INTERJECTORS ABSENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 8

INTERJECTORS ABSENT

MR. DICKSON AT PUREWA FREE TRADE CRITICISED Contrary to expectation, at Mr. J. S. Dickson’s meeting at the Public Works camp, Purewa, last night, there was not a single interjection. Mr. C. Hill occupied the chair. Mr. Dickson’s speech was mainly an answer to the United Party candidate. Mr. Jenkins, address at the Meadowbank Road last week advocating free trade. It would he disastrous for New Zealand if free trade were adopted, said the candidate. What .was to become of the 81,700 people employed in industries? It would be impossible to compete with the foreign article with New Zealand’s high standard of living and high wages. The speaker ventured the opinion that nearly all our industries would close with the enactment of free trade. The candidate emphatically denied that the Government had increased the customs tariff on the necessaries of life. On the contrary, it had reduced the tariff. He admitted. however, that the tariff on luxuries, such as wines, spirits, and tobaccp. had been raised. Dealing with income tax. the speaker quoted figures showing that the Government actually had not ‘raised the income tax on the small man, and went on to state that New Zealanders were not so highly taxed as were Australians.

The Government intended to prosecute the Rotorua-Taupo railway scheme with the Public Works staff, and when the line was completed those men who so desired could take up land, and the Government would give them every assistance to settle. Workers on relief works were averaging 13s 7d for marired men and 12s 4d for single. He did not say that relief wages were enough, but said that tl/ y assisted to tide a man over till better times.

It was evident when question time arrived that what Mr. Dickson described as his “quietest political meeting,” was really what a number of Labour supporters were waiting for. Asked why it was that England, with free trade, had not “gone to the pack,” the candidate said he would be very sorry to see the wages and the standard of living in New Zeafand brought to the same level as those obtaining in the Old Sountry. On the motion of Mr. J. Costello, and seconded by Mr. W. A. Keely, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. There was then a loud demonstration from a section of the audience, who called for three cheers for Labour.