THE ELECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 8

THE ELECTIONS

PREMIER’S TOUR ADDRESS AT TE AWAMUTU 3OOD deal of heckling (Per United Press Association.) Te Awamutu, November 2. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates addressed a Crowded audience at Te Awamutu to-night. He opened by alluding to the high reputation enjoyed by New Zealand throughout the empire and the world. The Government for that was largely responsible and deserving of recognition by the people. He referred to the parties in Parliament which immediately gave rise to considerable interjections, which were maintained. The Premier delivered a fine fighting address, meeting the interjection smiling and frequently turning it to advantage. Dealing with the Native land question he claimed to have solved what is admitted a difficult problem in half of the counties. So long as he was Minister of Native Affairs he would see that Native rights were equally respected with those of the pakeha. The speaker traversed the policy of the Government relating to land settlement and was subjected to a good deal of heckling. The chairman appealed for order as the Premier’s time was limited, but the request was not heeded. A vote of thanks and confidence was declared carried amidst uproar. Mr Coates was cheered as his car left for Cambridge, counter cheers meeting with some response. 3IK 11. E. HOLLAND

ADDRESS AT FRANKTON. Hamilton, November 2. Mr H. E. Holland addressed a crowded meeting at the Frankton Town Hall tonight. He was greeted with cheers. He went briefly over Labour's policy and emphasized that the land policy offered nothing to the speculative gambler in land values but was in the interest of the occupying user. Such was its ‘ usehold” against which Reform offered criticism. He promised that the dental service would be extended to private schools as well as State schools. Labour would abolish boy conscription, would support international arbitration and honour the signature to the peace treaty by sending representatives to the International Labour Conference. The speaker dealt with Samoa at length on the lines of previous statements. He condemned the Government’s action in reducing the income tax, especially abolishing the income tax on rich farmers when the war debt burden was still heavy. This meant that small farmers, and small business men and workers had to pay more in taxes. At Pukckohe Mr Coates referred to his (Mr Holland’s) charge that the Licensing Bill had been brought down after the ballot papers had been printed had said that the charge was untrue. Mr Holland produced a Hansard of September 13 and quoted the speech of the Hon. A. D. McLeod to show that 120,000 ballot papers for absent voters had been printed and these provided a three issue ballot paper. He further quoted a communication from the chief electoral officer that for the licensing poll to be held about the middle of November it was necessary in order to print the papers not to be delayed further than August 9. Mr Holland spoke nearly three hours, entirely free from heckling and frequently applauded. A vote of thanks and confidence was declared carried with acclamation. There was no dissent. A WOMAN CANDIDATE MRS YOUNG ADDRESSES ELECTORS. Wellington, November 2. Interesting statements were made to-day by Mrs Margaret Young, Independent Labour candidate for Wellington Central, at a meeting of women. She expressed the opinion that the sooner the present leaders of the Labour Party were out of the country the better it would be. “I have always been up against the heads of the Labour Party” she said. “I saw a chance for Wellington Central and 1 decided to stand.” Her husband had started the Labour movement 25 years ago in New Zealand. He had always been loyal to the party but had not been fairly treated. “My nomination came as news to him and things are not altogether pleasant between us. Perhaps I will be able to convince him in the end that what I am doing is right. The Labour heads,” she declared, “would bind you hand and foot. Those who say anything they like are called traitors.” She said she was really working alone. Like all politicians she was doing what she thought best for humanity. She had not announced her candidature earlier as she would have encountered too much opposition. “I am not following Mr Holland and Mr Semple. Their views are too extreme. They are really Red Feds.” Mrs Young was asked how she would vote as an Independent Labour candidate if a question affecting Labour arose in the House. She replied she would not vote with Mr Holland on anything. She did not intend to be moulded by him. MR F. LYE’S CANDIDATURE. Cambridge, November 2. Mr Fred Lye, the United candidate, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting in the Cambridge Town Hall last night. He said the formation of the United Party was the outcome of the general desire for a change of Government. The recent depression was largely the result of the operation of compulsory dairy control which cost the country a million and a half. He defended Sir Joseph Ward’s £70,000,000 loan, saying the urgent need of the country to-day was cheap money. The scheme was workable though of course the banks opposed it. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence almost unanimously. STATEMENT RETRACTED. Napier, November 2. Mr. H. M. Campbell, Reform candidate for the Hawkes Bay seat in the course of a speech in Hastings last week made certain allegations against Mr. R. Semple, Labour candidate for Wellington East, whom he accused of having recently written to the Press on behalf of the New Zealand Communists. Mr. Campbell has now handed the following statement to the Press:—ln regard to the references which I made to Mr. Semple in my speech in Hastings when I stated he was connected with the New Zealand Communists, I find that I was entirely misinformed and I want to express my regret at having made an incorrect statement. I hope through having made the statement I have not done Mr Semple any harm.”

