purely and absolutely atmosphere. The Prime Alinister was’ now looking for his team, and Was trying to find someone to fill the place vacated by “the second strongest Alinister.” , He could quite understand the Prime Minister’s difficulty in filling the position for while members were bidding for the position Air Alassey was faced with a difficulty ’that was more real than anything that had come before him previously. Tho Government had ignored the “square deal” which the Reform Party had promised to the people. What was the principal cause ot the trouble with the farming community and tho people in the towns? It was the shortage of money for building homes, or for increasing the productive capacity of the land. Legislation introduced by the Re-' form Party had been to the detriment of those needing assistance. The high rate of income tax in this country had had an effect on the lending institutions which was hardly realised when it was imposed. When the rate of income tax was reduced the Government, mads provision that if the companies took up local body debentures their income tax would he reduced from 7s 4d to 2s 6d in the pound. The Government had thus prevented the farmers from getting the use of that money, because no institution would lend to them under The conditions prescribed. The result was that every local body had stalled on an orgy of expenditure, because money was being thrown at it. The worst trouble in New Zealand was the want of housing at a reasonable price. . A Alinister of tho Reform Party had claimed that schools should come before houses. Tho Liberal Party was trying to get hack on the Treasury benches to continue the work which was left off in 1911. His party differed from the present Government as to what was a fair return between capital and labour. The banks were not fighting for Iqw rates of dividends. The Liberal Party was fighting for a State Bank and for an agricultural bank for farmers. The curse facing the farmer to-dav was short loans at high rates. The Reform policy to-day was a thing of shreds and patches. As Leader of the Party he held out his hand to the workers. His party hoped to carry out the work of industry honestly and fairly.— (“near, hoar,” and applause.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers amidst a scene of enthusiastic applause.