GENERAL ELECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 20641, 13 November 1928, Page 12

GENERAL ELECTIONS

POINTS BY CANDIDATES. Teeth In the Molyneux. “Would you be in favour of having teeth put in the mouth of the Molyneux '" asked a questioner of Mr. Waite (Clutha). After the laughter had subsided, Mr. Waite said the matter should have serious consideration, but he was not sure whether it was a question for the Public Works engineer or the officer in charge of the Dental Services.— (Renewed laughter.) Message of Hope. “Loans have been a dead weight,” said I Sir Charles Statham at his meeting i "but I give you a message of hope, j The country is going on to better times.” j The public debt was £251,000,000, he said, I but on the other hand the country had a j lot of assets. The interest on the public i debt amounted to £12,517,136 and sufficient i money had to be found each year to pay . oil that amount. The sum of £6,750,000 j came from interest-earning accounts and j £5,750,000 was provided by the taxpayer. | Of this amount £3,750,000 was on account of the war debt. Opposed to Prohibition. Mr. J. P. Walls, the United Party’s canI didate for the Chalmers seat, informed his j audience in very definite terms at his adi dress at Mosgiel that he was opi posed to Prohibition. “You have no idea > of the pressure that has been brought to j bear on me to try to persuade me to vote j for the bare majority,” he said. “I am told ■ that everything else was of minor importi ance. It is not right that one question j such as that to which I have referred should I be placed above other important questions in a young country such as New Zealand.” A Poser. A question put to Mr. Waite (Clutha) : If the United Party gets on the Treasury benches and the Labour Party moves a vote of no-confidence, how would the candidate vote? The candidate seemed puzzled for a , moment, then he smiled. “Don’t make me laugh,” he said, “I’ve got a cracked lip! The United Party cannot possible get on the Treasury benches. Labour will be the official Opposition.” “You’re dodging the question,” said the questioner. “And you’re not talking practical politics,” retorted Mr. Waite. Dying on Its Feet. “I say it in a spirit of kindness that the Labour Party is not making progress, and that it is dying on its feet,” declared Mr. O. E. Burton, Christian Socialist candidate for Eden. "Without the influx of new life, the Labour Party in New Zealand is doomed, just as any party which raises barriers against men of Christian belief is doomed. Its future is not bright, unless its present horizon is widened. The Labour Party cannot win seats until people believe that they have something to gain.” In the Witness Box. • “It has been suggested that the Reform i Party is on its trial, that it is in the witI ness box,” said Mr. D. Sloane, Reform candidate for Wellington Central. "It is not. The Labour Party is in the witness box. The Reform Party is in power, and has been for 16 years, and has a record of economy, a record of action, and yet at the same time a record of great progressiveness.” ♦ * * * Women in Parliament. At a reception given to Mrs. Coates by the Political Reform League in Auckland, the Prime Minister, who was also present, said he would welcome the election of women to Parliament. The Government had to deal with social and humanitarian questions in which women were interested, and their help would be most valuable. As it was, he had to ask his wife’s opinion on many matters.— (Laughter.) He had often found that after men had spent months in shaping a proposal and getting it down to reasonable compass, a woman, with a few words, would turn the whole thing upside down. « * « « Labour In Australia. “Experience,” according to Mr. H. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North, “has shown with Labour rule in Australia that it can neither bring about a more equal distribution of wealth nor can it cure unemployment or poverty. Indeed, many of the problems are more acute in Australia than in New Zealand. Actual experience shows that nationalized industries often produce huge deficits. . . The worker discovers that he has changed his boss without advantage to himself.” The Tasman Flyers. “Do you think it was honest and just of Mr. Coates to give away £2OOO of our money to the flyers who came across from Australia?” asked a member of the audience at Mr. J. P. Walls’s meeting at Mosgiel “The Prime Minister was justified in giving a certain amount of recognition to the flyers.” Mr. Walls replied, “but when times are so bad he might have knocked one of the noughts off the cheque.” No Money. “I’ve got no money, ladies and gentlemen; money doesn’t mean anything to me. That’s as honest as I stand here,” said Mr. McCully at Christchurch. * * * * Asleep in the Deep. “The dreadnought we presented to Great Britain is at the botton of the sea. We pay the interest annually, but the debt is still owing,” said Mr. E. J. Howard, Labour candidate for Christchurch South. Walking off The Land. The reason why so many people