SOUTHLAND SEATS MR MACALISTER’S CAMPAIGN. LAND SETTLEMENT DISCUSSED. Last evening at the Conon Street Hall, Mr S. M. Macalister, the Independent Reform candidate for Invercargill, held a well-at-tended meeting, Mr T. O’Byrne being in the chair. In the course of his speech Mr Macalister referred to the articles by “Touchstone,” a political writer, who had attacked the Government’s land settlement policy. Thia writer, said Mr Macalister, based his attack on three grounds: first, that the land had been purchased at too high a price and not taken compulsorily, and therefore the Government was to be blamed for throwing money into the laps of its farmer supporters; tecofidiy, that Sir Joseph Ward had warned

the Government, and Thirdly, that the returned soldiers themselves had been sacrificed; in the words of this political writer, “murdered and crucified.” As to the first, if land had been taken compulsorily the Government would have had probably to pay more for it, as any compensation court would have had to take into consideration the fact that land throughout New Zealand was then being bought at a high price and the amount of compensation would have been fixed in accordance with the prices then ruling. In addition, it was a principle held by the court that where any owner suffered compulsory expropriation a liberal allowance was made for this fact. It was true that Sir Joseph Ward had stated in the House that land was being bought at too high a price, but if Sir Joseph had considered this to be the position why was this warning never repeated after being uttered so early. Either he was not prepared to stand up against the tremendous demand for soldier settlement at the time or else the statement was made with a view to future use if his warning turned out to be correct. The facts were that there was a tremendous demand by the people and by thousands of returned soldiers for the purchase of land for their settlement. Newspapers throughout the Dominion of all political opinions joined in the demand. Lands were being sold to other settlers at the same and greater prices at this period. Returned soldiers were frequently warned when the Government was financing them to carry out contracts for the purchase of land that the price was thought to be too high. Mr Macalister knew from his own experience that this was the case in Southland. Where was the justification for the statement that returned soldiers had been murdered and crucified? Nine thousand five hundred returned soldiers had been put on the land as a result of Government assistance. Since difficulties had arisen, the Government had assisted the returned soldiers on the land in many ways; for instance by way of revaluation and writing off amounts owing on land and on current accounts. We now had reports from the North Cape to Bluff that the soldier settlers were achieving success. A vote of thanks to Mr Macalister for his address and of confidence in him as a fit and proper person to represent Invercargill was carried with very few dissentients. MR J. R. HAMILTON. On Wednesday, Mr J. R. Hamilton, Government candidate for Awarua, addressed ■ two meetings, the first at 7 p.m. in the i Oteramika Sunday School Hall. There was ' a good attendance, the hall being well filled. Mr Jefcoate was chairman, and in i introducing the candidate spoke most 1 highly of his work in connection with his I electorate, and especially for the primary i producers. The address was listened to with I interest but several irresponsibles made i rather a nuisance of themselves. The ' speaker's good nature, however, gave them plenty of opportunity at the close to bombard him with questions, which, he said, i gave interest to the meeting. On the I motion of Messrs McDowell and Cathcart . the candidate received a vote of thanks and 1 confidence. I At Kennington at 8.30, Mr Hamilton was : greeted by a very good audience, which I voted Mr Haine to the chair. The chairi man expressed the pleasure of the meeting at again seeing the candidate, and voiced the opinion that they could not do better than put him back for another term of office. Mr Hamilton gave a spirited address replying to the criticism levelled against the Government and quoted figures to prove his side of the case. Messrs A. McLean and Miller proposed a vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried with acclamation. On Thursday at 1.30 p.m. Mr Hamilton met the electors of Stewart Island in the Athenaeum Hall at Half Moon Bay. There was a large attendance, Mr Hicks, chairman of the County Council, presiding. It was a most enthusiastic meeting and the audience gave no stinted measure of assurance that they were fully satisfied with the result of Mr Hamilton’s stewardship and the effective manner in which he had replied to the criticism of the United candidate. A motion of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr T. Bragg and carried unanimously. At 8 o’clock the same evening Mr Hamilton addressed a large audience in the Oreti Hall, Mr D. Campbell being in the chair. Mr Hamilton replied very effectively to the criticism that the opposition were endeavouring to level at the Government and quoted official figures to prove that the criticism was not warranted. At the close the candidate received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. MR. P. DE LA PERRELLE. Mr. P. de la Perrelle addressed a large attendance of electors in the Spar Bush hall on Wednesday evening. Mr. George Bennie, who was voted to the chair, said it was hardly necessary to introduce Mr. Perrelle, as he had worthily represented them in Parliament, and was at present associated with public affairs in Southland, chiefly as chairman of the Southland Education Board. Mr. Perrelle delivered a most effective address, during which he was frequently applauded. At its conclusion a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of Messrs McCulloch and Ryan. At Waianiwa at 8.30 there was a very large gathering of electors. Mr. Toole presided and paid a warm tribute to Mr. Perrelle’s whole-hearted activities in the public life of the province. The candidate spoke for one and three-quarter hours in a convincing and effective manner. The applause was frequent throughout, and it was quite evident he made an impression upon his hearers by his straightforward criticism. Mr. Bruland, in moving a vote of thanks and confidence said he felt sure the address they had listened to was one that must have had a most convincing effect. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ewart and carried by acclamation.

