THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16613, 10 December 1919, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TARANAKI SEAT. MR. BUCKERIDGE AT O-TKUBA. (Published t>y arrangement). Mr. Geo. H. Buckeridge, the Reform candidate for tho Taranaki seat, addressed a meeting of electors at Oakura on Tuesday night, Mr. C. Maco presiding. The candidate was given a splendid hearing, his remarks being frequently applauded. Tiro chairman, in briefly introducing the candidate, said it had been stated that Mr. Buqkeridgo was a stranger in this electorate. This, however, was not a fact. Mr. Buckeridge was veil known, particularly to the farming community, not only in this constituency but throughout the province. Mr. Buckeridge, at the outset ol his address reiterated that ho had not coino into the contest lor tho purpose of lighting Mr. Smith, but because ho differed with Mr. Smith in politics. They were very good friends, and had been for a long time, and ho hoped that when the tight was over they would continue to bo friends. Ho wanted, he /continued, tho contest to be fought oh clean linos, and so far as lie was concerned, and lie hoped his supporters too, nothing would he done that would leave any sting behind.

Mr. Buckcridge went on to refer to the efforts fin had mode during a period of 30 years in tiio interim's nl the farmers, and said that Taranaki to-day was richer a great deal because of work he had been able to do particularly for the benefit of the small farmer. (Applause.) A CHOICE OF LEADERS. Proceeding, Mr. Buckcridge said there wore really tiro responsible parties in Now /'calami at the. present time. On the one hand they had the Reform Party with Mr. Massey as its leader, and on the other they had Sir Joseph Ward, Barithe, greatest political peacock the country had over produced. There could be no doubt to-day surely that the great man in New Zealand political life was the Prime Minister. In Mr. Massey the country had a leader it could bo proud of. It had been said that he war, contesting the scat simply tor the purpose of keeping Mr. Massey in his seat as Prime Minister. This was not strictly true, but even if it was the only reason then his contention was that it was sufficiently good. (Applause.) Sir. Massey to-day was the only leader who was capable of taking charge of the country’s affairs in what ho supposed was the greatest crisis in its history, a man who had stood out among the foremost statesmen of the world, a man who had been offered the highest honours that could bo conferred on the loader of any country but who preferred to remain W. F. Massey. (Applause.) THE LIBERAL PAST. Mr. Buckcridge, proceeding, criticised the Liberal policy during a period of 21 years of office. He _ stressed particularly its action in settling men and women on the back country without any means of access, not even tracks except those that appeared on paper, and said that when represeiuations were made they were told, ‘ : AiVJ if you want roads and bridges then you must send to the House of Representatives men of the right colour.” It was a disgrace that such a state of things had over been allowed to exist, and they should see to it- that it never ncourrcd again. He coni ended that before the back country was onened up it should be properly roaded. (Applause.) The same argument applied to railways. There were railways in this country which did not pay and never would pay, whilst in Taranaki, where a commission had reported that in its opinion a railway would pay handsomely right from tho commencement, they had boon denied this for years. Taranaki to-day was suffering, and severely too, tor the maladministration of tho Liberal Party. So far as Mr. kmith was concerned ho did not know just where lie stood, and he did not think Mr. Smith did himself. He had said ho would vote against Mr. Massey, that he .would not volo for Sir Joseph A','aid. There were the only two great parties in New Zealand to-day, and if his opponent did not vote for either of these whom would he vote for? Would ho vote for the embryo Labour Party, one of tho planks of whoso policy was that land should not bo bought,'sold, or exchanged except to or from the State? He did not say that Mr. Smith would_ associate himself with the Labour party, but it was a danger they bad to guard’ against. Ho attributed the high cost of living to a very large extent to tho attitude of extreme Labour, and said that whilst ho had every smypathy with Labour and wits out to help tho workers ail he knew how, their lead was all wrong. ft would be hard work to get it put right, but it was n question which had to be tackled. (.Applause.) DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY. Dealing jvith the question of defence, Mr. Buckcridge said he had been asked whether file considered the country should go in for a system of military training. AVo had, ho said, got to be prepared to meet danger from whatever source it might come, and therefore he felt it was necessary to have a little military training, but he was not prepared to subscribe to tho policy of sending boys to camp for four months at a time. In fact ho felt he would prefer to go to gaol rather than have his boy taken to camp for four months each year. Coming to the question of repatriation, Sir. Buckendge said that no matter what w'e did for the returned soldier, howover big tho gratuity, however much we helped them, it was not too much because everything we had had been saved for ns because of the sacrifices they had made on our behalf and for the Empire to which we were all so proud to belong. But in the giving we had got to consider wdiat wo could afford. It was no good to the men or to the people to make promises that there was no chance of carrying into effect. Ho believed in doing all we possibly could for the returned men, and personally was doing so, for he had helped quite a number of returned soldiers out of his own pocket in order to give them a new start, and was glad to Ray they were making good, but whilst this was so ho would not subscribe to anything that was going to spoon-feed the soldier. It was no good for tho men themselves, and it was no good for tho country. AVo wanted to teach the soldier and help the soldier by all the

moans in their power to be self-reli-ant, to true citizenship.

