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Vivian H. Potter

Official Reform Candidate for Roskill

THE subject of this sketch, Mr, Vivian H. Potter, was born at

Hamilton, Waikato, but quitted that now thriving town in infancy, and became a resident of Auckland. He received his education at Mount Eden School, and also at the Epsom School, and has witnessed the marvellous growth •-and progress of the "Queen City," which has doubled or more than •doubled its population since his youthful days. But although Mr. Potter has always made Auckland his headquarters, he has not lived here continuously, because he was all through the Boer war, and more recently helped to win the greatest war the world has ever known, having not long since returned from the front. Although quite a young man, Mr. Potter has for twenty years taken a keen interest in politics, and has been prominently identified v more than one important local body. He has done good work as a member of the Waihi Miners' Union, and is :at present a member of the Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association. Long accustomed to the platform, Hr. Potter has learned to be a fluent and forcible public speaker. He goes straight to the point, and invariably contrives to interest and impress his audience. Fortunate in the possession of a good presence, his manner is pleasing, and he makes many adherents. He has seen a good deal of the world, and has acquired some of the polish that travel invariably imparts to those who take advantage of their opportunities, and keep their eyes — and their ears —open. ' He knows his native New Zealand from Auckland to the Bluff, is familiar also with Australia and Tasmania, and is thoroughly . acquainted with England and Scotland. He possesses a knowledge of many things. He has been on the .land, and knows well what the farimer wants, and sympathise with Mm in the many difficulties and obstacles that so often beset his path, because he has "been there" himself. He has also had considerable experience of commerce, and is a capable business man. And now he is the official Government candidate for the Roskill seat, and with his ready tongue, resourcefulness, and all-round knowledge of life and of public affairs, he should, if elected, be able to give a good account of himself. As Mr. Hudson, Mayor of Mount Eden, put it the x>ther night, when Mr. Potter opened* his election campaign, at the Empire Theatre, Dominion Road, "If elected the district will have in Mr. Potter a member in whom they can take great pride."

But although the subject of this notice has played his part as a soldier, and has never spared himself while on active service, he is very modest when referring to this part of his career. "I have served," he says, "in two wars, but I am not trading upon that fact, for I have only done my duty." Those who have not yet had an opportunity of hearing Mr. Potter expound hjs political views will doubtless be interested in learning something, as to what those views are. We cannot hope, in the comparatively limited space at our disposal, to give a thorough exposition of this candidate's ideas touching the questions of the day. That, he will do himself, verbally, throughout the electorate, and all who can possibly contrive to do so should make a point of hearing him. In the meantime a brief summary of his opinions may be worth stating. To begin with, the subject of this sketch is no extremist. "The hands of the political barometer," he avers, "point clearly to the necessity for democratic countries—and the Dominion in particular—being controlled by men of sane and safe ideas, and not by extreme revolutionaries and political opportunists. For the present I cannot see any prospect of eliminating party politics, and of the two parties on a noconfidence motion, I am prepared to pledge myself to support the present Government, but reserve to myself the right of entire freedom on any subject requiring independence of thought and action. I. claim to be a thorough democrat, and advocate progressive reforms which will be in the best and truest interests of all classes of the community." Whatever Mr. Potter's political opponents may say, they must recognise that he has devoted considerable time and thought to the affairs of the country, that he has the courage of his opinions, and that his views are characterised by breadth and depth.

He boldly announces himself as a firm believer in the present system of free, secular, and compulsory education, and declares that the present grants for educational purposes are quite inadequate, and that the new Parliament must not begrudge mOney for so worthy a cause. Education, he insists, must be free absolutely—from the kindergarten to the University. And what of the industrial position? Let the candidate speak again. "I have sincere sympathy with the aspirations of sane labour, and look forward to the time when every man shall be given just reward for his services. Capital and labour must' be brought together, and if the workers are not satisfied with the Arbitration Act ' they should send men to Parliament to alter it. But we must have constitutional law. I don't believe in the Bolshevik element. The Government must rule this country, and no one section, and we must have a fearless and sound Government, which will not allow itself to be dictated to by Bolsheviks. I am a worker myself, but I am diametrically opposed to the leaders of the Federation of Labour. As long as Mr. Semple is in this country he must conform to its laws." As a returned soldier himself, and one who naturally takes a deep interest in the welfare of all returned men, Mr. Potter's views anent this subject are sure to meet with general acceptance. "The State," he says, "would be ungrateful if our returned soldiers were not properly cared for. The disabled soldiers and their dependents must be the first consideration of the Government, and the,? must be provided for as a right, not as an act of charity." Mr. Potter's views on railway matters are no less sound. He considers the lines under construction should be completed before any new ones are commenced, so that they may earn interest on the idle money. "I believe," he says, "in railways

before population, and not in population before railways—which has been the system in the past."

Coming to the lighter side of Mr. Potter's candidature, something must be said regarding his readiness of speech and power of repartee when heckled in public by those opposed to him. At his Dominion Road meeting last week (at which, by the way, upwards of 1,000 people were present), he gave several specimens of his faculty for "shutting up" interrupters. For example, in referring to the "go-slow" method of striking, he remarked that the miners had been sacrificing for some time past about 10s. a day apiece, which money they could have put into a co-operative store if their leaders had allowed them to do so. At this point a voice enquired:— "Have you ever worked in a mine?" With lightning-like rapidity came the rejoinder: "Yes, but. I didn't see you there." The reply was greeted with roars of laughter. From this very brief outline of the political views entertained by the subject of this notice, it will be seen that he is a strong Constitutionalist. That is, he believes in strictly constitutional methods of effecting reforms, righting wrongs, and redressing grievances, and has no sympathy whatever with those who would, if they only could, bring about in this peaceful country a condition of things similar to that prevailing in Russia to-day. And yet, a working man himself, he is in sympathetic accord with the hopes, aspirations, and ambitions of the "sane" working man. New Zealand is passing through critical times, and the thoughtful and far-seeing amongst us may well view the future of the Dominion with the gravest apprehensions. There are traitors in the camp— men without conscience and without principle, who are actuated by the one selfish desire—their own aggrandisement. Under the specious plea that their only concern is for the general good, they are at heart the enemies of society, bent upon the overthrow of law and order, ambitious to seize the reins of power, and to benefit, when chaos comes, at the expense of those whose interests they are so professedly anxious to conserve. Never before in the history of this Dominion were men of "sane" ideas, men of brains and energy and force of character and influence for good, needed as they are needed to-day to help mould the destinies of the country, and to overturn the schemes of those who are seeking to destroy it. It is men of Mr. Potter's stamp that are wanted in Parliament.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO19191122.2.73

Bibliographic details

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 12, 22 November 1919, Page 31

Word Count
1,477

Vivian H. Potter Observer, Volume XL, Issue 12, 22 November 1919, Page 31

Vivian H. Potter Observer, Volume XL, Issue 12, 22 November 1919, Page 31

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