MR ADAM HAMILTON. Mr. Adam Hamilton held very successful meetings at Wrey’s Bush, Wairio, Papatotara, Tuatapere and Ohai this week. At Wrey’s Bush there were about 40 present, and after a very attentive hearing Mr J. Egan in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Hamilton for his address expressed appreciation of what Mr Hamilton had done for his blind brother. At Wairio there was a large attendance. Mr R. Donnelly was elected chairman and suitably introduced the candidate. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Hamilton as representative for Wallace was unanimously carried on the motion of Mr B. Dixon, seconded by Mr A. Ballagh. At Papatotara there was again a good attendance. Mr A. McEwan was elected chairman. A vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously carried on the motion of Mr W. Arthur seconded by Mr R. McKenzie. At Tuatapere there were about 200 present. Mr G. McLeod was elected to the chair. Mr Hamilton dealt at length with the timber question, stating that in 1927 when the tariff was revised the duty on the chief competing items of rough sawn timber was increased by 150 per cent, and the duty on sawn dressed timber was increased by nearly 10 per cent, and to-day the Government was adopting regulations giving preference to New Zealand grown and produced timber and also asking local bodies to act likewise. This he considered would have a very valuable effect in reducing the amount of timber imported and assist the industry perhaps more than increased by nearly 100 per cent, and to-day Hamilton for his able address and continued confidence in him as member for Wallace was enthusiastically carried. On Wednesday evening Mr Hamilton addressed about 150 people in the Ohai Hall. Mr W. J. A. McGregor, who was in the chair, introduced the candidate, and spoke of the good work done by him for his constituency. Mr. Hamilton spoke ably for over two hours, and was given a very patient hearing. He gave an account of his stewardship and defended the Government, in past