have gone off the land, says Mr. W. Manhire, jßef orm candidate for Christchurch South, is because of the high price paid for it, and largely because they ought never have gone on. “People without any gift for it go on because they think there is money in it, but they find out their mistake and go off.” Electoral Laws. Mr. Veitch, at Palmerston, criticized the Reform Party’s action regarding the electoral laws. "Reform is going to face defeat this election,” said Mr. Veitch. “You may go round all the country and the talk is anti-Coates.” The speaker averred that conditions today were the same as had obtained in 1890, when the Liberal Party was returned to power by a big majority, and had restored prosperity to the country. The United Party would do the same. Tax on Bachelors. . The first question put to Mr. Ansell at Mosgiel was: “In view of the high cost of living and the heavy burden on married men, are you in favour of taxing bachelors?” “Decidedly. Go for them!” said the candidate, and the audience heartily applauded the reply. Mr. Massey’s Son. Politicians were made, not born, said Mr. J. N. Massey, Reform candidate for Franklin at Papakura. His father, the late Prime Minister, had received much of his training while in opposition to Richard John Seddon, and had been offered a seat I in the Seddon Cabinet. An interjector questioned the statement. The candidate said he could prove the i point. Reform’s Achievements. Mr. Dunbar Sloane gave a convincing address on what the Reform Government had done in the last three years, when speaking at Wellington Central, and particularly dealt with these items of legislation which particularly affected the wellfare of the working people, making their lot better all round. These included b.ous- | ing, education, public health, and materJ nity work, and he concluded: “Socialism I and similar ideas will disappear from New I Zealand under such wise Government, and I the people will be wiser and happier in

every way.”—(Applause). In face of that how could the Labour Party say the Reform Government had done nothing? Working Man’s Friend. “The working man never had a more sincere worker on his behalf than Mr. Coates, although he won’t believe it,” said Mr. 11. Holland, Reform candidate for Christchurch North. He added that Mr. Coates had declared that never while he was Prime Minister would he consent to the abolition of the Arbitration Court, which was the working man’s sheet anchor. * * * * Ministers With Brains. “Perhaps I should be equally offended with another statement made by Mr Clayton,” said the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, in an address at Tokomaru Bay, when referring to certain statements made by the United Party candidate for Gisborne, Mr W. Lissant Clayton. “That is his allegation that only two members of the Cabinet have any brains. Perhaps he is right. The man with brains keeps clear of Parliament altogether and stays at home to find fault with those who are giving their services to the public. Those with a little intelligence are honoured by the electors, but the least intelligent of all are those who mistakenly imagine that they are going to find their way into Parliament by getting on the platform and confining their policy to unfair criticism and personal attacks upon their political opponents.” Votes of Confidence. “Votes of confidence are trash. Confidences should be left to the ballot box,” stated a member of the audience in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. J. P. Walls (United candidate for Chalmers) at the conclusion of his address last week. The mover went on to announce that he intended to vote for Sir Joseph Ward’s party on November 14 and that he hoped that every member of the audience would do the same. “I thought you said that confidences should be left to the ballot box,” interjected one of the assembly from the back of the hall, amidst laughter. The mover allowed the remark to pass unheeded, and concluded: “I think you will all agree that Mr. Walls has not given a bad address for an amateur.”—(Laughter and loud applause.) Official Opposition. At least one member of the United Party apparently holds the belief that the objective of his party this election is not the Treasury benches but the position of official Opposition. Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, the candidate for Westland, is reported to have stated that “if everything went along fairly well in the election, and the United Party became the official Opposition, the country would have a party of men representing every section in the community. They would function as the Opposition, criticising the Government and representing not only one section, but every section of the country.” * * * * One Vote One Value. Mr. Moss, the United candidate for Dunedin West, in addressing a meeting in Burns Hall stated in reply to a question that he was in favour of the principle of one vote one value, but, he asked, should the vote of the man whose financial position was represented by the few shillings in his pocket