THE ELECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 18756, 17 December 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS

LOCAL CAMPAIGN. LAST SHOTS FIRED. MR HANAN’S MEETING. There were about 200 present at the meeting held in the Grand Theatre last night by the Hon. J. A. Hanan. The Mayor (Mr John Stead) presided. The chairman stated that it was not to be expected that there should be such a large meeting as on the previous occasions on which the candidates had spoken. There had been talk about there being little to choose between the two contestants for the Invercargill scat. But it had to he remembered that Mr Hanan represented the Liberal Party which had been responsible for a great deal of the best legislation introduced In this country. | Mr Hanan was greeted with applause on rising to speak. He began by stating that his political career went far back—back to the time when he had obtained his training on the public bodies of Invercargill. It had been his ambition to well represent the town and continued support had been his reward. When he spoke in the Municipal Theatre he had referred to his work in the Government—work that was approved from one end of New Zealand to the other. However, there • was one man who saw fit to endeavour to take away credit for that work. The speaker went on to refer in detail to the work he had done in the interests of education,' in Invercargill particularly. From January, 1917, to August, 1919, he had authorised an expenditure of nearly £55,000 on school buildings. This had included £SOOO towards the erection of a new school at South Invercargill, grants to the Waihopai, St. George and Waikiwi schools, £3OOO for the erection of the manual instruction building in Don street, grants for additions to the Technical College, and £21,000 for a new Boys’ High School and two hostels. That reminded him that in Napier criticism had been levelled at him that he was unduly favouring Southland to the detriment of Napier. But Napier was not being neglected, although it was impossible at that time to take steps because of the “dog in the manger” attitude adopted by a citizen possessing the only site suitable for a school building. Mr Hanan said that under his administration more money had been spent on school buildings than ever before, and he had been responsible for placing £3,500,000 on the estimates for new buildings—the largest amount ever authorised by any Minister in the Dominion. —(Applause). Mr Hanan went on to speak of what he had done by way of increasing the pay of public and secondary school teachers. He had been criticised because there were some classes too large for the proper management of the teacher. It was utterly impossible for him to reduce the size of the classes during the war because of the acute shortage of teachers. Thai shortage was universal for, despite what some people appeared to think, teachers could not be manufactured with the rapidity of pills. But he had done his best to reduce the shortage by making the profession more attractive. “People who talk about education should know something about it,” remarked Mr Hanan. Mr Hanan went on to say that the proper object of statesmen was to make Democracy safe for th'e world now that the winning of the war had made world safe for Democracy. True Democracy was only possible through the education and care of children. He went on to speak of the necessity for caring for the child. It should be well born, be happy, and be well educated. It was the duty of the State to see to these things. The future of New Zealand largely depended on the physical condition of the children now growing up. He also recognised the importance of sociological education harmonising with the physical development of the child. Much had been done in New Zealand to provide free secondary as well as primary education for the children. If such a satisfactory state of affaire existed, there were many at that meeting who would give some credit to -the Member for Invercargill,— (Applause.) When in office in 1912 he had initiated the school medical service, and during his recent term he had expanded the scheme. He had also obtained Cabinet approval to a scheme providing for tho fret- dental treatment of school children. Dental ambulances were now being procured, dental officers had been appointed, and the scheme would shortly be in operation in some of the country districts. Mr Hanan spoke of the housing problem in relation to child welfare. The question, he said, was important, and better accommodation was necessary. The candidate detailed the beneficial results accruing from 1 a conference of the Dominion’s gaolers that he called in 1912. It was his aim to make the prisoner a better man when he left the institution than when he went in.