THE LAST SHOTS

Southland Times, Issue 20642, 14 November 1928, Page 8

THE LAST SHOTS

ELECTION CAMPAIGN MR MACALISTER’S FINAL MEETING UNBOUNDED ENTHUSIASM Concluding his campaign, Mr S. Morell Macalister, Independent Reform candidate for Invercargill, delivered his final address last evening at the Popular Theatre and was accorded a remarkable demonstration of enthusiasm. The hall was well'filled and the candidate's address was followed with the keenest interest and punctuated by frequent bursts of applause. Mr F. G. HallJones presided. Mr Macalister dealt at length with the policy of the United Party and the record of the Reform Government, his remarks being on similar lines to his previous addresses. He said that the platform of the United Party was one of promises and that of the Government a solid record of achievements. The speaker then touched on Sir Joseph Ward's reply to the criticism of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart at Invercargill the previous evening. Sir Joseph had said with regard to the repayment of the £60,000,000 loan: “I have not changed in any way the provision for sinking fund from what I first declared it —I have already pointed out there are two sinking funds, one to pay off the loan from the lenders in England and one from the borrowers in New Zealand to provide here on their account to ensure their getting their deeds back free in 324 years. Look at the last bal-ance-sheet certified to by the Controller and Auditor-General and laid upon the table of the House during the session recently ended by Mr Downie Stewart, and you will find two separate items set out as follows: Public Debt Sinking Fund Branch, and Advances Offices Sinking Fund Account. Mr. Macalister said that the State Advances Sinking Fund was an entirely different matter from the Public debt Extinction Fund and the two could not be connected in any way. Sir Joseph, according to the interview published in the Southland News, went on to refer to information given in “Sinking Fund and Redemption Tables,” compiled by Robert Lucas Nash, information he stressed of a very reliable kind. Sir Joseph said:— “Mr Downie Stewart says that £lOO raised at £94 10/- yields £4 15/9, the tables say £4 15/3. Mr Downie Stewart says that with redemption of £5 10/-, the yield is £4 19/8, the tables say it is £4 16/94. Mr Downie Stewart says that with 1 per cent, brokerage and other costs the yield is £5 3/5; the tables say that with 1 per cent, brokerage added the yield is £4 18/1. The difference, 5/4 per cent., according to Mr Stewart, is absorbed in other charges. My loan, according to the tables, with redemption and brokerage, costs £4 17/5, or 6/- per cent, less than Mr Stewart says. Who is right? The most reliable standard tables in the world or Mr Downie Stewart's absolutely incorrect statement?” Mr Downie Stewart, said Mr Macalister, had quoted figures from a previous Budget and these had been compiled by the Government actuaries on actual experiences. Mr Macalister said he regretted that Sir Joseph Ward had reiterated the statement which had been corrected several times that of £29,650.000 borrowed during the past three years, £6,070,000 had been used for the repayment of war debts. Sir Joseph had answered Mr Downie Stewart as follows ;