legislation. The speaker impressed on his audience the responsibility of voting and stated there was no room for the United Party, the real issue was* Reform and Labour. He attacked the borrowing proposal of the United Party, whose policy was unexpected after their condemnation of the Reform • borrowing policy. Question time found Mr A. Hamilton bombarded with questions which lasted for more than an hour. Mr McLean, in moving a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Hamilton, thanked the speaker for his interesting address and useful information, and expressed appreciation for work done in the past. Mr Frazer seconded the motion, which was carried with acclamation. The chairman called for thanks for Mr Hamilton for his help in obtaining grant for the recreation grounds, which was also carried by acclamation. MR GEORGE PULLEY. Mr George Pulley, the Lieral candidate for Wallace, addressed about 50 electors at Waikaia on Tuesday evening, Mr P. O’Rilley being in the chair. At the conclusion of the address Mr J. Mutch moved a hearty vote of thanks and this was seconded by Mr H. Northcoat and carried by applause. At Balfour on Wednesday evening Mr W. G. Thomson presided over Mr Pulley’s meeting and a vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of Messrs J. Wards and F. Condon. About 60 electors were present for Mr Pulley’s meeting at Lumsden on Thursday evening, Mr T. Small presiding. Mr Pulley spoke for over an hour and after answering several questions was congratulated by the chairman, who moved a vote of thanks which was seconded by several present. MATAURA ELECTORATE. HON G. J. ANDERSON’S MANIFESTO. In his manifesto to the electors of Mataura the Hon. G. J. Anderson says that during the 20 years he has represented Mataura, New Zeaalnd has passed through stirring and difficult times, but notwithstanding the war and its aftermath the Dominion has materially progressed in all that makes for the welfare and happiness of the people. The part taken by Mr Anderson is well known, but the improved legislation dealing with labour, mining, marine and pensions during the eight years he has had charge of these departments is brought to the notice of electors. He has always endeavoured to further the interests of the province of Southland and has watched with care the interests of his constituents generally. On account of illhealth he has taken an extended holiday which has greatly improved his health and he hopes to return to New Zealand in full vigour within a few weeks. As the general election will take place before he returns he has placed himself in the hands of the electors for re-election. If he is returned he will serve the electorate to the best of his ability as he has done during the past 20 years. Mr Anderson will continue to support Mr Coates as he regards his policy and that of his party as the most sensible, business-like, progressive and humanitarian that has been submitted to the electors of the Dominion. MR D. McDOUGALL. Mr D. McDougall, United Party candidate for Mataura, addressed a meeting of 55 electors at Fortrose. Mr D. McFadgen presided. The meeting was enthusiastic throughout, and terminated with a vote of thanks and confidence by Mr J. S. Sinclair and W. Thomas. TO-DAY’S ADDRESSES. Mr W. C. Denham—Spar Bush Hall 7 p.m.; Ryal Bush Hall 8.30 p.m. Mr Adam Hamilton—Glenary 3 p.m.; Waikaia 8 p.m. Mr J. R. Hamilton—Kauana Hall 8 p.m. Mr George Pulley—Benmore 1 p.m.; Dipton 3 p.m. Mr P. de la Perrelle—East Limehills School 7 p.m.; Otapiri Hall 8.30. ELECTION CANDIDATES 212 FOR EUROPEAN SEATS. NOMINATIONS ANALYSED. For the general election on November .14 there are no less than 212 candidates for the 76 European seats, as compared with 196 in the 1925 campaign. For the four Native seats in the House there are 19 contestants, as compared with 13 in 1925. Of the few Liberals who had announced their candidature, only one (Mr G. Pulley, Wallace) went to nomination; and the greatest surprise of the nominations was that of Mrs Margaret Young as Independent Labour candidate for the Wellington Central electorate. The candidates for the European seats are classified as follows: 1928. 1925. Reform 69 65 Labour 57 56 United 56 Liberal 1 5 Independent Reform .. 6 4 Independent Labour .. 22 Independent United .. 1 Liberal-Labour .... 3 1 Ind. Liberal-Labour .. 1 Country Party .... 5 6 Christian Socialist .. 1 Nationalists 49 Ind. Nationalists .... —2 Nationalist-Liberals 1 Independent Liberal .. 1 Fusionist 1 Independent 10 3 Total 212 196 The contestants for the Native seats are split up as follows: —Reform, 3; Labour 3; United 3; Independent Reform 2; Independent 3; Treaty of Waitangi Party 2; Ratanaites, 3. Of the 40 three-cornered contests there will be 28 between Reform, Labour and United. The straight-out contests between Reform and Labour number 7; between Reform and United 9; between Reform and Independent 3; and between United and Labour 2. In four other cases there are straight-out contests between Country Party and Reform, Independent and Labour, Reform and Liberal-Labour, and United and Independent Reform, respectively. The one five-cornered and the one six-cornered contest, which had appeared likely, have been eliminated. Outside the Maori electorates, in each of nine electorates there will be four candidates going to the poll. The feature of the Maori elections is that a Ratanaite candidate appears in three out of the four electorates; and there are also two Treaty of Waitangi Party candidates. In the Western Maori electorate the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare has a straight-out fight with Rat an a himself. CAMPAIGN SHOTS POINTS BY CANDIDATES. “The only event that would make me stand down would be to attend my own funeral,” declared Mrs C. E. Maguire, Reform candidate, addressing Auckland East electors. * * * * “Does your mother know you’re out, Harry ” called an injector to a youthful Auckland candidate. “No,” replied the budding politician, “but she will know I am in after November 14.” ♦ * * * “I don’t know what euchre is,” said the Rev. J. K. Archer, Labour nominee for Christchurch North, at a meeting last week. “Is it a game of cards?” “Oh, you lamb!” declared a man in the audience, disgustedly. “Some of my fellow-parsons would send a man headlong to hell for going to Riccarton and putting a pound on a horse,” said the Rev. J. K. Archer, Labour candidate for Christchurch North. “Well, I can’t help thinking that perhaps they adopt this attitude because he does not belong to the

