POLITICAL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 1 November 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL.

THE PATEA SEAT. MR CORRIGAN AT PATEA. Mr J. R.- Corrigan, the Liberal - Labour candidate for the Patea seat addressed the electors in the Town Hall on Tuesday night, Mr F. W. Grainger Deputy Mayor presiding. There was a good attendance of the general public including a large number of ladies. Mr Grainger in opening the meeting apologised for tho unavoidable absence tlirough illness of His Worship the Mayor and asked those jn'esent to give Mr Corrigan a patient hearing. Tho candidate, Mr Grainger said, was well known to most of them through Mi connection with the dairying industry. He would ask them to give Mr Corrigan a fair and impartial hearing. Air Corrigan, who was received with •■.ppk'use, delivered an address lasting about an. iiou’- on lines similar to those delivered at Hawors. and Kakaramea and already reported in the “Press."

At the conclusion of his address Air Corrigan intimated that he would bo pleased to answer any question put to him. QUESTIONS. Air H. E. Deane asked if Air Corrigan had the figures at which Alessrs Price Bros, had supplied engines To New Zealaud. Air Corrigan said on® of Mr Price's men told him they would supply them for £13,000. In reply to a question about.. rural banks Air Corrigan said the cost of renewing mortgages came to about 1 per c-nt more than the amount paid. The money from the banks would go to pay off tho mortgages. • Mr A. T. Christensen: Ig Air Corrigan in favour of an alteration in -the present electoral law that allows a minority to rule the country. Air Corrigan." YTS’. I think there should be a system of preferential voting similar to the points prizes awarded at a show. For example, if there were ,10 candidates the elector could give 10 points to his first choice, 9 t£> his second,, S t 6 his third and so on. I do not believe in the grouping. of' (.lactates under proportional representation. I have looked into the:matter of proportional representation jand. must confess I do not undertsand)ifc. Mr M. Carey: Don't you think we had majority rule when We had the second ballot?

Mr''o6'rfigan: It was better than what we have at present. l Mr Massey promised us something better but lie has been 10 years in power and has given us nothing in exchange. In reply to a further question from Air Carey, Mr Corrigan .said be could see nothing wrong, with. thg second ballot. He would in'fact prefer it to the system ‘at present in vogue. Mr Deane asked ii;- Mr Corrigan could give him particuldi'3 about Sir Donald Elliott.. . % Mr Corrigan: it was tho firm of Carmthers, 'Elliott and Co. who got £34,000 for inspecting etc., tendered for. The other Mr Elliott mixed up in the cement business bad been elevated to the position of Government nominee on the Bank of Now Zealand.

Air P. Elliott asked if Mr Corrigan would read an extract from tbe paper showing- what Mr Elliott- had received for inspecting machinery, etc. Air Corrigan read the extract referred to showing the amounts Sir D. Elliott had been paid. In reply to a further question wit'h regard to returned soldiers loan© Mr Corrigan said: “I maintain it was the Government's duty as soon as the slump came >to cut the returned soldiers' losses and not put the men off the land. It was up to the Government to offer the land back to them at a reasonable figure and not have them their serfs for the rest of their lives. In reply to Mr Elliott, Mr Corrigan said the road to Moeawatea was not metalled. When he got out there be was more like a papa man tbau anything else. There being no further questions Mr Murphy moved that a hearty vote of thanks bo accorded Air Corrigan for Ms interesting address. This was seconded by Mr A. T. Christenson and carried with acclamation. A vote of thanks ,o Mr Grainger for presiding concluded the meeting.