be of the same value as that of the voter whose total wealth, perhaps amounting to £30,000 or £40,000, was invested in his business, when it was proposed to take that business away from him without paying compensation for the confiscation? “I shall vote for the bare majority and for Prohibition when the Prohibitionists are honest enough to say that they will pay compensation to the men, whose businesses they wish to take away,” added the candidate. Embarrassed Candidate. “We have done more for the unemployed than the Labour Government in Australia,” claimed Mr. J. S. Dickson, Reform candidate for Parnell. Clear and concise from the back of the hall floated the feeling response, “God help the Australians!” This unexpected reply provoked an explanation. “I don’t say we have done much,” Mr. Dickson compromised; but when he found himself getting deeper and deeper, and the laughter of his interjectors growing louder, he grasped at the first straw and clinched it:— “Well, we would like to have done more.” Conscription. “You seem to have quite a lot of time for referenda,” said a questioner of Mr. Manhire. “In the event of New Zealand men being conscripted, would you favour a referendum?” “I don’t think that conscription will be necessary in the next century—war will be wiped out,” replied the candidate. “Answer the question: Yes or no.” “It is one I scarcely can answer. . .” “Suppose the Japanese Fleet came down all of a sudden?” “Well, in a hurry . . .” “I will make it easier,” his questioner continued. “Assume you have plenty of time.” “Oh! In that case I would favour taking the people’s opinion,” said Mr. Manhire. Interjector Removed. Mr. Forsyth (Reform) at Miramar, was subjected to a running fire of interjections by a member of his audience, and at length he said: “You will have to leave, my friend; I cannot stand it any longer. You should give me a fair hearing, like a Britisher, and ask me any questions you like at the close.” (Uproar.) Mr. Forsyth: “Unless he gives me his word that he will not interrupt again, he must leave.” The interjector refused to promise, and was removed, protesting all the way, by the police. Mr. Forsyth remarked that it was the first time he had had to make any man leave one of his meetings, but he thought the audience would agree that the interruptions had been “over the odds.” (Hear, hear, and dissent.) * * * * “What is Your Policy?” For two hours and twenty minutes, Mr J. A. Lee, Labour candidate for Auckland East, had been racing along on top gear, declaiming vigorously and vehemently against the weaknesses of the Government and the United Party, when he took a brief respite. Then, with outstretched arms and dominating attitude, he invited, “Now for the questions.” The small voice of a pretty “flapper” came from behind the candidate: “What is your policy?” There were salvoes of laughter at this anti-climax, and Mr. Lee, nonplussed for once, ejaculated, “Oh!” in a tone that expressed surprise and sorrow more than annoyance. “Well, well, well!” he said, with his characteristic chuckle, and proceeded to hurl at the young woman a few slabs from the Labour platform. “Coats Off.” Commonsense in agricultural training was the need in New Zealand to-day, said Mr Ebenezer Allen, United Party candidate for Hauraki. The meeting was said to be the largest held in the district for many years. “There are too many men with letters after their names,” said Mr Allen. “In fact, the only letters needed, as far as I can see, are ‘C.O.’ Being interpreted, they stand for “Coats off on the farm.” Mr Allen said that on the principle of “coats off” Mr. Henry Ford had made a success of his training farm, where cadets spent one week in school and two weeks outdoors, stripped for action. * * * * Licensing Bill. “The Labour Party killed the last Licensing Amendment Bill,” declared Mr. T. Forsyth, official Reform candidate, at his meeting at the Masonic Hall, Seatoun (says the Evening Post.) The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) had accused the Prime Minister of insincerity and not really wanting to carry the Bill, stated Mr. Forsyth, and for

that reason, and because he alleged that the Upper House would be instructed not to allow the Bill to pass, he said that he intended to vote against the measure. What actually happened was that all the vital clauses of the Bill were supported solidly by the Labour Party until the third reading stage, when six of the eleven Labour members present, led by Mr. Holland, somersaulted and voted against the third reading. By so doing they, not Mr. Coates, killed the Bill. An Irishman. A subtle shaft of humour swept from the Emerald Isle over Mr. Stallworthy’s meeting at Walters road, Mount Eden (relates the Auckland Star.) A persistent questioner wanted to know who put the Reform Government in power. The candidate’s reply was, “The adult electors of the Dominion.” “No,” said the questioner, amidst roars of laughter, “it was the P.P.A.”