The nett increase in the debt for the last three years was not 30 millions, but 234 millions, because, though we borrowed £29 650,000 we paid £6,070,000 off war debt and other items. After quoting a detailed table Sir Joseph Ward continued:— “From this it will be seen that the £30.000,000 of public loan which I quoted in round figures is admitted by Mr Stewart to be £29,670,000, and he states definitely that he paid out of it £6,070,000 on war debt and other items, and he makes out that the loan was therefore only £23,580,000, said Sir 1 Joseph. The grotesque absurdity of the statement made last night will at once be seen from the fact that he says he borrowed £29,650,000, which goes on until it is paid off, paying full interest until the full period of the loan, and he says himself that the full loan is £29,670,000, and he has paid out of it £6,070,000, which should only have been paid out of revenue, if the loan, which is not reduced by one shilling, is called by him £23,150,000. His statement made last night is contrary to the facts put on record by himself, and the criticism made by me is correct. I referred to it as £30,000,000 of loans raised by him in three years. I was speaking, as is quite usual, in a round sum. The £29,650,000 is, of course, the right siim, and anyone understanding finance and in his position knows exactly what I was referring to, so that no statement made by Mr Stewart last night can help him to wriggle out of the position he is in. The permanent debt has been increased by £29,650,000, and the payment off the war debt of £6,070.000 should have been paid out of revenue and not out of loans. If anyone takes the trouble to look up a speech delivered in the House by Mr Stewart’s colleague, the present Minister of Justice, he will find that he roundly and strongly condemned the Government using loan moneys to pay off loans. No Finance Minister is justified in doing anything of the kind, and his own colleague now condemned the system root and branch before he joined the Ministry. I publicly challenge Mr Stewart to quote any financial authority in any part of the world justifying the course he has taken. I may add, in conclusion, that I provided for the repayment of the whole of the money borrowed for all purposes in New Zealand, including the State Advances loans, to be paid out of revenue into the Public Debt Extinction Act, which the Reform Government repealed and have resorted to the borrowing of loans to pay off other loans. It is a wretched system, unjustified in every respect, and would not, in my opinion, be tolerated in any other country in the world.” Mr Macalister said that £29,650.000 had been allocated, principally for public works and none had been taken out for repayment of loans. A voice: The paper doesn’t say so. Mr Macalister: Common sense says what I’m saying now (Applause). Continuing, he said the £6,000,000 referred to had been provided under the Debt Extinction Act having been raised from reparation moneys, soldier settlement moneys which were coming to hand and from other funds, but certainly not from borrowed money. “My opponent says he’s a fit man and I believe he is, but why does he continue to repeat this statement when it has been corrected so often?” A voice: Because it suits him. In conclusion, Mr Macalister said he believed in sincerity in politics, and if he went in as he hoped and believed he would (prolonged applause and cheers; he would endeavour to continue that sincerity which was necessary in public life. He would endeavour to emulate Mr Downie Stewart for whom he had a great admiration and who he believed to be sincere. There was a long burst of applause and cheering on Mr Macalister concluding his address. Mr R. McPherson moved a vote of thanks and confidence and said that Mr Macalister’s supporters had been impressed with his honesty, sincerity and outstanding ability.

The motion w’as carried by an overwhelming majority and the meeting closed with a remarkable demonstration of enthusiasm. A large number of supporters formed a bodyguard at the entrance of the theatre and surrounded the candidate, pouring congratulations and good wishes upon him. SIR JOSEPH WARD ADDRESS IN MAJESTIC THEATRE. REPLY TO MR DOWNIE STEWART. There were scarcely any vacant seats in the Majestic Theatre last evening when Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of tho United Party, fired the last shot of his campaign. He was Warmly applauded when, accompanied by Mrs B. B. Wood and Mrs Vincent Ward, he ascended to the stage punctually at 8 p.m. Mr H. F. Drewe was in the chair, and there were several prominent members of the United Party’s Invercargill executive on the stage. Before the meeting began bouquets were presented to Mrs Wood and Mrs Vincent Ward by the Misses F. Smith and Mac Gibbon. The chairman in introducing Sir Joseph Ward said that he felt sure that on the following evening the electors of Invercargill would have the pleasure of hearing Sir Joseph Ward thanking them for returning him at the head of the poll. In the not distant future Sir Joseph would be speaking in Invercargill as Prime Minister. (Applause.) After thanking the audience for its warm welcome, Sir Joseph replied to some of the criticism levelled at him by Hon. W. Downie Stewart on Monday evening. Sir Joseph characterized certain statements of the Minister of Finance as absolutely incorrect, and said that his figures were not worth throwing into the dust-heap. Sir Joseph also referred to criticism of his loan proposals which had appeared in the Southland Times. “These people,” he said, “who have been putting queries to me have said that. I have not added the 3/per £lOO for administration work. It is enough to make a man weep, if he is given to weeping, at such stupidity. The 3/per £lOO has not been charged on the £60,000.000 because the State Advances Office, the superintendent and the whole staff are already in existence. The only extra cost would be in valuation fees, but these are always paid by the borrower. Possibly one or two extra men might have to be employed if the business expanded rapidly, but the salary of these two would not amount to more than £800.” Sir Joseph denied that he had abandoned the sinking fund as had been stated by the Times and telegraphed throughout New Zealand. He deprecated the footnotes to correspondence in the Times to the effect that the sinking fund had been abandoned. "Most papers say that they do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. The Times adds footnotes to say that I am wrong,” continued Sir Joseph, He then reverted to the telegraphed reports of the sinking fund being abandoned. He said that only the other day he read that statement in a northern paper. “Why don’t they find out what knowledge the people down here who send out the message possess before they put such a wrong statement on record?” he asked. Prolonged applause and cheering greeted the candidate as he concluded his remarks and informed the audience of the success of two Maori United Party candidates. On the motion of Mr James King, seconded by Mr Boyd, Sir Joseph Ward was unanimously accorded a vote of thanks and of confidence in him as United Party Leader and Member for Invercargill. Cheers and the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” terminated the meeting. Sir Joseph’s address was broadcast from the band rotunda round which a small knot of people ranged during the evening.

