WAIPAWA BY-ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 21195, 23 September 1930, Page 8

WAIPAWA BY-ELECTION

REFORM CANDIDATE OPENS CAMPAIGN. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE CARRIED. (Per United Press Association.) Waipukurau, September 22. A large and enthusiastic audience assembled in the Municipal Theatre this evening to hear Mr William Tucker, Reform candidate in the Waipawa by-election, make his first public appearance before a Waipukurau audience. Mr Robert McLean, the Mayor, presided and Mr Tucker was supported by Messrs A. M. Samuel, David Jones and H. M. Campbell, members for Thames, Mid-Canterbury and Hawkes Bay. The meeting opened with a vote of sincere condolence to the widow and family of Sir George Hunter. * Mr Tucker, who was accorded a rousing reception, said that the late Mr Massey had served New Zealand as a trusted, tried and faithful Prime Minister. He eulogized Mr Coates, the best man in the Dominion to-day, as a Leader of the Government and paid a tribute to Mr Downie Stewart as Minister of Finance. The speaker dwelt with the tapering off borrowing policy of the Reform Government and made a comparison with the United Party at the 1928 election, stating that he was satisfied that New Zealand now realized her mistake. He quoted United extravagance and United Ministers’ travelling expenses. Speaking on United’s 1928 manifesto he said that were the consequences of the aftermath not so terrible the ridiculous assertions and promises were laughable. He referred to' the savings of Reform in the Legislative Council and railway construction. With railways Mr Tucker said that it was desirable to put them under directors instead of political control to make them pay. It was also necessary to obtain co-ordination of motor transport interests. They could build a good road for £6OOO a mile but the railway cost £24,000 a mile. Dealing with land settlement Mr Tucker said that he did not favour the settling of improved estates, but agreed with Reform’s group system. He thought that Crown lands settlement should receive greater' consideration by putting settlers in on cheaply advanced money and charging a rental on the basis of what the land would produce. Showing how Reform had helped the farmers Mr Tucker quoted the subsidy for herd testing, the export of fruit and trade in pork, eggs, and honey. In conclusion the speaker made a plea for support for his party. Mr Samuel said that Sir George Hunter was loved and had no enemies. His- de-, mise was much regretted. Addressing the audience he said that it must be apparent to everyone that a political stocktaking should be carried out. He did not ask the electors to vote for Mr Tucker, but for the party with principle and capable government. In an able manner Mr Samuel dealt fully with the birth, life and coming demise of the United Political Party. He made reference to what he described as unfair tactics used against Mr Coates, who was a man of the highest integrity, honour and moral character. United’s manifesto had fooled the country. He instanced the propaganda in the 1928 election. The Government' had never fulfilled its election pledges and promises. The speaker dwelt with United’s financial policy, and said that the Government had budgetted for big money and spent'every penny. The national credit of New Zealand also was good under Reform. He condemned United’s land settlement scheme and advocated that greater attention should be paid to Crown lands in the way of development. He said that Labour dominated the United Party, but had thrown its principles away. He referred to the accumulated surpluses, saying that they had been used by the Reform Government in carrying on progressive works. United saw to it that no person escaped taxation. The Budget was not framed by the United Party, but by the head of the Treasury and other officials. The working man was taxed too heavily. Labour, rather than face a General Election, sacrificed the workers. In conclusion, he said that the electors owed a duty to weigh the pros and cons in a businesslike manner, then do what was best for the Dominion and return a man capable and found not to be wanting. Mr David Jones counselled the electors to remain loyal to Reform and the memory of Sir George Hunter to whom he paid a tribute. The speaker quoted 'Sir Basil .Blackett, “Nowhere in the world were the principles of sound finance better understood than by the Government of New Zealand.” He advocated curtailment of borrowing in view of lower prices and dealt with the development of agriculture and research,<

and also farmers’ credit. What had United done? asked Mr Jones. The Government had offered £70,01)0,000 without a penny additional taxation. The first .year the country got £2,300,000 additional taxation and £2,500,000 additional expenditure' left the country with a surplus of £150,000. The next statement was to prepare the country for a £3,000,000 deficit. The United policy appeared to be continually increasing taxation. United appeared to be doing the sowing and the Dominion doing the reaping. The sum of £10,000,000 was to be spent in completing the Main Trunk lines. Mr Forbes stated in March, 1928, that no further lines should be built without an exhaustive inquiry and went to the country with the wildest railway policy possible. Mr Coates moved last session for a full inquiry, but was rediculed and outvoted on the motion of United and Labour. The cost of construction showed a loss of £733,000 per annum. Now United had set up a committee to inquire which it previously had refused to do. In the meantime, thousands of men put on the railways ■ now wanted to know if it was worth while building. He quoted the railway statement showing an increased 'loss over last year of £788,000. In Reform’s last two years the railways had paid 4 1-5 per cent, this year 1.60. The main loss, the speaker continued, occurred through incompetent administration. Returns showed 874 more men on the railways than the previous year. Part of Sir Joseph Ward's promise was to find work for everybody« in five weeks. • United's statement in the Main Highways Act was the worst case of restrospective legislation in British parliaments. The speaker said that unemployment under United was only the expanding industry. Referring to the Colonial Ammunition Company’s contract, Mr Jones said that when the troons left for Gallipoli they took all available ammunition so without the contract and ammunition works in New Zealand the soldiers would have been without ammunition. Votes of thanks and confidence were carried by acclamation.