CANDIDATES' TRIALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18858, 8 November 1935, Page 14

CANDIDATES' TRIALS

TOURING DIFFICULTIES BAY OF PLENTY SEAT MR. HARKER'S CAMPAIGN (Special to the Herald.) OPOTIKI, this day. The experiences of old-time electioneering were recalled for some of the older settlers of the Bay of Plenty, eastward of Opotiki, when Air. 11. L. Harker, Democrat candidate for the electorate, undertook, despite very unfavorable weather, to complete his speaking engagements along the coast. At one stage ho was forced to secure transport by bullock-wagon, this being on the occasion of his visit to Raukokore last evening, half the journey to the coastal settlement having to be made by this antiquated but still certain means of transport. At Te.Kaha on Wednesday evening, Mr. Harker addressed a representative gathering of settlers, with Mr. A. V. .Rowland in the chair. He dealt with the Democrat platform at length, and also referred to the effects of the legislation passed by the present Government, which he declared to have been most detrimental to the prospects of the Dominion. At the close of his address, Mr. Harker was accorded a vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr. 11. Drake, who commented on the open manner in which the candidate had dealt with the political situation and his evident, grasp of the questions which are at present uppermost in the minds of the electors.

Last evening the Raukokore meetingplace was well filled, the gathering being a largo one, and Mr. Harker being warmly greeted, it being recognised that he had undertaken a strenuous journey to keep his engagement there. Mr. J. S. W. Neilson was in the chair, and the Democrat candidate was given an attentive hearing as ho outlined his party's policy and answered with spirit the criticism of his opponents. Mr. Harker made a special point of tourist trade development, which, he said, had been sadly neglected by the present Government and its predecessors in "bffice. He declared that the tourist trade could be built into a most valuable asset, and stressed-the neglect cf the East Coast and Bay of Plenty district in connection with tl'O exploitation of natural resources for the entertainment of visitors. Even with such strong representation in the House as had been afforded by Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P., the district had not had proper recognition, Mr. Harker stated, and the only way to secure an improvement was to effect a change of Government. At the close of Mr. Harkpr's speech, Mr. Neilson moved a vote, of thanks to the candidate, stating that he had never heard a more interesting address, his sentiments being endorsed by acclamation from the audience. MR. MERRY'S CAMPAIGN TAHUNGA AND TE KARAKA In continuation of his campaign, Mr. J. T. Merry, the National Government candidate for the Bay of Plenty seirt, addressed two meetings yesterday, at

Tahunga and Te Karaka. At the meeting in the afternoon at the. Tahunga schoolroom, Mr. G. Hamilton Mo rice was in the chair, and, despite the heavy rain, there was a good attendance. In his address Mr. Merry dealt with the National Government Party and its policy. In moving a voto of thanks to the candidate, Mr. E. 11. Baker said that what the people required to-day was sound and stable government, and, therefore, it was essential that the electors should return the Nationalists to power again. The motion was carried with acclamation, and a vote of thanks to the chair was heartily accorded. Despite the exceedingly bad weather, there was an audience of at least 50 to greet Mr. Merry on his first public appearance at Te Karaka during his election campaign. The chair was taken by Mr. R. Scott, and the candidate received a cordial hearing from the audience. The candidate dealt first with the steps which had been taken by the Government to meet the abnormal position brought about by the slump, and indicated what would have been the position if these steps had not been taken. He then dealt with the various planksi in the Labor Party's programme, especially the fixing of prices; he declared that it could only be carried out at the expense of those whom it was intended to benefit unless inflation of currency were resorted to. The candidate said that a policy of inflation could end only in disaster. Mr. Morry went on to state that the policy of file Democrats was very similar to that of Labor, except that they promised more and that the fulfilment cf their pledges would , cost the country £34,000,006, in addition to its present Budget, which would cake their promise of reduced taxation impossible unless recourse was had lo borrowing on a large scale, which also could end only in bankruptcy. A number of questions were answered by the candidate, who, in replying, stated definitely that he would give every siipport to the completion of the East Coast railway if it could be shown that the line would pay working costs without the inclusion of interest on the capital cost. He favored the completion of the line as a work to employ as many of the able-bodied unemployed as possible. In reply to another question. Mr. Merry stated he was in favor cf conscription of manhood in the event cf war, but not conscription of capital, which could be dealt with by other means. Mr. F. Hobbs moved a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate, which was carried with applause, and the meeting concluded with a voto of thanks to the chairman. DEMOCRAT LEADER'S TOUR OPOTTTvI TO-NTGHT Considerable interest is being evinced throughout the electorate in the visit to the Bay of Plenty of Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, leader of the Democrat Party. Mr. H. L. Harker, the party candidate for this electorate, left Opotiki this morning to meet Mr. Hislop between Rotorua and Whakatane. The Democrat leader was to have spoken this afternoon at Whakatane, and is to address the electors of Opotiki and the surrounding district this evening. To-morrow he will leave for that portion of the electorate over the ranges in Poverty Bay, and will pause en route to speak at Wairata in the afternoon; he will speak at Te Karaka to-morrow evening, spending the week-end in-Gis-borne, and then, proceeding to Tokomaru

Bay on Monday. He will have made five addresses in the Bay of Plenty electorate by Tuesday, when he will continue his tour southward.