ELECTION POINTS

Southland Times, Issue 23634, 8 October 1938, Page 15

ELECTION POINTS

What Candidates Are Saying . “As sure as anything after the election the cost of butter will rise,” declared the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, at Mandeville yesterday afternoon. “The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, is keeping the price down in the meantime. It suits him to do so.” “When I used to know the present Cabinet Ministers they were keen advocates of day labour,” said Mr Hiram Hunter, the National Party candidate for Avon. “Today those same men are the greatest exploiters of the, co-opera-tive contract system this country has ever known. And the greatest champion among them is the Hon. Robert Semple

“When I used to know the present Cabinet Ministers they were keen advocates of day labour,” said Mr Hiram Hunter, the National Party candidate for Avon. “Today those same men are the greatest exploiters of the, co-opera-tive contract system this country has ever known. And the greatest champion among them is the Hon. Robert Semple —the champion nigger-driver. There is more discontent on public works today than ever there was.”

A description applied to the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the National Party, by his opponents was made public by Mr T. McMath, chairman of Mr Hamilton’s meeting at Riversdale last evening. “I have heard on the best of authority that he is the ‘toughest of the gang’,” said Mr McMath when introducing the candidate. “And the man who said that ought to know,” he added.

The meeting addressed by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) at Little River on Thursday opened in an unusual way. As soon as the chairman, Mr F. O. Coop, had concluded his introductory remarks, someone at the piano gave the signal and the big audience of nearly 300 rose to sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow," in honour of the Minister. Mr Semple then rose and, referring to the recent grave crisis, suggested that it would be fitting for the meeting to start with the National Anthem. Everybody in the hall stood in response to the call, and the National Anthem was sung with fervour.

“We should be able to get public opinion properly registered this time,” said the Hon. Adam Hamilton in his address at Mandeville yesterday afternoon. “At last election there was a party which split the vote, but this time those chances have been reduced to a minimum, as only in a few electorates is the fight not a straight-out fight. Both parties are well equipped, but I can say that our side never has been better organized. We are looking forward to a great victory.”

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said at Timaru that at one of his meetings he had been-asked a good number of questions by the local doctor. He asked the Minister if compulsion would be resorted to if doctors refused to carry out their duties under the social security scheme, Mr Jones replying that he did not believe that compulsion would be necessary, as no member of the British Medical Association would refuse to give service to the sick and dying. The doctor had assured the Minister that he had never spoken truer words. Mr Jones added that he believed all doctors would support the scheme when it came into operation.

“Mr Savage has told us that if the medical profession will not fall into line in the social security scheme, doctors will be imported,” said Mr Gladstone Ward, National candidate for Christchurch South, in his election address at Addington. “Supposing you had an industrial dispute, say on the waterfront at Lyttelton, and the controlling authorities brought labour from Australia, what would you call them?” he asked. There was mixed applause and booing, but there were mqpy to supply the description, “Scabs.”

Methods which have been adopted in London in advertising Mr J. A. Lee’s book, “Socialism in New Zealand,” were described by Mr S. G. Smith, Labour candidate for New Plymouth, during his recent broadcast speech. A complete shop window in the offices of the High Commissioner for the Dominion in the Strand, said Mr Smith, was given over to a large poster advertising the book. The poster was surrounded by copies of the book.

“The only difference between the £lOO bonus of the National Party and the one referred to in Hitler’s book is that Hitler seeks to provide as many young soldiers as possible,” declared Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., at Somerfield. “Do we want to breed cannon-fodder? Of course we don’t." The Government did not promise anything like a bonus, but it did aim to pay all maternity ex-, penses, and see that mothers received the best of medical attention, he added.

“It is amusing to hear the claim of the Labour Party that it has taken the mantle of Seddon and the old Liberals. They make statements like this, but they don’t bring along the proof to substantiate them,” said the Hon. Adam Hamilton, at Mandeville yesterday. “They seem to overlook that sons and a daughter of former Liberal Prime Ministers have allied themselves to the National cause and will fight against socialism.” Mr Hamilton referred to Mrs Knox Gilmer, Mr Gladstone Ward and Mr F. G. Hall-Jones.