LUNCH HOUR ADDRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16907, 5 December 1922, Page 8

LUNCH HOUR ADDRESS.

MR H. G. ELL AT ADDINGTON. Mr If. G. Ell, Liberal-La hour candidate tor Christchurch »South, did not know that Dr U. T. J. Thacker, Liberal candidate for Christchurch East, had arranged to address a meeting at the Addington Workshops this afternoon, until lie got there. So the speakers went “ lifty-fifu* ” on the half-hour at their disposal. “ 1 took au active part in Mr Seddoivs time to get that increase in wages when strikers were receiving j only 7s a day,” said Mr Ell. “ There j are people who are saving that Labour Hum been tagged on to Liberal. Wo are only reviving the alliance created by the late Mr Seddon. ‘* My position is this : So far os the term Bolshevik is concerned it has been used (Cries of Cut it out ”), il has been used in all sorts of ways. But as to Communism I am against it. A Voice: Any mug can run the country at a loss! “So far as the legislation for thfe i benefit- of Labour was concerned, when j l was in the House I was always in the •liby with Mr Holland. But I am not prepared to support Air Holland when he says he won’t support the British Navy. “ I won’t kow-tow or trim for votes. One who will do that is uq£ worthy of votes or a seat in the House. 1 will not support Air Holland until he is prepared to come round and back the British Navy. (Hear, hear.) ” 1 never proposed to put a tax on the working men s wages to make up tor the tax on tea. Who did? A Voice: George Wittv! (Laughter.) Air Ell: No! One of Mr Holland’s | party—Mr Howard! ; Voices: Ha. ha! 1 say,” reiterated the candidate, ! “that Mr Howard proposed to puL a I tax on the single men’s w ages.” Cries: Absolute rot. i *’ T proposed to put a tax on all land | sales of lid in the L*. That is, all sales io\er £IOOO. That would produce ! £500.000. That is better than a tax I on working men’s wages. J “ The mortgage lax is 5s per cent. I would put n penny <»n to that and it i would produce £237.000. I would not ! touch mortgages under £IOOO. i “I say again that I am a better Radical than the men who arc criticis- , * n 6 me. 1 An iliterjector: We want Labour, j not a Radical! j Air Ell : I have always been Labour, j and I nm still ! ; ”T am against the sale of national ; hinds. . f believe in the second j ballot, w hich Air Massey repealed. ”1 w ant to put a stop to this breakI ing up of the community into parties. You have this wretched sectarian issue ! introduced under proportioual repre- ; sentation. All those people would get j together and vent their spite on ani other church that they did not believe I in. Under a system of the second ballot it would make it impossible for any Tory to slip in between a Labour and a Radical vote. *' 1 am not in favour of the Upper House as at present existing. It should be appointed by the Lower House. There should he a revising body. “ 1 have always been in favour of prohibition. “ I am losing support because f won’t give a pledge to support Mr Wiljord. T don’t believe in the optional system of land tenure, and on this ground I differ from, the Liberal leader. to borrow money to set up his home at 4\ P«r cent. “ And how would you vote on a motion of no-confidence?” the speaker was asked. “ I’d vote to turn Mr Massey out. On. the call of a workman three cheers were given for Labour and votes of thanks were passed to the speakers.