— (Applause.) Much had been done on these lines in the Invercargill Borstal Institute. They had to get away from the old methods of gaol control, and introduce more humane and reformative methods. Mr I/enan also touched on reforms in connection with the treatment of the youthful law-breaker. Before leaving office he had formulated a scheme having child welfare as its object. Mr Hanan added that he had also been enabled to secure £98,000 from the Government to help friendly societies. Mr Hanan dealt briefly with the land question (advocating the abolition of monopoly) the readjusting of the Customs tariff (by the lifting of duty on all necessities not locally manufactured and a heavier imposition on luxuries), the encouragement of local industries (there was not one plank in the Labour Party’s platform aiming at protection). After speaking briefly on other points in his policy on the hues of his previous addresses, Mr Hanan indulged in a denunciation of the New Zealand Labour Party because of its attitude during the war, which met with loud applause. He concluded by expressing the belief that the electors would return men equal to the task of governing the country. (Loud and prolonged applause.) Questions came in freely when the chairman announced that they would be answered. Following are the questions and answers:—Q.: Are you in favour of exporting unnaturalised Germans?—A.; I would boot them all out of the countiy.—(Applause.) Q.; Why do you come out under the banner of the P.P.A. to the detriment of your opponent who is as good a Protestant as you are? —A.: I did not give the P.P.A. any authority to use my name. I believe that it is a splendid sight to see children mixing on the one playground and growing up to firm friendship.—(Applause.) Q.: Why was the local chairman of the P.P.A. appointed chairman of your committee? A.: My committee are free men and elected whom they chose. I had no influence in the election, and certainly did not suggest that the chairman of the Association should be appointed. Q.: If the Liberals were returned would you accept a portfolio?—A.: I would not accept a portfolio in a Government unless ( it could hold power without the assistance 1 of the extreme Labour section, and unless it was composed of men whose policy I agreed with. I am not concerned with my personal ambitions (for I do not think a portfolio would he difficult to obtain), but with seeing that the country is properly represented. Unless I was at one with the Government I should not accept office. A Voice: 0 yes, you would. Asked regarding his position in agreeing to pay the soldiers only five shillings per day, Mr Hanan stated that he did not believe in contaminating the high ideals associated with tho flag with £ s. d. On the motion of Mr J. Kissel), seconded by Mr McDermott, Mr Hanan was accorded an unanimous vote of thanks and continued confidence. MR J. K. ARCHER. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. Mr J. K..Archer concluded his campaign in the Municipal Theatre last evening. There were about 400 electors present and the candidate, whi? was greeted with applause, received a very sympathetic hearing throughout. Mr H. J. Farrant presided and in intro ducing Mr Archer, stated that Labour can-

didates had an uphill fight because they always bad the opposition of Capital and, in almost every case, of the newspapers to contend against. It had taken three leading articles in the morning newspaper to draw Mr Hunan out, but in that morning’s editorial Mr Hanan had been held up as the best man to represent the electors of Invercargill. On past occasions newspapers and the other political parties had tried very hard to split a vote in the Labour Party, but the Labour candidates were united and stood loyally to the principles of the Labour Party. Mr Archer said that he wished to address himself to any who were in doubt as to whom they should vote for and to those who were not in favour of the Labour Party’s platform, rather than to his own supporters. It appeared to him as if the elections were as good as over and that the only thing to be done was for the electors to record their votes. He had no doubt of the result. If he won at the election it would not altogether be to his credit although he had done his best. There had arisen an extra set of circumstances which in the main had assisted the Labour movement. The chairman had referred to the actions of the morning paper, but he wished to draw attention to the surprising editorial which had appeared in that evening’s paper. Mr Hanan’s name had not been mentioned although for the last 20 years he had been supported not only in the news columns but also in the editorials. What was the reason for the change? He felt that in his late stage Mr Hanan was not playing the game. While he did not hold Mr Hanan responsible for all the doings of the P.P.A. he believed that he was trying to prejudice him in the eyes of the electors. Though he was a Protestant he was not a bigot (Applause). He did not believe in bigotry and sectarian strife being introduced into the political campaign, but he believed in Qquality of treatment for all. It was surely high time for all men and women, no matter what their religion, to try and find some solution for the great social wrongs which existed in their midst. What really was the Labour movement ? He wanted to suggest that the Labour movement at the heart of it was a great human movement which wished to