MR JONES AND THE KAIAPOI HARBOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 6

MR JONES AND THE KAIAPOI HARBOUR.

TO TOE EDITOR Sir,—At his Kaiapoi meeting Mr D. Jones endeavoured to charm the electors present by drawing an imaginative picture of a Kaiapoi Harbour with 6000 ton liners moving with stately pride into the haven. This picture, of course, could only be materialised if Mr Jones were elected. To place a true value on the Reform candidate's seductive utterances the electors of the Kaiapoi Borough and ihe immediate vicinity should bo made wise to the iact that the Prime Minister, exercising his powers as Minister of Finance, gave an undertaking that he would refuse to sanction the proposed loan for the harbour until the Waimakariri Harbour Board Amending Bill providing for the withdrawal of certain counties and the Rangiora Borough from the board’s rating area was disposed of. It could be se£n by Mr .Jones and his friends in power that either the passing of the Bill or its rejection would have an equally undesirable effect on his candidature in the coming election, seeing that there was a strong divided, opinion on the measure existing in the constituency, and it was astutely shelved for the time being. But, sir. there was another, and a very important reason for so conveniently disposing of the Bill. It was this. In April, before Parliament again meets, there will be a harbour board election, and this will give the Borough of Rangiora, and the six counties which have given such a strong opposition vote against the harbour, an opportunity to return members who will successfully block any attempt t-o proceed with the proposed harbour works. The Kaiapoi people can see by this how nicely the whole matter has been engineered to prevent the consummation of their harbour scheme, ahd how little help they can expect from Mr Jones under j tho circumstances. I have been won- | dcring how Mr Jones will pose before his Rangiora. audience to-night, seeing how strong an opposition to the harbour scheme exists in that borough.— I I am, etc., .ELECTOR. 1

“ I STAND HERE TO-NIGHT WITH THE MANNERS OF THE WORKSHOP AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE BENCH TO PROTEST AGAINST THE WORKERS BEING KEPT TO A BARE LIVING WAGE WHILST PEOPLE WHO PERFORM NO USEFUL SERVICE RIDE ABOUT IN LUXURY.” Extract from first speech in Parliament. The “Dominion*' said : “Mr R. J Howard held the attention of the House with one of the most striking speeches of the session. He showed firmness in his attitude, but he was most courteous and modest, and he had a trick of humour that was pleasing * The “ Post ” said:—“ An original note was sounded bv Air E. J. Howard.” The “Press” said:—“-Mr Howard made a forcible speech and showed himself not devoid of humour. He was listened to by the House even by those who disagreed with his line of reason ing with more than ordinary attention.” Later the “Press” said:—“.Mr Howard was the most successful of the stonewallers. He was good natured and humorous, and although he pleaded excuse as a new member, his tactics were effective to a point, and must have appealed to the Minister (Hon Mr Herries) in charge of the Bill, who in the old Seddonian days was himself a Prince of Stonewallers.” The “Free Lance ” said:—“Mr Howard lias a natural and kindly humour with no bitterness in it and to the galleries and to a tired House on Thursday evening his speech was enjoyable. There is an earnestness too that impresses one. and he was listened to with very little interruption “ His good nature.” says the “Free Lance.” “ atones ior the hard knocks he gives his opponents.” “ I STAND HERE WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THE BENCH AND THE MANNERS OF THE WORKSHOP TO PROTEST AGAINST THE WORKERS BEING KEPT TO A BARE LIVING WAGE WHILST PEOPLE WHO PERFORM NO USE FUL SERVICE RIDE ABOUT IN LUXURY.” 11