THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11930, 28 October 1919, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MR F. P. BRADY AT/MARTON. The political campaign in Rangitikei was opened last evening, when Mr F. P. Brady, the Labour candidate, addressed the electors in Marton Town Hall. Mr A. Lyon presided. There was a good audience, and the speaker was given a good hearing. He welcomed the large audience as an indication of the recurring interest that was being taken in matters political. It was now five years since they had an election, and as the war had then but lately broken out, and was consequently overshadowing all other matters very little interest was taken in politics. The strenuous five years had almost obliterated the recollection of that election. Never m the history of New Zealand had a Government been so unpopular. (Applause). A noticeable feature in connection with this campaign was the number of Labour candidates. People were beginning to realise that they wanted a party of their own —a Labour Party. And by the people he meant ail the useful citizens, small farmers, tradesmen, labourers, clerks, civil servants, etc., who were waking up to the fact that they could hope for no redress for the many grievances which they suffered under the hands of either of the two men—'Sir Joseph Ward or Mr Massey—who lead”the parties of different vested interests in New Zealand. The speaker explained his nomination as a Labour candidate, and stated it was a„, significant fact that two representatives* of Parliament at present living in the district —Messrs Newman and Smith—had not the courage to contest this seat. They recognised Labour was going to win. It was true that lately both Massey and Ward had suddenly developed an all absorbing desire to help, and were prodigious in their offers of better treatment, but although their various platforms contained many planks that they strenuously opposed when previously proposed by the Labour Party one could be excused for taking them with the proverbial grain of salt. Was anyone courageous enough to say they had received justice at the hands of the Coalition Government? Their legislation had been class legislation. There was omy one means of redress—vote for Labour. Indeed to ask that we accept this deathbed repentance of theirs as sincere after of the past five years was an insult to the intelligence of a New Zealand audience. (Hear, hear). They would recognise the same old dope that had been dished up for many years, and the only way of showing what we thought was by putting them in political obscurity. They would recognise in [.the platform of these leaders a number of planks from the Labour Party platform, consistently advocated by them to no purpose, that one might be excused tor saying that they had •caught the Labour Party in swimming and“had run off with their Clothes. These men hoped to get back on these planks which were just as good now as they were five years ago. When the Labour Party formulated this platform they should have had it copyrighted. The history of both parties was one of continued muddlemant, mismanagement and neglect; of legislation for the classes to the detriment of the masses. In the days of Ballance and Seddon Liberalism stood for what Labour does to-day. (Hear, hear). Under their regime the policy was moat democratic, and the speaker instanced the introduction of old age pensions, the L.1.P., advances to advances to settlers, State coalmines, State insurance, female franchise, etc. The uplifting of humanity then met with the opposition of Mr Massey. To-day ho advocated those measures. Unfortunately Mr Seddon died in 1906, and Liberalism in New Zealand died with him. Had he lived New Zealand would have prospered more. The leadership fell on Sir Joseph Ward, and never had a man been less fit. He was not a true democrat, and the speaker referred to his acceptance of a baronetcy. His party gradually became more and more unpopular, till finally in 1911, after a very dirty campaign on the part of the Reformers under Mr Massey, aided by the dissatisfied Labour section, he found himself in opposition. The workers of the country Wanted no titled person ; they wanted Plain Bill. They got him, and he hoped they liked it. His at -. titude towards labour soon became manifest, and the worker woke up to the fact that he had jumped out of the frying pan into the lire. The paltry electoral system was responsible for the blight"of Masseyism, He had not been long in power before the war broke out—at least, before another election, and the people of New /Zealand then had time for nothing else. An election was held in December, 1914, but little real interest was taken in it, and Massey remained in office. His majority was too small to enable him to carry on, and he appealed to the Liberal Party to form a Coalition Government. Ward and he were equally responsible for the sins of the Coalition Party, and stood condemned in the eyes of the Labour Party to day. Ward was bad, Massey worse, but a coalition of them was the limit. The speaker claimed that the people should have the right to petition Parliament on any subject and the Referendum was the means. The Labonr Party believed that members of Parliament were the servants of the public, and they should be given the sack if they did not do their duty. His party also stood for the abolition of the Legislative Council, which was useless and expensive. Democracy believed in vox populi. Members of the Upper House endeavoured to get into the Lower House and failed, and when they were in the Upper House vetoed the opinions of members of the Lower House. (Applause). The Labour Party also believed in the removal of all disabilities of women folk, and he advised the ladies not to worry about the Upper House. (Hear, hear). The Labour Party favoured the removal of the disabilities of civil servants. No one had any right to dictate how they should spend their spare time. His party would also favour the retaining of national endowments, the immediate establishing .of State banks, and State-owned shipping. The Labonr Party’s efforts in this direction had met with strong opposition. During the war State-owned ships would have resulted in the saving of millions of pounds. The U.S.S, Go, had a strangle hold on the mining companies. Twenty-five per cent, of the value of the coal went to the Union” Company. State shippin g

