REFORM ATTACKED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 508, 10 November 1928, Page 10

REFORM ATTACKED

MR. HEWITT’S CAMPAIGN GOVERNMENT’S SINS An attack on the Government and Its policy was made by Mr. W. C. Hewitt. United candidate for Auckland Central, at a meeting in the Epiphany Hall last evening. Mr. P. McElwain was in the chair. “The people have had enough of the Reform Government and the question arises who is to fill its place.” Voices: Laboar. Speaking on democratic government the candidate said that it was unfortunate that there was a member of Cabinet who was not elected by the people and that was the AttorneyGeneral. When Mr. Coates went to England Sir Francis Bell was actingPrime Minister of New Zealand. "Fancy a Prime Minister of New Zealand who was not elected by the people.” The candidate said that unrestricted inimig.ration was the cause of unemployment and the fact that the Coates Government had no land policy was also a factor. If the Government had had a progressive land policy surplus labour would have been absorbed. The Government had interfered with private enterprise especially the small shopkeeper and had increased the tax on small incomes and reduced it on large ones. It was up to a government to see that those with large incomes paid their fair share. The company taxation system was also criticised, and the expenditure in the consolidated fund was described as extravagant. Regarding the Mental Defectives Bill, the candidate suggested that it was not right that a teacher should be asked to class children, as in many instances backward pupils proved to bo brilliant in later life. Mr. Hewitt went on to outline the United Party's policy affecting various questions of the day. Speaking of the Labour Party the candidate said. “A vote for Labour is a vote for Reform.” (Loud laughter.) “Labour has admitted that it cannot get on the Treasury Benches,” said Mr. Hewitt in explaining his statement. A Voice: “It doesn’t admit that the United Party will get there.” A little later an interjector was ejected following heated argument. In answer to questions the candidate said he was in favour of a two-issue ballot paper, but not a bare majority. He favoured totalisator dividends being published. No harm was done I*V not muzzling the Press in this direction. He was not in favour of licensing bookmakers. Neither was he in favour of a State Bank. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate. la lid Good Carpenter’s Aprons Bert Marshall’s.