church. Land gambling is a far worse sin, and yet because the man who indulges in it belongs to the church they preserve a discreet silence.”

Optimism in connection with the success of the United Party was radiated by Mr A. A. McLachlan when he opened his campaign for the Riccarton electorate at Fendalton (says the Christchurch Sun). “When the party came into power ” he said. “Not power, Mac!” said an interjector. “When the party came into existence then,” corrected Mr McLachlan. “But in the hurlyburley of politics it is easy enough to look a couple of months ahead!” The audience laughed.

“The people, English or foreign, who come into this country’ and try to alter the excellent spirit that prevails between the ‘boss’ and his men are enemies of the working man,” said Mr F. Adeane, Reform candidate for Auckland West, referring to the good spirit that usually prevailed between employer and employee in New Zealand. The statement was received with applause.

“I have endeavoured in my criticism of the Government to be perfectly fair. 1 want to say that I am standing in the interests of the United Party. So far as Gordon Coates is concerned, I may be opposed to him politically, but he came into the House as a Liberal, we went to the war together, and we will be personal friends so long as life lasts.”—Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., United candidate for West land.

“The United Party say that they are out for private enterprise, but it would appear that the big companies and bank'- have nobbled and pocketed them, for they say they are going to reduce the taxation on companies and shortly abolish it,” said Mr David Jones at Methven. “The banks and big financial institutions will be delighted at this prospective windfall, but on whose shoulders will the United Party put the huge sum at present collected from companies and banks? Presumably it means that they will materially increase the taxation on individuals’ income to make up the deficiency.

“I am like the village blacksmith, I can look the whole of my electorate in the face, feeling satisfied in the knowledge that I have done my best in my constituents’ interests.” —Mr E. Walter, Reform candidate for Stratford.

Speaking in Christchurch North, Mr E. H. Andrews (United) said that he could not support the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill as proposed last session by Mr H. Holland, the sitting member. “I have been accused in a newspaper of having supported the Bill six years ago, but there was then no such Bill moved. The Hon. Mr Isitt was far too shrewd to move it when in the Lower House, but when he was placed in the Upper House he put it on the shoulders of poor Mr Holland,” said the candidate, amidst laughter.

