THE POLITICAL CONTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 8

THE POLITICAL CONTEST

ELECTION NOTES. A pastoral atmosphere, so to speak, was apparent at the commencement of Mr Kitchener's address at Ranfurly on Monday niglit; when one of the audience interrupted the speaker by saying, “I’ll put those dogs out,” He then coolly walked out of the Kail and drove some barking dogs off t,he section. “It will bo noticed,” said Mr J. Gilchrist at Carroll street last evening, “that the Wizard of>. Finance, Sir Joseph Ward, has inadvertently contradicted in some measure the figures supplied by the lion. Dowme Sttwarf. I leave them to light it out."

“The old way was for the member to eomo along and say; ‘Look here, if you don’t complete this railway or build that road ” remarked the Prime Minister at Ohaeawai last night, “but to-day so far as public works are concerned we have olimina't.qd political control.- We have to make Up, .out minds now that a tiling is going to,(pay, and is going to give satisfaction.”

The Government had appointed the President of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union as one of the delegates to go abroad to investigate the matter of agricultural banks, and by tho time they return the elections would be well over (remarked Mr R. Coulter, National candidate for Tanranga). when addressing a meeting of electors. The delegation he thought unnecessary as agricultural banks had passed the experimental stage and had proved a tremendous success wherever o.stablished. There had not yet been a single failure and yet the Government had appointed a commission to see if it were suitable for Now Zealand. But why had net the Government appointed that commission three years ago? If his opponent were asked his attitude on the matter of agricultural banks it would be found he was not quite sure where he stood on tho matter. He was waiting to see which way the cat jumped.

The Hon. Downic Stewart is the cleverest of our opponents. He shows his astuteness when criticising the Labour Party’s remarks regarding the increase in the rate of Customs taxation by leaving out the figures in relation to this subject prior to 1021, which the Labour Party used as a basis for its criticism of the Reform Administration. Our figures were from 1018 to 1023. His arc from 1021.—Mr J. Gilchrist at Carroll street last evening.

In a blunt, whole-hearted condemnation of the “usehold,” the Prime Minister, who was addressing a gathering of over 100 people at* the public works camp at Pukehuia, described the Labour ideas as a desire to be tiddly winking with matters which were not the functions of the Government at all. “There is all this talk of taking over your property at valuation, but I don’t think you will stand for it. You aie entitled to sell your house to whom you like, and for as much you like. If you cannot soil your cow for £lO, because the State says its value is £5, I don’t think that will he much good to you.—(Applause.) It would bo no good to mo.”

Those candidates whose electorates do not, necessitate their travelling far from a central point to address meetings may be accounted lucky when the position of the country candidate is considered. The two candidates for tho Waitaki seat, for instance, have to address meetings at townships as wide apart as the “back” of Timaru (South Canterbury) and Oturehna (Central Otago)—a rather remarkable boundary arrangement, .

Mr Downie Stewart said Mr J. E. MacManus, when speaking at the Musselburgh School last- evening, had overlooked the fact that in the first years of its existence the Commonwealth Bank lent money direct to the primary producer. The antiLabour Government had made it function as a foster-mother to the Associated Banks and had diverted £17,000,000 to the channels of financial institutions, which in turn, at higher rates, accommodated clients, thus subverting the policy of Labour.

Mr Holland is a Sqcailist and friend of tho Russian revolution and Bolshevist Russia, He had said that Russia had made the greatest advance in history, and he still thought that, the revolution > was justified. Tic also considered that Trotsky should be admitted to the Dominion as a desirable citizen. But at present the Russians were greater serfs than in tho times cf tho Tsar. It was a negation of democracy, yet Mr Holland would justify the revolution as the greatest advance the world had ever known. Mr Holland favoured class war and the usebold land tenure—which was a bare-faced theft of property.--Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, at Henderson.

“He called me ‘Ted,’ ” Mr E. J. Howard, Labour candidate for Christchurch South, told his audience at Spreydon. “We’re on quite good terms. I haven’t yet called him Gordon, but I expect to get to that during the next session. That ‘ad.’ with his picture in tho papers is not a good picture. Really, he’s much better looking than that”’

Tlie appearance of Mr J. J. M'Grath as a, National candidate in the Wellington North electorate (says our correspondent) is complicating tho position, and there seems to bo a consensus of opinion that through ♦he triangular contest there will be more than a chance that the seat may bo won for Labour. The one thing certain is that Mr M'Grath cannot win. Indeed, it is more than likely that he will be at the bottom of the poll. As the Reformers had decided not to oppose Mr Wilford for Hutt i| was generally understood that the Nationalists would leave Sir John Luke a clear run in Wellington North, but it is now evident that there is to be no quid pro quo.

