WAIPAWA BY-ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 21197, 25 September 1930, Page 7

WAIPAWA BY-ELECTION

UNITED CANDIDATE’S ADDRESS. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE PASSED. (Per United Press Association.) Waipukurau, September 24. Before a packed audience Mr A. E. lull, United candidate for the Waipawa seat, delivered a campaign speech in his home town of Waipawa to-night, the Mayor (Mr G. 11. Hunt.) presiding. The candidate commenced by deploring the demise of Sir George Hunter and said it was eleven years since he (Mr Jull) had contested the Waipawa seat. He expressed the hope that the present contest would be fought in a friendly spirit. The 1928 election caused a surprise to Reform supporters, but the result was due to the Reform Administration which had developed into an orgy of expenditure. Reform were responsible for having increased the indebtedness of the country by £115,000,000. Despite borrowing Reform left a deficit of, £420,000 and also an accumulation of 4,000 applications for land under the Advances to Settlers Act, aggregating £4,169,200, many being eighteen months and two years in arrears. Sir Joseph Ward inspired the Advances to Settlers Act. Since the United Party had assumed office in 1928 it had added £6,000,000 to the funds of the Advances to Settlers Account and also made advances aggregating £8,000,000. Sir Joseph Ward in 1928 succeeded in converting £29,000,000 stock on good terms, holders receiving £4 15/3 per cent, full period under new -stock. In addition a loan of £7,000,000 was floated in London, four and a half per cent. at . £95 yielding £4 16/5 to investors. Distinct cleavages between the policy of United and Reform were in respect of the attitude towards the question of land subdivision. Mr Jull stated that United disposed of 2.556 Crown holdings on all tenures comprising 62,300 acres. Dealing with railways Mr Jull said that the important question of construction and administration returns showed that 345 miles of the railways construction programme would fall short of paying estimated working expenses interest by £737,000 per annum. Included was the Napier-Gis-borne line with 121 miles to complete atan estimated annual loss of £283,000. He quoted other non-paying lines, Kirikopuni with a loss of £26,000 per annum and Okaihau with a loss of £35,000 per annum. In view of the fact that last year's operations resulted in a loss of £1,211,000, it was clear that the gravest attention must be given to the programme of railway construction for the purpose of developing the resources of the country*, but there was a limit to what the finances of the Dominion could stand. Mr Jull contended that when the Liberals left office in 1912 the general manager of railways received a salary of £l2OO per annum. Subsequently a manager from England had been appointed at a salary* of £3,000 for a period of five years. At the end of the term Mr McVilly was appointed at £3OOO. Mr McVilly retired at a salary of £2,000 to make room for a board of three members to carry on the management for a year or so and retiring on pensions of £2,500. Mr Coates' later asked Mr Sterling to come as sole manager for seven years at £3,500 and a pension of £2,300. With four years of Mr Sterling’s engagement to run Reform made as one of its planks nonpolitical control by the manager of railways. The spiXker dealt with costly yards, equipment, various deviations at Wellington and Auckland, also the costly scheme of workshops expenditure. He dealt at length with worshops and rolling stock. The Napier-Hastings bus service was showing a loss of £7926 last year due largely to private taxi services. Dealing'with education Mr Jull suggested a large saving in administration by closer co-operation of effort. Referring to the ammunition contract be contended that defence was much hampered by the fifty years contract for the supply of ammunition. Dealing with the new Budget Mr Jull said that Mr Forbes had shown courage by placing the Dominion’s financial cards on the table. He contended that unless savings were made the additional taxation accepted would result in a deficit of £3.000,000. When Reform left office there was a deficit of £425,000. Last year Sir Joseph Ward's Budget produced a surplus of £150,000. He referred in detail to the taxation of main highways and briefly to petrol tax. Dealing with unemployment he contended that the provisions of the Unemployment Bill were reasonable and would also serve a number of good purposes. Mr Forbes was attending the Imperial Conference, Mr Jull said and it was unfair and unbecoming of Reform to suggest that the Prime Minister had cleared out leaving the Dominion in an alleged unfinancial condition. Mr Forbes was highly respected and did not pose as a superman, but was competent, capable and consistent, actuated with a desire. to serve New Zealand to the best of his ability. A vote of thanks to the candidate and an expression of confidence in. the United Party were carried by acclamation.