THE EGMONT SEAT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 63, 24 October 1928, Page 5

THE EGMONT SEAT

p MIC HAWHJKiVS AiTUKISSSU. ’CRITICISM OP UNITED PARTY. The position of the farmer today wag much . ..safer than it had been, and although his land had been written down,* in [Value, if money could be obtained' at cheaper rates, it would help the farmer, said Hon. 0. J. Hawken at Otakeho on Monday. That there. would soon be more money for investment than there had been for some time, was predicted by Mr Hawken, r. , .m- ■ l..:if Sir Joseph Ward's borrowing ■proposal had been carried out some time - agov it tnight have been a good thing, 1 but now it might help tofeaiise ai; bobm Vith undesirable effects.. It would be much better to raise money from within. ■ tl Referring to the statement by Sir Joseph that the borrowed money would be spread over a period of years, Jdr Hawken declared it would be foolish to borrow money which it,:was not intended to use for some time,, because the . price of money was undoubtedly coming down. TOO MUCH OOKKOuIiiVO. “The main criticism of the United' Party is that we have been borrowing at too great a rate, and now they—the United Party—propose to borrow at a still greater rate,” said MyVfflgyJpßn. “Even during-the last session' 1 Sir Joseph Ward criticised us for our borrowing, and his latest proposals surprise me, I read it as a_ gambler’s last throw of the if will bring them , success or oblivion. They had to do something to bring before the country the presence of the United Party." 1 - ■' . >,;• tIIiUSTTOJNS. ;,U At the conclusion of the address, several Questions were ( forthcoming. Mr Bashford: You have skipped one thing to-night, Mr Hawken. How are you' on The licensing question? Mr Hawken replied that he favoured a small majority. 5# -Evans:’:-Is the Te Wera block paying its way? Mr. Hawken replied that the estate’ Was bought at apparently a yery low price. It had been subdivided; buf there had been no applicants, so -. the Government bad stocked if He believed it was payr ing well. -There appeared to be very little demand for that class of land, but he’ believed it was well worth the money. Mr‘Bashford: Do you mean to say it Is good land and nobody knows it? - ■ Mr Hawken affirmed that 1 it was quite l good sheep land, and: he her lieved that it would yet go oft. , Mr Bashford: Why didn’t the Prim© Minister- carry on with the Licensing Bill? Tvfr Hawken explained that ifwas not a Government or party measure.