An apt definition of the Labour leader, Mr H. E, Holland, was given by Mr James Parr at Avondale in answering accusations that he was making persona! attacks on Mr Holland. “Personally.” said Sir James Parr, “X am quite friendly with Mr Holland Fie is an able man, whoso politics would ruin the country.”

“Did you see the picture in the papers yesterday?” asked Mr K. Harrison, Ijnbour candidate for Dunedin West, when addressing a meeting in Smith’s Hall last evening. “Never was there a greater or a baser lie than that contained in the picture which shows the Russian Soviet at the back of the New Zealand Labour Party, and suggests that gold from Russia lias been received by the Labour Party. Anybody who drew such a picture must think rhat the •■•orl-'-rv are -,f ■ (-.a gence.” Tho speaker defied nay man to show that he had ever been a' traitor to bis country, and added that because the workers wanted to have a say , in making the laws of the country, they were blackened by having such imputations cast at the,m as were contained in tho pictures that had appeared in the newspapers.

Tho duty of leaving no stone unturned in providing 1 for New Zealand tho kind of Government so good a country deserves was impressed on the electors whom the Prime Minister addressed at Kaikohe yesterday morning. “It is a matter of vital importance who should govern the country,” said Mi- Coates, ‘‘and the whole thing is in tho bands of the people. Each and everyone has a duty to the State. _On November 4 you have to make a decision as to what is best in the interests of the country. Tbeye is no half-wav house about it. Wo tried our best to bring about a settlement between the different parties, but the attempt failed. No body of men were more sincere than those representing the Government when tho negotiations were under consideration. The question is whether_ you want a strong Government with initiation and true perspective. II: is impossible to have a good Government if you are going to have sectional groups. W'e believe in a Government that is going to govern and not in one that is going to be swayed about by sections. We want .strength and duration of government, and anything short of that wilt be unsuitable to the people of New Zealand.”

“If you think Sir John Luke has a better chance of beating the Labour man then vote for him,” said Mr J. J. M'Grath, the Independent-National candidate, at Kelburn. “But if you think I have a better chance, and I believe I have ” A Voice: “Never on your life!” Another Voice •'Buckley’s!” Mr M'Grath: “Duty demands you to cast your vote in my favour.” A Voice; “Certainly, dear.”—(Laughter.) Mr M'Grath: "Torn Young told me that I had settled his man. He is a pretty good .iudge—he has been able to keep down a fairly solid job down there for some year*.”—(Laughter.)

The combination of workers, professional and otherwise, into societies for their protection and benefit, was mentioned by Mr j, W. Yarnalb Labour candidate for Eosi

kill, on Saturday evening when speaking on the growth of the trade union movement. Even lawycr/v he said, had their law society, doctoiP.J and dentists their associations, whUs "journalists had formed a union which \vtj resulted in higher pay and shorter hourOTor them. “Last but not least,” continued the candidate, “it is whispered that even the clergy are forming a trade union.” —(Laughter.)

They wanted to sec more co-operation among their legislators, so that the country might be governed by the best brands that were in it, and by men who would place the interests of their country above those of any party. He hoped that after this election the way would be cleared for a proper understanding, and that there would be a co-operation of men of moderate and progressive thought.—Mr Rolleston, Government candidate for Timaru.

“Let me warn you about people who will cut down defence,” said the Prime Minister in a speech at Pukehuia Camp. “I have never seen a man worth ‘tuppence’ who would not fight for his rights, and there is no nation worth ‘tuppence’ which will not stand for its rights. At the same time as we are attending to the necessary defence, wo shall do our part towards peace. The time for relying on peace being anything like permanent is not yet, and wo shall have to have some form of defence. Extravagance in regard to defence would be fatal. In regard to naval defence New Zealand will do all it can to make provision so that, in the event of trouble we can protect our trade routes. We have to get our products to the markets of the world.”

Tho head of tho British Seamen’s Union did not approve of the strike, which was started by a minority. The present feeling of unrest was fed by a Communist and Bolshevist element, which was out to wreck tho Empire.—Mr Glenn, Government candidate for Rangilikei.

