MANY QUESTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22720, 5 November 1935, Page 7

MANY QUESTIONS

MR FORBES UNDER FIRE REPLIES COME PROMPTLY Questions were many and varied when, at the end of his opening election campaign speech at Hanmer Springs the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, invited members of the audience to ask him what they, would. Most of the inquiries pertinent (says the Christchurch StarSun), and the audience generally was well satisfied with Mr Forbes’s replies. When on election tours in other parts of the country the Prime Minister does not answer questions; but last night he was in the position of a candidate in his own electorate seeking once again the confidence of his constituents, and the audienc had the traditional privilege. The first questioner wanted to know whether Mr Forbes was in favour of operation on Post Office Savings Bank accounts by means of cheques, and was informed that the matter had been fully considered and the present system deemed most satisfactory. Mr Forbes would, he answered another questioner, be pleased to investigate any complaint regarding the water and electric light costs and services in Hanmer. “ Do you favour the extension of the Coleridge power supply from Hawarden to Hanmer?” was the next question. “ That,” replied the Prime Minister, “ depends on whether there are enough consumers in Hanmer to meet the cost of the extensions of the poles and wires.” THE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS. The next person to rise to his feet brought up the vexed question of the admittance to primary schools of five-year-old children. Mr Forbes said that the question would be gone into thoroughly with other educational matters when the Director of Education returned to New Zealand after his trip to England. He would be reporting on investigations he was undertaking, and there w T Ould be several phases of the system under inquiry. “ Personally,” said Mr Forbes, “ I am inclined to think that the five-year-olds would be better out playing in the sun than cooped up in a classroom.” “ Would you . be Prime Minister again if the National Party is returned?” asked a courageous soul, and Mr Forbes smiled. “ That,” he answered, “is a pretty difficult question. The job is a hard one, but I will carry on as long as I can. I would never run away from it. There are many complaints, so many that sometimes I think that I have not a friend in New Zealand; but I do not turn back when once I have undertaken a task.” “ You are going back, George,” called an enthusiastic supporter from the front row. Mr Forbes was then asked whether, in the event of Great Britain and New Zealand being embroiled in another war, he would be in favour of conscription. NO NEED FOR CONSCRIPTION. That question, was the reply, did not yet arise. It was extremely unlikely that New Zealand would be involved in a war. However, the speaker was of the opinion that if the need arose there would be plenty of volunteers from New Zealand, and there would not be any need for conscription. Then Mr Forbes was asked whether the National Party was in favour of a 40-hour working week. “ I presume you mean 40 hours’ work for 44 hours’ wages?” asked the Prime Minister, and received an affirmative reply. “That matter,” he went on, “is one for industry, and will be the matter of consultation in forthcoming consideration of measures to get men back .into employment. If, the industries cannot stand such an arrangement, then it cannot came into force.” The next member of the audience made a challenge rather than an inquiry. “ Only a small proportion of the people,” he said, “ have had any benefit from the increased exchange rate.”

He was told that if the farmer did not do well no one could do well—least of all the labourer. BUTTER PRICES.

The New Zealand butter market in London, said Mr Forbes in answer to another query, had benefited by a considerable rise in price, as Germany was taking more Danish butter, thus casing the London supply. “ Will the National Party stop taking the motorists’ money for the Consolidated Fund? ” he was asked. Mr Forbes: The first claim on any revenue is that of the Consolidated Fund, which must be kept in a satisfactory position. There can be no cause for complaint about the way the roads have been maintained in recent years, and about the constructive programme which is outlined for the next few years.

A voice from the back wanted to know whether the nine shillings a day for relief workers in camps was going to stay, or whether it would be reduced again after the election. “ That,” said Mr Forbgs, “ has nothing to do with the election. It will stay.”