GENERAL ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19800, 18 November 1919, Page 8

GENERAL ELECTION.

TOWN-PLANNING. Tho executive of tho Federated TownPlanning Association of New Zealand is asking each candidate whether he is in favour of a Town-Planning Act being passed next session, making provision for modern methods of townplanning being adapted to all lands and works throughout, tho Dominion, including the Crown's. RICCARTON, The Labour candidate, Mr J. Robertson, addressed a meeting at Islington last night and received an attentive and sympathetic hearing. Mr Leslie presided, and at the close of the meeting a committee was formed in the interests of Mr Robertson’s candidature. OROUA SEAT. HON D. 11. GUTHRIE AT FELLDLNG. [Pkr Bars:. Association.] FEILDING, November 18. The Hon D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, opened his campaign for tho Oroua electorate bore last night. Ho gave a resume of the work of the National Government during the Referring to the break-up of the National Government he said that tho Reform Party had hold three separate caucuses and had unanimously decided by a resolution that in view of the groat reconstruction questions and tho heavy financial burden placed on the country the proper course would be for tho parties to stand together until tho country was brought back to something approaching its normal conditions. However, Sir Joseph Ward ami his party decided otherwise, and seceded from the National Government on the eve of the last session. The speaker believed that a very grave mistake was thus made. Mr Massey, however, accepted tho position and successfully carried through ono of the most important sessions. Dealing with soldiers’ settlement the speaker said that 1000 soldiers had now been placed on 1.300.000 acres, and 300 had received advances to purchase town properties. Of the area settled 600,000 acres wen? Crown land and 200,000 settlement land. The policy of the Government was to further a closer settlement policy by soldier settlement schemes. The total cost of settling the 4000 soldiers was about £7,260,000. Of this £0,000,000 was for advances] The Repatriation Department had advanced a total of £504,214 to soldiers as loans for business, furniture, tools ami training. Speaking on closer settlement, the speaker jaid that during tho past seven years 5805 holdings had been subdivided into 13,419 areas. AVith tho Crown and Native lands subdivided 19.000 subdivisions had been provided, involving 3,854,846 acres. Referring to land aggregation the speaker said that ineffectual attempts had been made in 1013 and again in 1918 to deal with the position, but last session drastic proposals had been passed which he hoped would entirely stop aggregation. Dealing with tho cost of living he claimed that the Government had done something through tho Board of Trade, and had succeeded in keeping down the prices of necessary ciftamodL ties. Ho quoted the following increases in the cost of living.:— Per cent. Groat Britain . . .110 Canada • > . . 75 United States , . . S3.V Australia .... 46.6 Xfiw Zealand . . . 43.8 The candidate received a quiet hearting and was accorded a vote of thanks ami confidence. Mr E. J. Tunnichtfe, a dairy farmer here, and chairman of the local Labour 1 Party, is announced as the official Labour candidate for Oroua. WAIKATO SEAT. HAMILTON, November I*. At the request of a representative deputation, Mr Percy H. Watts, Mayor of Hamilton, has consented to stand for the Waikato seat as au Independent Liberal. AN EX-MINISTER. GISBORNE, Novemben’ 18. The Hon AV. D, S. Mac Donald addressed the electors of Bay of Plenty, at Tokaraka, and had an enthusiastic meeting. He defended tho work of the National Government, and said that every member of the-Cabinet had been imbued with tho idea- of doing his very utmost for tho Dominion ami the Empire. The impression that the Liberal Party had deserted the Reform Party was incorrect, he having hold double o rtf olios. As a. member of the Cabinet he had prepared Bills, even to printing, and had handed them over complete. [ AVhen he handed over control all tins reports of his Departments were complete. with the Estimates sighed ready for presentation. The Prime Minister only had to tear off tho front sheet ami j to replace it with tho name of the new ! Minister. Mr Massey, when ho returned to New Zealand, had not consulted his colleagues as to a future policy, but began to frame a poliev and to enunciate it. Tho Liberal Ministers wanted to know where they stood. Sir Joseph AVard wont to Mr Massey, and in throe minutes he was back with Uanswer that the National Government was at an end. He severely criticised Mr Hemes’s administration of the Native Lands Department- The Government, in seven years, had nob settled a single settler on the East Coast. Regarding the shipping problem, be defended the Imperial authorities. He also dealt with the coal silnation, hydro-electric development and finance, and made an appeal for unity to face after-war problems. A vot« of thank; ami confidence was unanimously passed, with an expression of hope that he would hold on important portfolio in the new Cabinet. TARANAKI SEAT. NEW PLYMOUTH, November 18. Air C. E. Bellringer, who twice unsuccessfully contested the Taranaki seat in the Liberal interest, declined to-day to accept nomination by the Reform Party. The probability now is that Mr S. C. Smith, the sitting member, will not be seriously opposed.