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Dealing with educational matters. Air. Buckeridge said we had got to educate our choldren so that thSy could take their place alongside the very best. Other nations were educating their children in order to properly equip thorn for the battle of life, and wo must do quite as well if not belter to fit our children for tho battle of life also. For that reason ho believed in giving every advantage of education to every child and to make it absolutely free. He believed in, our system of free compulsory education, and that this should he extended so that all children who so desired should also have the advantage of free secondary school training, and later tho privilege of attending the university. The most important branch of our civil service was the teaching profession, and in that branch wc have, or did have n. little while ago, the poorest paid of our civil servants. It was a disgrace to New Zealand that this should ho so. Tho people who were training tho men ana women of the future should have tho best passible* salary the country could afford to pay; it should bo a salary that should attract iho very host men and women Dial could be secured. THE COUNTRY’S NEEDS. Afr. Buckeridge touched on tho need for increased production, and said to do this more money raid more men were required, cud in ibis -esnect ho advocated agricultural co-operative hanks and a sohom-e of immigration lie also strcssrd the importance of farmers being assured plentiful supplies of manures, and urged tho establishment cf co!lcjr , ’.< for instruction in dairying and the manufacture of butier and cliec.sc.

Other subjects were also referred tn hy 31 r. Buckm-idge on the lines of his Now Plymouth address. Ar Die conclusion of his address the candidate was ashed anti satisfactorily answered a number of questions, and on the motion of Air. AS’. J. Honeyfield, seconded by Mr. 0. Ponwardeu, was accorded a vote of thanks and an expression of confidence in the Massey Government. A vote of thanks concluded the meeting. MB. RUCKER I DOE AT KORU. Mr. Buckeridge addressed the suppliers of the ivoru factory this morning and at the close was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. Hammond seconded by Mr. ALGregor. MR. S. G. SMITH’S CAMPAIGN. Mm S. 0. Smith addressed the electors at Albert Road creamery on Tuesday morning. Mr. AY. S. bhoemaru presided, and practically | all the suppliers being present. At the conclusion of his speech, -Air. Smith was accorded, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Air. Herbert, a vote of thanks and confidence. Air. S. G. Smith addressed iho electors at AA’cstown Hall on Tuesday evening, Air. J. Lovell presiding over a large attendance. The candidate dealt with the present day political subjects, and was given an attentive healing. At the conclusion, a hearty vote ol’ thanks and renewed confidence, proposed by Air. J. Lubb, .seconded by j.iiu A. Coiul, was carried unanimously. STRATFORD SEAT. HON. J. B. HIKE AT ROWAN. Major Hine addressed an nudicnco of about 30 electors at Rowan on -Monday evening, . receiving an attentive hearing throughout his address. Air. llollard presided, and at the conclusion ui the address a hearty vote of thanks ami a motion Oi confidence in the speaker as being the most suitable representative of the district in Parliament were moved and carried unanimously. AIR. MASTERS AT PEMBROKE ROAD. There was an at tendance of about SO doctors at the school on Alonday night and the Liberal candidate received an attentive hearing. Ho spoke lor nearly two hours on the political questions of the day. as have been already reported. and introduced new matter relating to the shipping position. He stated that the charter hire, cost of turning vessels into troopships, and then reconditioning them for ordinary use for the term of the war amounted up to March 31 last to £-1,944.607 IGs Id. The Government paid for the charter hire alouo of the hospital ship Maliono £163.931 15s od, the conditioning and fitting up of the ship costing £153,693. For the charter hire of tho Alarama. the sum of £265.441 5s 3d was paid, the fitting costing £111,393. Air. Alastbrs stressed tho point that the Government could have taken over the Union, Steamship Company for a lesser amount than it paid for hire alone. At the close of the address a number of questions wore answered and a. resolution proposed by Air. T. Boyle and seconded by_Alr. G. Alumby according avole of thanks for his able and instructive address and confidence in him as a fitting representative in Parliament of the interests of the district was carried without dissent. Tho usual compliments to tho chairwoman, Airs. I. Cnthbert, who handled the meeting very capably, concluded the meeting. THE WAITGMO SEAT. AIR. C. K. WILSON AT OHURA. (Rrmn a Correspondent.) Air. C. K. AA’ilson caused quite a stir in the Ohura district by some of his information on tho subject of trusts and combines and their power of raising the cost of living. Many people said they had no idea of tho extent to which the abuse had grown in New Zealand and the menace they set up both to producer and consumer. AlivAvilson pointed out that the strength of the exploiters lay in the complete control of shipping transport. “If,” he said, “a reasonable amount of shipping space were available competition would soon bring down prices, but at preseit the space is monopolised by a few merchants who have prices at their mercy.” He gave this instance—during the winter of 1018 tho price of chaff was £5 a ton in the South Island to £ls in the North, but no private consumer could buy his own chaff in tho South and ship it himself because the big merchants had bought up the entire available shipping space. Air. AA'ilson considers that an absolute remedy for’ the profiteering evil is far to seek, but that a great blow would be struck at it if shipping were controlled, or if a line of ships were owned hy the State.