would relieve a lot of distress, —but no, there were too many vested interests. There should be State control of coal mines. Treat miners right, give them decent homes and the men would be more content. His party thought that the liquor question should be settled by preferential voting. Labour believed in free secular and compulsory education. A nation’s greatness depended onjthe education of its people. Every child was entitled to a free education to the University. (Hear, hear). It was impossible under present conditions for poor children had to leav e school at 14 to go to work. IS was not fair. There should be uniform school books printed by Government free of cost. The speaker believed in increased pensions. They were absolutely necessary. If the cost of living went np, pensions should go up, and he believed in perfect equality of sexes. Girls were doing the work of-boys at smaller rates of pay. He thought if they did their work efficiently they should be paid for it. The Labour Party had beencalled extremists, but ■he thought their platform extremely reasonable. They should have made their platform copyright, then political sharks would not have adopted it. Conscription should not have been imposed on New Zealand without a mandate from the people. He believed in conscription in time of a national crisis such as we had passed through. It was the only means whereby they could'obtain an equality of service. He believed people would have voted for conscription if there had been conscription of wealth. The speaker criticised the Appeal Board, which caught the weak and the strong and allowed the strong to escape. Members were paid 41s a day to send men away at 5s a day to have traction engines thrown at them. Plenty of farmers dodged their liabilities. In the South Island some of the farmers wanted to stay home to grow wheat—Yes, at what price? At their price. A Voice; “Wfiat did you grow.” The speaker: “I grew wise.” (Laughter). The gaols of New Zealand contained a number of objectors who would not go to the front because of others who obtained exemption. The speaker also condemned the National Register, particulars of which it wao promised would be held in strict confidence—and yet the Military Board were in possession of details. The raising of war funds should have been on an equitable basis—small storekeepers and willing horses were rooked for patriotic funds. The canteen scandals were referred to, also the extension of Parliament and the expense incurred. He uttered an impeachment against the Leader of Parliament going Home. They had a High Commissioner there. If he was not capable of looking after our interests he|should have got the sack. One of the leaders would have been enough 'to go Home, but it looked as though they could not trust each other. Mr Brady protested against land [aggregation—which was going on in Rangitikei. The country was calling out for increased production, andjthat meant small settlements. The stumbling block to this was land aggregation. Boys coming back from the front were charged double and treble what they should be. The Government permitted it and for that reason should go out of office. The Government of the day by increased taxation could burst up some of the large holdings. The price of land was too inflated for the soldier and yet hei had to make good.. The speaker charged tho Government with procrastination in dealing with the housing problem. The advances to workers should have been continued, and be advanced much more. They would not have had the insanitary conditions of the cities 1. ■ .t not been owing to the failure it the Government to grapple with the question. Tho Government had also failed to grapple with the meat trust. Evidence had been which showed that a meat trust did not exist, and now Government had prohibited the export of meat by. Armour and Co. Referring to the laud tax he said that the tax did not rise in proportion to the price at which the land sold. All lands should be revalued immediately. The negligence of Government was responsible for the epidemic which swept through the country recently. The Farmers’ Union Conference had quoted figures showing results of recent elections, showing that people could not hope to have redress under the Labour Party. The handwriting was on the wall. The present Government had met its Waterloo. The distribution of Patriotic Funds was criticised. To a certain extent they were raised not to relieve? the Government of any responsibility. They were raised as a spontaneous gift to soldiers. The Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board was a delusion, a farce, and a snare. A man was put through some humiliation before getting assistance. The cost of living had gone up by leaps and bounds since tho war, There was profiteering in this country. As an instance he held "up a skein of wool purchased in town. The farmer had probably got Is 8d per lb for his wool. The skein per Ih was 18s Bd. It was cold blood calculated robbery. He wanted to know where the- 17s came in; he had ascertained that the draper did not get it. It was a marvel how some men lived. The speaker then referred to the candidature of Mr Meldrum, who had done so well at the front. He was standing for Wardism and Liberalism, but he considered that part} 7 was using that man’s splendid military record to cover their sins. The election was a question of Ward versus Labour. Ward represented vested interests and had no sympathy with Labour. Was it not time that the workers woke up? Women folk had received no consideration for the past two years. If a man was hurt he spoke up, but if a woman was hurt she suffered in silence.

