MR POLSON'S CHAMPAIGN

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 75, 9 November 1928, Page 5

MR POLSON'S CHAMPAIGN

ADDRESS AT TARIKI. A REFORM CIRCULAR DEALT WITH. A very wet night failed to seriously affect Mr W. L Poison’s meeting at Tariki last night. The candidate dealt with what he termed the most recent “emanations from th e Reform rumour factory” published as a special leaf in the newspapers. It was interesting to know that he was “fortune’s favourite,” he said. He could assure his audience 'lie fully expected to be on the 14th ,inst. MADE HIS OWN WAY. He also wished to assure them ' that he had made his own way in life having been a wage-earner until be was over 30 years of age. If 'he had succeeded that, was surely no reason for refusing to entrust him with the representation of a successful district. H e was a' dairy farmer like themselves, and he might remind them that this Government which was now busily decrying him had selected him from the farmers of the Dominion for at least two highly important positions.

DISPROVED BUT STILL PUBLISHED. Referring to the, statenientls' in the special pag e which the Reform Party had issued, the speaker pointed out that he had upon the platform entirely disproved each and every one of them, but here- they were again republished by people, who knew they were untrue. He felt sorry for people who had to descend to such methods of controversy, but the old saying “like master, like servant” evidently applied in politics. They had Mr Coates, th e Prime Minister of the country, setting the example with abusive misrepresentation, and Mr Hawken next door advising Reform candidates not to consider principles in entering politics but to sacrifice principles for votes.

ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT. Mr Poison then quoted the official Government report of the industrial conference to show that in making an attack on him at Inglewood, Mr Coates not only misrepresented the position but had stated what was absolutely incorrect.

EVERY STATEMENT INCORRECT. Dealing with the Reform advertisement 1 more in detail, Mr Poison went on to show that every statement in it was incorrect. For example, he had been charged with attending a conference at Rot'orua to decide upon an opposition candidate for the district. Now it was stated that he had attended a meeting of Farmers Union delegates at Putaruru, and that was gravely printed as a charge against him. He had proved out of the mouths of a crowd of witnesses at a number of meetings that Mr Walter had made the statement which he now denied that the speaker had given no evidence before the Rural Intermediate Credit Committee and having shown that Mr Walter was mistaken and that his memory had completely failed him, the latter had changed his ground and was now that he was misreported. Mr Poison went on to give convincing proofs that in his new assertion Mr Walter was as mistaken as in his first! one.

THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT. lu any case were all those people wrong who had in response to the speaker’s invjitatiou informed jhjis audiences that they had heard •Mr Walter mak e his original statement. A DEFINITE POLICY. Did the eletccrs want 1 that sort of thing or did they want politics from their candidates. He was a critic of the present administration, but he also had a definite policy which he had laid down for what he believed the best interests of the country. His opponents had failed to answer one statement that 1 he had made or to controvert one figure. On the contrary he had shown that every statement of theirs was incorrect. The fact was that as the result of seventeen, years of Reform 'administration, we had — A record national debt while other Dominions had reduced theirs.

Record taxation largely concealed in other accounts. Other Dominions had lowered theirs. Record expenditure which was not reproductive.. Farming at a standstill. Business stagnant. Land settlement ceased, although Mr Coates admits there is plenty of land available. Less employment in town and country and unemployment serious.

The , highest cost of living in the world because th e people paid too large a share of the taxes through the customs.

In conclusion, Mr Poison read a unanimous resolution passed by a South Island branch of the Reform League demanding a change of policy and pledging itself to press for change of Governemnt. Evidently Reform itself was dissatisfied. t Mr Poison was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.