THE CLUTHA ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22738, 26 November 1935, Page 8

THE CLUTHA ELECTION

TO THE EDlTOit

Sir, —Having listened to Mr Cox's address in this township last night, 1 now wish to challenge some of his statements which I assert were fallacious, extravagant, and arrogant, particularly in regard 1o Catlins district. After describing to the meeting the comfortable journey he had in the express train from Dunedin to Balclutha. he went on to criticise everything connected with the branch train. "It took us,two hours to get to Owaka, he said. The following is extracted from the railway time table:—"Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday—Balclutha depart 10.30 a.m., Owaka arrive 11.50 a.m.; Thursday—goods train with car attached, Balclutha depart 1.15, Owaka arrive 2.46: Tuesdav and Friday—Balclutha depart 6.30 p.m., Owaka arrive 7.40 p.m. The train ran fairly well to time. If Mr Cox transferred from the express to the branch train it was not the Thursdays goods train in which he travelled in. If an accident delayed the train for 40 minutes the statement was iallacioiw in that it was delivered in puch a : manner as. to convey to his hearers the impression, that two hours were the usual'time. His, criticism of this fact wii* ;most- extravagant. Amongst other things he said' it was not even fit for days to ride in. .The foot warmers, he said, were "cold and' some one told him that they had hot been ' heated • since last Christinas. E Mr Cox stated that on account of his public criticism of the train in Owaka, the department immediately arranged by telephone for a better carriage to be put on for him. When he travelled from Tahakopa in the morning train in the new carriage the foot warmer had been heated and one was placed specially for him. Then, he said, that through getting this improvement he reckoned he had done more for Catlins than the Prime Minister ever did.

I have no doubt that the foot-warmers are usually heated for the train on a winter's morning, whether Mr Cox is a passenger or not. I wonder whether the carriage referred to was a stranger to the Catlins line or whether his remarks regarding them were on a par with that relating to the time taken, on the journey from Balclutha to Owaka. Mr Cox told us that the farmers _m Owaka district live in an appalling poverty that was a disgrace to the present Government, and that he was told by a settler that none of them made more than £IOO per year off his farm. I say that Catlins is a good district and that there is very little actual poverty in it, and that the financial position of the farmers there will compare favourably with that of■: farmers in any part of Otago and Southland. I say further that a man who would condemn a district, as Mr Cox did the Catlins district last night, is not the man to represent that district in Parliament _ ~.. Referring to the fires at Catlins, Mr Cox told us that the settlers had lost their homes, their stock, and their grass. I say that fires in that district oh October 2 were extensive and serious and on that night they were' a wonderful and fearsome sight. The whole country appeared to be alight. Hills in the darkness looked like mountains of .molten metal. All the logs, stumps, etc., -that litter the ground in the bush country were alight. A howling gale scattered sparks like hailshowers for long distance. I also say very little of the grass in- the paddock was burned, and by daylight on October 3 there was very little evidence of an extensive fire having raged a few hours before. The paddocks were still green except for a few inches round the charred stumps and logs, and there were small black patches where • these had been completely burned out/ The settlers had for 24 hours a very strenuous time. A good many lpst outbuildings; very few lost their, homes; some lost stock; a great many suffered from the, effect of smoke in the eyes—some for a day or two, a few for a week or two. An enormous amount nf waste timber and second growth was demolished, and much of the rough country has been euhanced in value. I assert that Mr Cox never saw a block 10 acres in extent on which the grass had been destroyed. I have proceeded over a great part of the district since October 3 and have not \ seen an unbroken area of one acre on which the grass has been destroyed, 'There is as much grass in- Catlins to-day as there would have been if the fire had never occurred. Next year there will be'grass growing on land that, but for the fires, would still be buried in fallen timber and undergrowth. I venture this estimate that the number of farm dwellings destroyed in Catlins district will not exceed three or four. The total value of live stock destroyed by fire throughout the district will not exceed £SOO.

Why and whence Mr Cox's pathetic picture of-the state of the district? Mr Cox must have forgotten what he told us at his previous meeting here 'regarding' the 'issue of bank notes. 1 At his' first meeting here he was very definite about this when referring to the method of financing a possible loss on produce. What lie said at that- meeting was that so many Reserve Bank notes 1 -~- 1 been issued and if the Labour Party required money to finance its scheme it would cause the bank to issue more. Having listened, an impartial voter, to the views of candidates and party leaders, I now sum up: —From the Prime Minister and Mr Adam Hamilton I have heard about the difficult times through which we have passed and about how they have been met and overcome to a great extent. Both stated their case in a clear and gentlemanly manner. Their criticism of opponents was fair and without venom. From Mr Roy I have heard an address not of what he ba s done and in which he made no extravagant promises. We have his assurance that he will support the present Government in any reasonable measure. From Mr Cox I have heard an address of which for its fallaciousness, venom, and arrogance I have never heard the equal. He expounded a new and peculiar scheme of finance that, as it appears to me, will have the effect of increasing taxation or robbing the dairy farmers of (lie benefits that should come to them with the swing ; to the" higher prices that always have; come, and now appear to be again coming, after a period of depression. I know Ave have had a hard time and have complained a great deal. I also know that Xew Zealand has come through the depression as well as most countries and better than sonic. I know that our pound is worth only about 15s in England, and I also know that an English pound is worth about 25.< here, and that we don't export bank notes. I know that finances, national and private, are in a better condition than they were two years ago, and that the prospects are fair. Should I cast away what I have and grasp the shadow? —I am, etc.. W. H. Smith. Clinton, November 24.