THE FINAL SHOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1925, Page 9

THE FINAL SHOTS.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN OVER. grHE STRATFORD CONSTITUENCY. MH R. MASTERS SPEAKS. ’ (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, Last Night. The final shot in his election campaign was fired by Mr. R. Masters, Nationalist candidate for the Stratford Beat, at the King's Theatre, Stratford, to-night. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) presided, and the candidate was given an attentive hearing, being frequently applauded. In opening Mr. Masters stated that on no platform throughout his electorate had he in any way criticised his opponent personally. Dealing with the question of the Liberal and Labour parties uniting, Mr. Masters referred to his opponent's statement made last night, and lie road a passage from Hansard which, he said, Mr. Walter had not completed. The report in effect stated that the Liberal Party had no intention whatever of joining the Labour Party. The speaker then went on to criticise the Government on the lines of addresses previously reported. Referring to the immunity of the big land-owners from income tax. he criticised Mr. Walters statement that this was a war measure and had since been lifted, and added that they were still saddled with the war debt. He then dealt with the Auditor-General’s report, imputing maladministration of departments in the purchasing of stores. As an instance, the Auditor-General stated that £58,000 was written off the houses at Miramar on account *of niwmaiiageiiient, and the matter never came* before the committee that was set up. "If there is anything of which 1 have been proud of, it is my action in this matter,” said Mr. Masters in replying to a statement regarding Mr. Masters and the cement commission. If he should be in Parliament for the next twenty years, what he had saved the country as a result of this commission would pay his salary for the whole of that time. A vote of thanks and confidence was declared to be carried unanimously.