organise in the community and in life generally the good old instincts of fair play, and to prevent one section from being favoured more, than another. In the present century a new spirit had arisen in the world and in every section of the community at the present time, there was a strong feeling that they should get together afid rebuild society on a system of mutual help. The great political watchword of the past had been “Rights of Property” and for many years this idea had been dinned into the ears of the people. He did not want to say that property had no rights, but ■he wished to emphasise that those rights were subservient to the welfare of the people. The emphasis should not be placed upon wealth but upon the health and welfare - of all the people of the Dominion To some people profit was the supreme thing in life and the first question they asked was who was going to pay. The principle of the Labour Party was utility and not profit, and they held that it was not right that the wealth of the country should find its way into the . pockets of a few. (Loud applause.) . A cry had been raised for increased production but they could not expect the workers to be keen on producing if they were not getting a fair share of what they produced, and they were not getting it. With very few exceptions the reward of labour was fixed, but it seemed extraordinary to him that the reward of capital was absolutely flexible and had no limits placed upon it. He was quite willing to agree that Capital should be remunerated, but not excessively. Last year the Bank of New Zealand after meeting all expenses and income tax had shown a profit of £388,000, which represented a 30. per cent, dividend on all the paid up capital of the Bank. Allowing that seven per cent, was a fair profit, the bank had received £300,000 for which it had rendered no service. He did not believe that there could bo industrial peace until Capital was satisfied with a fair return. The candidate also referred to child welfare and said that he believed with all the passion of which he was capable that no mother should be obliged at any time to go out to work to add to the family income, and’ he did not want to see poor women forced to go out and do the washing of the rich. He advocated the establishment of municipal wash-houses, worked by electricity, "which would do away with the drudgery which so many women had to go through. He also advocated free schoolbooks and free dental and medical treatment for school-children and expressed the opinion that after leaving school boys should be taught a trade. He also dealt with many other subjects already outlined by him in previous addresses. On questions being invited an elector asked Mr Archer which way he would vote on a no-confidence motion if Mr Massey was returned by a small majority. The candidate replied that it all depended on which party he believed came the nearest to the principles of the Labour Party. He would vote for Labour principles rather than for parties. Mr Archer was accorded a hearty vote ot thanks for his able exposition of the aims of the Labour Party and of confidence in him to represent them in Parliament. The motion was carried unanimously and the candidate was loudly applauded. DR POMARE RE-ELECTED. PALMERSTON NORTH, December 16. The Western Maori contest resulted:— Maui Pomare 2550 Ngarangi Katia 1278 Tanea Kaawo Short .. .. 566 T. Patena 542 Heuare Kaihau (ex-member) 208 T. Tu Tauwha 177 Kewene .. .... .... .. 47 K. Teahu 44 0. Paora 28 K. Te Whatanui 12 Ten of the candidates lost their deposits. Their political leanings are not known. Dr Pomare is a member of the present Cabinet. SOUTHERN MAORI. CHRISTCHURCH, December 16. There is only one return (from Ruapuke Island) to come and it cannot affect the result. The final figures for the Southern Maori seat are: — H. W. Uru .. 376 Taiaroa 169 Erihana 97 Matiu , 46 On being asked by a f&porter to-night how he would vote on a iio-confidcnce motion, Mr Uru said; “I am selling my vote to the highest bidder. lam an independent and I believe this should be ths attitude of every Maori member. In the past I have supported Mr Massey and will do so again if he will promise to give the Maoris what they want. If Sir Joseph Ward will give us a promise that Mr Massey is not prepared to give, then my vote will go to the former. That is my attitude.” NORTHERN MAORI. AUCKLAND, December 16. The voting for the Northern Maori cantest is:— Tau Henare (R) 2604 Nau Par none Kawiti .. .. 982 Anaru Ngawaka 135 A. R. Tuoro 57 Wiri Henare 31 There are five small booths to come but these cannot affect the result. “A puzzled Cockatoo” put the following poser: —Mr G. Fowlds says; “Butter is of more value than it was in 1914.” How is it, then, he now asks me to give him 151b in exchange for a hat, when (before the war) he used to give me a hat in exchange for 51b of butter? Am I any better off? And how is it that a city tailor can make a living by working 40 hours a week, while the poor dairyman has to work 80 hours? A Reuter message from Vancouver says that Sir Robert Borden, Premier of Canada, has resigned;