MR WILKINSON ALLEGES BRIBERY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 64, 25 October 1928, Page 5

MR WILKINSON ALLEGES BRIBERY

“THE GREAT REFORM PARTY HAS FALLEN LOW” MR HAWKEN AND VOTES. THOSE NEWSLETTER STATEMENTS. The “Newsletter” rdport of the Hon. 0. J. Hawken’ s speech to* the Reform, Party Conference received coirsiderable attention from Mr C. A. Wilkinson in his speech at Eltham last night.

LABC(URIING MEN’S VOTES. Th© speaker referred! to u, statement made by Mr Hawkon with reference to Labour that “they are a dangerous force to-day, because they can call to their aid many others. In short, the Labour Party is the party we have to fight. The .moment we 'attack organised Labour in any way which they consider to ho inimical tot their interests, tb<f |*est of the Labour population sympathise with them, and wo must bo cjareful not to talk about reducing or reducing Labour’s share of the general profits. Bid the Reform Party intend reducing wages? ■ If, a s they skid, they must not talk abuot it publicly, it must be in their minds. 'Mr Hawken had said: “If a labourer’s daughter could make a pound or two in the country sir© would not feel such a strong inducement to? borne info th© town. W© must keep a tight hold of the farm labourbut it is very difficult to know liow to help him,” 'Die Reform Party were at their wits’ end to know just liow to buy tj.i,i|s \vbte. Eviidentljy the) labouring man’s vote was about the only vote the Reform Party could

hot buy.‘ '.a;A i WHEAT-CROWERS’ VOTES. - ■ Turning to the question of free trade and protection, Mr Wilkinson continued quoting the following ex- . tracts from the “Newsletter” :—> “.There is a great deal of talk about i free trade ‘and protection. The farm- . ers make up two-thirds of our party, While the town members contribute the, remaining one-third. Hie farmer is naturally a free-trader. He does ! not see much benefit for him lin protection, particularly -as ,h© has in pynert hit- produce to other countries ami comiy>te in the markets of | the world. T find in the North Island mhnv who. stronglv object to the C"stores duties. I have found , 'also that amongst the farmers there is a- rift in m«nr cares. Thev obiect )to -the flou r duties we have imposed j to, help +he southern r>r>oole. There is a .pnedflo daeoer there As T hove eynlaired to monv rinonle i»i Tlironqlri, if we afi-ilisfi the wheaf, dn+ies ! -vhf't lynnld li-open to +bo South Island ?TT vr “ oof tnlr our mep>_ he.-s berk T do not think wo would rn>r ’’ Mr v-no more mnperu°d about, Tfinfo-vu m/ir.-) )i .it* q , u Phwifl* ' Tslno'd Pop!.- flnn Tin v-n S rthnlJt.' oifl-ior thn When(;.irwni> o’* fl*n "ooeral public, comnwite-i the sneak- : er. SOUTH ISLAND VOTES. Continuing his references to the “Newsletter,” Mr Wilkinson quoted the following passages: “It is surprising what a lob of feeling there : is between the North and South Island. W© know it is there, although we do hot say much about it, but we ! fight it iall we can. But the moment •we are forced to interfere with those dffffea I feel sure the party would go ,to' pieces, and th e Labour Party I would' come in with a high protection policy. I am a free-trader if I consulted my own ideas, yet I have .always supported the case of the South Island.” i “Truly a great free-trader,” staid j Mr-.. Wilkinson. .“Merely a party hack, who would support anything for votes,” FRUITGROWERS’ VOTE. The • following quotation was then taken and dealt with: “The question iOf .finance lies very largely at the , back of politics, and the legislation ■ tbit wo havd passed shows, that we •pay duo attention to the social amen- 1 i ties,, but many at the back of many i people's mind i s the fact that'Hhcy ! want ~a better opportunity for traq-k-’i : ing ;i , living. For instance, the'’fruity Industry produces about i tyse» for the local market, and 1,000,OOQ, cases for export. With a total value, of about £1,000,000, 0000 peoplo, are engaged in it and our expenditure in assisting them amounted to £13.000. That is nob a very large amount when you consider that 6000 men and their wives 'and) families constitute) a very big vote.” “POLITICAL BRIBERY.” '■“This is the (most cold-blooded! piece of political bribery ever offered by a Minister of the Crown in tin’s or any other country,” said Mr Wil- , kin son. “Votes are calculated and payment assessed and) made by pnb|licAtnoney, at about £l per head. •bihsh.Mr TTpwknn think lib is buying sheep? Ye gods! The one-time great Reform, Party has fallen low. Would j