—(More laughter.) Mr Stallworthy added that the world was big and beautiful and full of variety. There was room for every decent citizen, and no true patriots should be divided on a question of religion when the interests of the country were at stake. — (Prolonged applause.) The candidate said that numbers of Dalmatians had supported “Reform,” when the questioner said, “I’m not a Dalmation, I’m an Irshman,” and Mr. Stallworthy joined with the meeting in convulsions of laughter. * * * * The Country Party. Repeating his assertion that he did not wish to benefit by the reputation of his late father, Mr. J. N. Massey, Reform candidate for Franklin, said he had been approached with a request to carry the Country Party’s banner, but he would not change his views, and did not believe that the party would get very far. A voice: Are you a member of the Farmer’s Union ? The candidate: I am not, and I cannot agree with them. I do not think a great deal of some of the executive. “Is that a reflection on myself?” asked a member of the audience. Mr. Massey: I am glad you mentioned it. I do not refer to you at all. “Oil and water do not mix,” replied Mr. Massey, when asked if he would agree to an amalgamation with Labour should Reform get into difficulties. Mr. F. J. Lysnar. A last-minute nomination for the Auckland Central seat was Mr. F. J. Lysnar, who is standing in the Reform interests. Mr. Lysnar is a brother of Mr. W. D. Lysnar, the retiring member for Gisborne, and was born in the electorate to which he is now offering his services. Most of his experience has been gained in Gisborne, where he has been chairman of the Cook Country Council and Gisborne Harbour Board. He was also for 14 years a governor of the Gisborne High School Board and 16 on the Hospital Board in the same town. He is a life member of the Gisborne Racing Club. Though retaining interest in farming through his Waioru sheep run, Mr. Lysnar is now more closely connected with Auckland Central, having been a resident of Parnell for the last two years. Upon the death of Mr. W. D. S. Macdonald, Mr. Lysnar unsuccessfully contested the Bay of Plenty seat against the Hon. K. S. Williams. A Candidate’s First Duty. “A candidate should first of all satisfy himself that the policy of his party was in his opinion in the best interests of New Zealand as a nation,” said Mr. S. H. Judd, Country party candidate for Rotorua. “Yet how could any of the United Party candidates have complied with that fundamental necessity when they were officially announced weeks before the United Party's policy was formulated? They found now that it contained two planks only, the £70,000,000 scheme and the reduction of income taxation. In the figures given by Sir Joseph Ward the money could not be loaned out at the figures quoted except at a loss. They, as farmers, did not ask for any such thing. All they asked for was I a fair field and no favours. But as farming was at present unprofitable it was no good loaning further sums until it was made once more profitable. A reduction in income taxation meant puttin" more on another section, i.e., taking it off the man most able to pay and putting it on one less able to do so.” Lively Accompaniments. Things were not exactly dull at Mr. Sullivan’s meeting at North New Brighton on Monday night (says the Lyttelton Tinies.) The first excitement was a loud explosion, which appeared to come from underneath the building. On examination by the local constable it was found that the perpetrators were a group of lads, who were apparently celebrating the fifth of November. Later in the meeting a disturbance arose at the bick of the hall, where a large number of men were congregated. A young man, apparently opposed to Mr. Sullivan’s politics, persisted in a rain of hostile interjections, and became involved in a rough-and-tum-ble with another young man in his vicin'ty. Twenty or 30 other men left the hall to ascertain what the- bother was. In a few minutes, however, they succeeded in restoring harmony between the combatants. Despite the excitement occasioned by these incidents, Mr. Sullivan proceeded with h'B speech, after a humorous reference to the matter. In One Thousand Years. After referring to the United Party as “a conglomeration of individuals,” Mr. Vivian Potter, at a meeting at Epsom, said he would speak of the Labour Party. A voice: Soon to be the Government party. Mr. Potter: Remember the Scriptural advice about 1000 years.— (Laughter and applause.) Further interjections made it difficult for Mr. Potter to proceed, and he offered an interjector five minutes on the platform. The interjector: It will take more than five minutes to say what I think of you. Mr. Potter: Of course. No man could deal with all my good qualities in five minutes.— (Applause.) The speaker was dealing with Labour’s land policy when he was interrupted with “I don’t think so.” Mr. Potter: You’ve got another think coming to you, and you’re not the only member of the Labour Party who does not think. To a man who said that more production was needed, Mr. Potter replied: “Well, go and help the farmer produce it instead of sitting there like cackling hen.”