In answer to questions tho candidate stated

That in reference to the go slow policy of miners it \yas difficult to get men to do their work because of the awful conditions under which they lived. The miners objected to the contract system. In ordinary work a good man preferred to work niftier contract, but he explained that the contracting in mines was not workable.

He was not: in favour of denominational schools. Labour stood for \ free and compulsory education. The !■ proof of a man’s sincerity was his ' readiness to undergo sacrifice tor his I conscience sake, and if by sending his children to denominational schools he saved bis country expense, he would get his reward in Heaven. He believed in full civic rights to ali;State“employees.

He was in favour of free compulsory continuance of education up to IT years—schooling to be in the day time and the employer to pay for the time.

Are you in favour of Freehold Tenure, and will you at all times support the granting and maintenance of that tenure?—No.

2 Will you oppose a greater proportion of taxation being , imposed on land or incomes derived from land, than that placed on capital otherwise invested, or on incomes otherwise derived?—Yes.

Will you resist any attempt to fix or control prices, except for the purpose of preventing exploitation or the injurious effects of trusts or combines ?—Yes.

Will you advocate and support legislation giving power to prevent force, coercion, or intimidation being used by anyone or any section of the community which would interfere or have a tendencj' to interfere with the free and safe carrying on of any lawful work, following or K occupation?—No. ' Will you be in favour of legislation being at once enacted providing for the severs remaining heads not already legislated tor as suggested by the N. Z. Parliamentary Committee in their report made in October 1919, in order to keep the meat and shipping trusts from getting a strangle hold of;New Zealand industries, viz.: (1) To control monopolies; (3) to "prevent unfair trading by freezing companies and shipping companies; (3) to make the charges of such carriers just and reasonable; (4) to deal with shipping companies as common carriers; (5) to prevent undue preference; (6) to prohibit pooling of freights and earnings; (T) to provide that common carriers shall print and exhibit schedules of all rates and charges?—Yes. The New Zealand gratuities to returned soldiers did not compare favourably with other countries. He had appealed to the Patriotic Committee for assistance. He had enlisted voluntarily, and had been in camp three months when the Armistice was signed. He had sold his home' and appealed for assistance for three months, but did hot get it. A motion was pat that the speaker be accorded a vote of “thanks. This was followed by an amendment that he be accorded a vote of thanks and confidence at the ballot .box. A farther amendment of thanks and confidence in him as a representative was declared carried. The meeting terminated r with cheers for. the Labour Party and vote of thanks to the chair. Mr Brady informed us this morning that in answer to a question put last evening ho is in favour of the removal of the division . barrier in the railway service. RANGITIKEI ELECTION. MR LETHBRIDGE’S CANDIDATURE. A large and representative number of electors met Mr Lethbridge at Marton on Saturday evening last and formed themselves into a committee with power to add to their number, with the object of furthering his candidature at the forthcoming*election. Strong committees are also being formed at the various centres in the district. As many ladies have expressed a desire to assist the good cause ladies' committees will also he formed throughout the dlsrtict. Mr Lethbridge intends visiting all parts of the district immediately. , Mr C H. Burnett notifies that he has retired from the contest for the Eangitikei seat in •favour of Mr Meldrum.