MR J. R. HAMILTON. Mr J. R. Hamilton, Reform candidate for Awarua, addressed a meeting of over 50 people in the Georgetown Hall last night. Mr R. J. Cumming occupied the chair and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Hamilton received an attentive and sympathetic hearing until well on in his address, when the advent of a few latecomers was the beginning of some heckling on their part. In reply to a question Mr Hamilton said that if it were true that the Borstal was selling milk in quantity to suppliers in competition with small farmers w’ho necessarily farmed high-priced land owing to its proximity to the town, he would if elected use his influence to prevent this competition. His sympathies were with the small farmer every time, and particularly in this case, where the handicap was cheap labour on the one hand and dear land on the other.

On the motion of Messrs H. S. Irving and J. E. Jefcoate a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate. MR ADAM HAMILTON. Mr Adam Hamilton addressed a crowded hall at Otautau on Monday night, there being about 500 present. Mr W. J. Wesney, chairman of the Town Board, presided, and very suitably introduced the candidate. Mr Hamilton spoke for nearly two hours on the main political questions of the day, and received an exceedingly attentive hearing, many of his remarks being freely applauded. Mr Hamilton also dealt frankly with such questions as the meat board, daylight saving, racing, licensing, Bible-in-Schools, Government grants, local rates, election pledges, etc. These subjects were attentively listened to, and his exposition much appreciated. At the conclusion of the address, the chairman spoke of the very informative and sound nature of the speech they had just listened to. There were no questions asked, and a vote of thanks to Mr. Hamilton for his able address and of continued confidence in him as member for Wallace was enthusiastically carried on the motion of Mr. A. Lindsay, seconded by Mr. A. W. Moore. Mr. Hamilton thanked the chairman and the meeting for their kindly expressions of good will. Opponents Tactics Criticized. Mr Adam Hamilton, Reform candidate for Wallace, concluded his campaign last night at Riverton, before a very large and enthusiastic audience, there being over 600 present. The Mayor, Dr. N. G. Trotter presided and in introducing the speaker enum-