Mr. Wilson quoted President Cleveland who said, “Burn Chicago to the ground and it will rise again from its ashes within five years, but destroy the country round Chicago and within five years grass will grow in its streets.” He proceeded to stress the shortsighted-

ness of neglecting to give the country districts tho facilities and advantages that would encourage, laud settlement. Because a country district is sparsely settled the money spent there is reduced to a minimum. If, for instance, the Government would only see a little farther ahead of requirements many hundred parents who are now loath to chance their children’s chances would be eager to settle on the land. Close land settlement, Mr. Wilson considers, is the only solution of the financial situation. If we can double production the war debt need no longer frighten ns.

A returned soldier at one of Mr. C. K. Wilson’s meetings in tho King Country congratulated the speaker on being the first candidate ho had heard who had not made an obvious bid for the support of the returned soldiers. “Tho soldiers,” he said, “had been men before they were soldiers, and the way in which some of tho candidates were touting for their votes was an insult to a man’s intelligence.” MR. MASSEY IN THE NORTH. HAS GREAT RECEPTION. Per Press Assnrjat'on. Auckland, iToc. o. The Prime Minister had a remarkable reception at Tnakau this .uternoon. Tho town was gaily decorated and children lined the approach to the iuill, which was crowded. The chairman extended a hearty welcome to Air. •Massey, whose name, lie said, was familiar throughout the wor.d as a result oi his conspicuous work as the head of tho National Government. Mr. Massey was received with cheers, and his speech was punctuated with applause. Alluding to defence, ho said he did not sugge.,l a great standing army, but it was essential to keep the navy supreme. (Applause.) Dealing with the Opposition and tho Extreme Labour Parties, which lie said appeared to bo in competition ns to which should have 1 lie greatest number o:. ! nationalKalkm proposals, lies said it reminded him of a doctor who prescribed the same pill for every i'J (Laughter.) In tjii« case pmtlcimiisatiun was the one pill. AVhiio behoving nationalisation was necessary to break up monopoly, he laid down the principle that the State should not.interfere with industry, which could bet. lor bo run by private individuals. He declared his belief that the principle cause of the increase of the cost of living was the tremendous issue of paper currency, which had the inevitable Mfcci; of" cheapening money. He did not believe rhe cost of living would bo greatly reduced until much of the paper currency was withdrawn, and this would bo a gradual process. New Zealand would welcome ex-service men Britain was going to assist to go abroad, and in glowing tonus he spoke of the great ideal of Kipling of British people under ihc flag. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried amid checre. SIR J. WARD IN HAWKE’S BAY. WAIPAWA, Dec, 9. Sir Joseph Ward passed through Waipawa this afternoon, cn route to Hastings. He received a most enthusiastic welcome, a call for cheers being responded to vigorously. Sir Joseph Ward spoke for half-an-iionr, stressing rhe need for a strong Government to carry the ship of State through tho troublous limes ahead. He advocated a forward public works policy, and expressed his firm belief that the Liberals would at tho general election again come into their own. Sir Joseph "Ward addressed n similar open-air meeting at Mnsterton, I’ahiatua, and Dnnnevirke. experiencing the same measure; of cordiality in each centre. NAPIER, Dec. 9. Sir Joseph Ward arrived in Hastings by motor car (his evening, and addressed a very large audience in the Municipal Theatre. He received a good hearing, and was seldom interrupted. S’r Joseph Ward spoke for two hours, dealing with subjects ««on which be has already spoken in other centres, and the platform laid down in Ids manifesto upon seceding from the National Government. He spoke at length on his proposals for nntionaßsation affecting coal-mines, a State Bank, hydro-electric schemes, and the Wellington-Lyttolton ferry service. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence met with an equal volume of “ayes” and “11003,” but was declared carried by tho Mayor (Mr. 0. Ebbett), who occupied the chair.