The non-arrival of the caretaker of Smith’s Hall in Hanover street was responsible for a more or less interesting commotion prior to tho commencement of Mr R Harrison’s meeting last evening. A fair crowd had assembled outside the hall at 8 o’clock, nut as the minutes slipped by and no caretaker appeared the people became restive. A possible migration was temporarily checked by an appeal made on behalf of (he Labour candidate for Dunedin West, but at 8.20 p in. tho doors of the hall remained closed and the meeting appeared to be doomed. Mr Harrison's party was still more disheartened by the emptyhanded arrival of one who had been searching for the caretaker, and the candidate advanced to declare tho meeting off. Cries of “Why didn’t you make thorough arrangements?” and “You are not up-to-date —we want an up-todate member,” greeted his apologies, while a wordy argument commenced on tho road between self-appointed representatives of the would-bo audience and Mr Harrison’s supporters. In the meantime someone slipped up the right-of-tvay besides the hall. How and where he entered is a mystery, but at the critical moment tho door flew open. The situation was raved and quite a large audience flocked in o the hall to hear Mr Harrison.

Strong exception to the personal references to Sir James Parr, made by a Labour candidate at a recent meeting, was taken by Mr James Stewart, Government candidate for Auckland Bast, in his opening speech. Many statements, he said, had been made during the campaign, mainly concerning Sir James Parr, which wore most disparaging and disgraceful. Statements of a similar kind were checked on tho floor of the House, and the member who made them was told not to repeat them. If statements of that kind were not fit to repeat in the House of Representatives, the speaker contended they were not fit to repeat to the electors. Mr Stewart continued : “To refer to any gentleman having the educational attainments of Sir James Parr in the way he has been referred to is, in my mind, only an indication of what we can expect if Labour ever reaches the Treasury benches of this Dominion.”

“I want you to look out every case of a returned soldier who may have suffered a» a result of his services at the war, and to do your best to see that he receives the treatment he is entitled to,”- saicKthe Prime Minister when unveiling a war memorial at Dargaville. “There are some cases it is difficult for the Government to help. Let us know about any cases that may not be met in the ordinary way. There are cases of hardship that we may not bo aware of. It is your job and mine to see that these men are cared for. It is usual to leave the matter to the Government, but how can we find out if someone does not let us know Don't be discouraged if you do not get immediate satisfaction. Keep at it, even If yon do find some difficulties with the departmental officers or others, and if the worst comes to the worst see rue and I will do all I can. I have not cot control of the funds for these purposes. They are all in the hands of boards, hut so far as I am able I am only too willing to help in seeing that everything possible is done to give the returned men some measure of satisfaction.”

“As far as the Hawke's Bay seat is concerned, there are only two candidates standing. One is a ‘Nationalised’ Scotchman, and the other a ‘Reformed’ Scotchman, so I am sure we will have here the cleanest fought contest in the Dominion,” remarked the Mayor (Mr G A. Maddison) at Mr Gilbert M'Kay’s meeting in Hastings.

“We do not stand for Empire,” declared Mr Rogers at a meeting at Wanganui in reply to a question as to what would bo Labour’s attitude in tho event of war between Britain and Japan.

The story that the Hon. A. D. M'Leod was responsible for the failure of the fusion negotiations was badly winged by the Prime Minister at Ohaeawai on Monday night. “Probably,” he said, “no one knows more about the negotiations than I clo, and I tell you that Mr M|Leod had no more to do with the breaking off of the fusion negotiations than I had. If you are going to blame anyone, blame me, as I could not see my way to reconstruct immediately."

Do coining events cast their shadows before them? Mr J. J. M'Grath, the In-dependent-National candidate for Wellington North, inclines to the belief that sometimes thov do. He told a meeting of electors at Kclburn that during the day he had received a letter addressed “Mr J. J. M'Grath. M.P.” It was a communication from the Commercial Travellers’ Club, and tho postman appeared to have no difficulty in finding tho owner.— (Laughter.) The candidate believed that the writer of the letter was one of the best prognosticators the country had seen.

If tho people wanted Mr Coates as a leader they would have strongly to support ids followers. A leader without support behind him was useless. Mr Coates had proved himself an able man, and his leadership would result in progress and caution. There was none of the old Tory ideas about their present leader; in fact, it was peculiar that tho Liberals themselves wore nowtaking the place of the old Conservative Vartv*. —Mr O. J. Hawken, Government candidate for Tgmont. at Warewa.

Spqakine of railways and public works, the Hon. Mr Coates, in the of his address at Ohae.iTv.ai, elnimed that great im. provemonts had been made of late. "It may have cost the country a hit for commissions and so on," said the Prime Minister. "I don't care about that, so long as I can Rive service. It is service the peop!o want, and for service they have to pa_>."