erated many of the god qualities and fine record of Mr Hamilton. Mrs Trotter and Mrs Hamilton were also on the platform. Before the meeting commenced Mrs Hamilton was presented with many bouquets and Mr Hamilton received one from Miss Howell. Mr Hamilton gave a very forceful and convincing address, expounding the policy and benefits of the Reiorm administration. Before concluding he dealt trenchently with his United opponent in using a testimonial given to assist him in his time of need against the person who gave it. He considered that was not playing the game. But what was much more serious was that the published testimonial was not a true copy of the one given by iMr Hamilton. Important words had been added in the body of the testimonial. Mr Hamilton considered this a very serious offence and took strong exception to it in that his testimonial had been added to, and -now used against him. The displeasure of the meeting at such tactics was readily evidenced. In moving a vote of thanks to Mr Hamilton for his. very able address and of continued confidence in him as member for Wallace, Dr. Trotter, as head of the Reform Committee for Wallace, paid a glowing tribute to Mr Hamilton's suitable qualifications for representing Wallace in Parliament. The motion was seconded and carried with great enthusiasm. Mr Hamilton suitably asknowledged the vote and moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding. OPPOSITION LEADER MR H. E. HOLLAND AT WAIMANGAROA. (Per United Press Association.) Westport, November 13. Mr H. E. Holland, leader of the Opposition, addressed crowded and enthusiastic meetings at Seddonville and in Waimangaroa last evening. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. At the latter place Mr Holland referred to certain statements made in Wellington by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates with reference to British Council of Action and China and said that the desperate plight of the Government was revealed when its leader found himself impelled to make wild allegations which could not be substantiated and then he had substituted a personal attack for political criticism. Mr Coates had said that Mr Holland had sent a cablegram to the British Council of Action in 1925 and that he had suffered a rebuke at the hands of Mr J. 11. Thomas because of that cablegram. There was no truth in either statement. No cablegram had been sent by him to the Council of Action in 1925 and consequently there was no record whatever of any attack on himself by Mr Thomas arising out of such cable. Furthermore Mr Thomas had publicly declared in favour of the establishment of the Council of Action at the time it was formed and had moved a resolution expressing the British labour movement’s approval of both the establishment and object of the Council of Action. The council was pre-eminently a peace movement. Mr Coates’ statement relating to his own attitude with respect to China was equally misleading. The refutation of that canard would be found in the pages of his booklet, “Chapters in the History of China,” in which he set forth that if the handful of British nationals in China were really in danger, instead of sacrificing thousands of lives and spending many millions of money in a futile war, it would be more commonsense to provide for their removal from the danger zone. MESSAGE TO ELECTORS. Wellington, November 13. Mr H. E. Holland, leader of the Opposition, has issued the following message to the electors: — “The question to be determined by the electors at the polls to-mOrrow is whether the Labour Party shall continue its natural progress and become the Government of the country or whether the present Cabinet, led by Mr Coates, shall continue to control the affairs of the Dominion. The failure of the Government to organize closer land

settlement, the increase in interest rates, and the holding up of loans from the State Advances Office, the restrictions placed on the Public Trust Office and the Post Office Savings Banks have all tended to extend the power of private financial institutions with a consequence there is a drift from land occupations, accompanied by deteriorated lands, and increased areas in fern scrub and second growth, the smashing up of dairy control. The enormous increase in the mortgage debt, together with unprecedented unemployment, is menacing the progress and the development of the Dominion. I have just completed an extensive tour of the Dominion and in both rural and city constituencies the policy of Labour has been warmly approved and applauded. All the available evidence proves that the Government has lost the confidence of the people, and the only alternative is that of a Government formed from the members of the party which I have the honour and privilege to lead. If called upon to form a Government the Labour Party will, during its first Parliament, legislate in accord with the election policy which has been placed before the electors by the Labour candidates. The principal sections of the policy are: (1) Closer land settlement. (2) Extension of the State Advances Office. (3) Removal of the deposit restrictions from the Public Trust and Post Office Savings Bank. (4) National health insurance. (5) Improved old age, widows’ and other pensions. (6) Workers’ compensation as a national service. (7) Full support and assistance to primary and secondary industries. (8) Investigation of the transport systems (rail, road and water). (9) Organization of employment and unemployment insurance. (10) Regulation of immigration in accord with the demand for labour and land settlement. (11) Restoration of the wage and salary cuts. (12) Maintenance of the national school system with smaller classes and free requisites. (13) Repeal of compulsory military service and the reorganization of the defence system. (14) Full support of the League of Nations and the outlawry of war. The Labour Party has consistently and courageously fought the forces of reaction and for the cause of democracy and a freer, fuller life for all. The Labour Party has now completed ten years in opposition to the Government and after the 1925 election it became the official Opposition. On every occasion the Labour members in Parliament have fought consistently against the reactionary proposals of the Government and given the privilege and honour of forming the Government the Labour Party will draft its laws and administer the affairs of the Dominion in the interest of all citizens who render useful service. I ask all electors who believe in democracy, good government, equal opportunity and progress towards a system of co-operation and service to help and vote for the Labour candidates to-morrow.”