“The United Party loan policy of £70,000,000 dangled before the electors is a similar proposal to that of the tempter who showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, saying ‘All this will I give you if you will fall down and worship me.’ The ex-United Party candidate for Chalmers, Mr Loudon, merely anticipated the voice of New Zealand when he said to the tempter ‘Get thee behind me.’ ” —Mr David Jones, at Methven.

“This speech of mine has taken me years to manufacture,” Mr R. W. Wightman (Independent) confided to his Leeston audience the other evening. “Nobody has helped me to manufacture it; I did it all myself.”

“The United Party consists of four men only—Sir Joseph Ward, Leader; Mr Ransom, North Island deputy-Leader; Mr Forbes, South Island deputy-Leader; and Mr Veitch, chairman of the executive—a lovely army—all generals, but no followers.” —Mr David Jones, Reform candidate for Mid-Canterbury.

Mr C. Morgan Williams (Labour) was non-committal, when a member of his Doyleston audience inquired whether he would be in favour of reinstating a stationmaster there. “I am not paid £3500 a year to run the railways,” he replied. “Mr Sterling is the man you should ask about that.”

“The day after the announcement was made that I intended to stand for MidCanterbury, a wealthy man told me I was too good a man to stand for Parliament,” said Mr R. W. Wightman, Independent candidate, when speaking at Leeston. “He wanted me to go up to the North Island and take over a large property there, but I told him that my interests were in the Methven district and that I would not leave there for anything. I was guaranteed a quarter of a million pounds in ten years if I would go to the North Island and take over a big area of unimproved land, but nothing would tempt me to leave the Methven district.”

“Bankers are not able, nor willing (stated a leading banker in Wellington) to take part in political campaigning, but one has no hesitation in describing Sir Joseph Ward’s £70,000,000 scheme as fantastic. Cheap money is not cheap in the long run. It is of no benefit to this country. This has been demonstrated again and again. It offers a premium to extravagance, inflates land values, is subversive of true economy. We are now beginning to recover from the effects of cheap money. It may be an attractive cry at election time, but it is deceptive, unsound. Cheap money is dear at any price.”

“I’ll tell you what we are going to do to the United Party,” said Mr F. N. Bartram, Labour candidate for Grey Lynn. “We are going to fight them tooth and nail as the enemies of Labour. We can respect the Reform Party as enemies, but not the United Party, which tries to sneak into public favour under the shadow of a great name.”

Speaking of Sir Joseph Ward’s scheme to borrow £70,000,000, Mr F. B. Hughes, Reform candidate for Avon, said: A number of Sir Joseph’s present followers are trembling over that great borrowing scheme, and one has “pulled out,” feeling, no doubt, that it was not safe.

“Far from being a burden on the resources of this country,” said Mr John Burns, United Party candidate for Wellington South, when speaking at Berhampore, “the party’s loan proposals are actually making for substantial relief. Here is a simple problem anyone can understand : There are seven millions at present sunk in uncompleted railways. Interest on this money is costing this country over £350,000 a year. Our loan proposals will finish the major portion of these works—namely, all the main lines—and thereby immediately lift this deadweight load and make it revenue producing. Thus the new capital will produce not only its own interest, but save that £350,000 a year as well. That is what the United Party will do. We are out for business.”

“Why can’t these people get up half an hour earlier?” asked Mr R. W. Wightman, when replying to a question asked him by a member of his Leeston audience as to what his views on daylight saving were. “I have often got up in the morning, milked 150 cows, had breakfast, entered my car, and travelled sixty miles to Christchurch, arriving in Hereford street in time to see the lawyers and their staffs coming to work. Then after waiting in their offices an hour or so, someone would come and ask what I wanted. On being told they would say: ‘Oh, come back at two o’clock in the afternoon.’ ”

“Why does the Reform Party not put its cards on the table as the United Party has done?” asked a questioner of Mr F. Adeane, Reform candidate for Auckland West. ‘The Reform Party,” said Mr Adeane, “has played about six or eight rubbers, and the country knows all about its game/