THE HON. W. NOSWORTHY REPLY TO MR HOLLAND. Ashburton, November 13. At a largely-attended meeting held by Mr David Jones, Reform candidate, to-night, the Hon. W. Nosworthy spoke for a few minutes in support of the candidate. He said that there were two matters affecting himself arising out of the present campaign that he wished to deal with. The Leader of the Opposition had persistently maintained that the natives of Samoa were ill-treated and that the methods of administration were harsh and arbitrary. By his speeches and writings, particualrly his “Revolt of the Samoans,” he had encouraged them to disobey the law and led them to believe that the League of Nations would uphold them in their disobedience. The

trouble had come before the League and it instead of upholding Mr Holland, the Hon. O. F. Nelson and other ringleaders had told New Zealand very plainly that what was required in the first place was not the “conciliation” which Mr Holland advocated, but a little healthy discipline, so instead of being harsh it seemed that New Zealand had been too gentle altogether in dealing with its unruly charges. Referring to the loan of £15,000 to the Broadcasting Company, Mr Nosworthy said that the security was more than ample, as not only did the Department hold a first mortgage over the plant and equipment, but also at the time the loan was made it held on behalf of the company license fees amounting to more than the value of the loan. The help given to the company to establish one powerful station at Wellington was thoroughly justified. He did not object to any criticism of the loan, but he did object strongly to Mr Holland’s charge that there was apparently a connecting link between it and the statement by Mr Goodfellow, managing director of the company, that the Labour Party by opposing the college system of election had ruined the Dairy Control Bill. Mr Holland had plainly implied that the receipt of this loan had induced Mr Goodfellow to change his views on the cause of the collapse of dairy control. No more fantastic nonsense could well be imagined and he assured his audience that he himself as Postmaster-General had finalized negotiations with the company months before the breakdown of dairy control. Now Mr Holland had switched over and accused the Prime Minister for the trouble. A man who did that was not fit to be Prime Minister in any Government. Referring to his own retirement, he declared that it was due to his own fault. Had he never said he would pull out of the contest he would be a candidate now. Mr Nosworthy declared in conclusion that only from the ranks of the Reform Party could one get a Cabinet competent to carry on the work of this country.

RECORDING THE VOTE PREPARATIONS MADE. HEAVY POLLING EXPECTED. Heavy polling is expected to-day and the chief returning officer, Mr A. S. Froggatt, advises electors to poll as early in the day as possible so as to avoid the congestion in the booths at the rush hours. It would also help the returning officers considerably if electors would record their votes in the polling booths nearest their own residences. Twenty-one booths have been arranged this election and new polling places are at Sylvan Bank Hall, Jackson street; the Presbyterian School Hall, Grey street; T. D. Kingsland’s motor garage, North Road (Avenal) ; the Orphans’ Club, Earnslaw street; the Jed street Methodist Hall; W. A. McCaw's house in Yarrow street, Lindisfarne; F. T. Blick’s motor garage in Scandrett street, Neville; and the Rugby Football Union committee rooms at the corner of Elies and Oteramika roads. Absentee voters are asked to vote in the booths in the County Council offices and in the Magistrate’s room. The polling booths will open at 9 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. in the towns and 6 p.m. in the country. Counting the votes will not be begun until the polls close. The chief returning officer has a staff of about 80 deputies and clerks to assist him and a good idea of the Tesult of the poll should be able to be gained by about 10 o’clock in the evening. A COMPARISON STATE OF THE PARTIES. Some 212 candidates for the 76 European seats will go to the poll to-day, as compared with the 189 nominees which entered the ballot lists on November 4, 1925. The appended figures afford a comparison of the political interests represented on the two occasions:—

Reform 1928. 67 1925. 66 Independent Reform 8 3 Labour 55 56 Independent Labour .. 4 — United 55 - Independent United 1 — Nationalist — 46 Independent Nationalist — 2 Independent 11 3 Country 5 5 Liberal-Labour 2 1 In. Liberal-Labour .. .. Liberal 1 5 Independent Liberal 1 1 National Liberal — 1 Christian Socialist .. .. 1 — 212 189 At the end of the 1925-28 Parliament the state of the parties was as under:— Reform 51 Independent Reform .. , 3 Labour 14 United 9 Independent Independent Liberal .. . 1