FLASHES IN THE CAMPAIGN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 279, 24 November 1931, Page 9

FLASHES IN THE CAMPAIGN.

Coal for Railways. “ Last year we used over 600,000 tons j of New Zealand coal on the railways, j and we imported 40.000 tons only. The reason for that importation was that the threat was made at the time of the wages reduction that the miners would not take the cut lying down. I found reserves of coal low, and in view of the threat made I instructed that we cable to Australia for 40,000 tons. The railways had to be carried on to avoid inconvenience to the mass of people. I will not have that service affected by the whim of a small group. Such statements as have been made regarding mines are the kind of ‘ guff ’ the Labour candidates are broadcasting.”—Mr Forbes speaking in the Caledonian Hall last evening. “ Fine Courage.” “Mr Holland has stated that I was afraid to face the elections. It is all very well for him to go round New Zealand saying that he is the only brave man while his supporters are preventing me from speaking and answering his charges. That is a fine courage, isn't it?”—Mr Forbes last evening. t*: _ No Particular Party Man. “ I am not a party man in particular. I am a Liberal, and want to remain a Liberal, but I will put my shoulder behind any others to assist to get the country back to a good footing.”—Mr C. S. 4 M'Cully, Coalition candidate for Christchurch South, at an open-air meeting at Addington last evening. No Justification. “ Neither Mr Howard nor Mr Armstrong nor any independent member had any justification for saying there would be another 10 per cent cut,” sa\d Mr Henry Holland, at Papanui last night. Not a Dumb Dog. “If I am returned to Parliament I will use my good judgment and sound * common sense on all matters that are dealt with. I won’t be a. dumb dog at the heels of any party leader.”—Mr F. W. Freeman, Coalition candidate for Lyttelton, at Redcliffs last evening. 8 The Grand Old Days. “ In the grand old days of Liberalism, when land settlement was at its height, there was no need for children’s courts, because the children were brought up in happy conditions.”—Mr J. Connolly, at Doyleston. « Prison Labour. “ I am not in favour of prison labour entering into competition with ordinary workers and contractors at cut rates,” said Mr R. W. Hawke. His questioner seemed much in earnest on the subject, but the candidate gave him a definite reply which seemed to be satisfying. “ Another Cut.” “If you return a Coalition Government there will be another cut in wages,” said Mr E. J. Howard last evening. A voice: And we will deserve it, too. “ Yes, you will,” added Mr Howard. - 4 “ Hear For Yourselves.” “ I am sorry that this hall is not filled, because it is far better for electors to hear candidates and exercise their own judgment than to base their estimates on whisperings and wrong reports,” said Mr A. A. M’Lachlan at Lincoln last night, when opening his speech. Avoiding Wage “ Cuts.” “My endeavour in working in this campaign is to avoid another wage reduction, but there will be another reduction unless you put in a party which will avoid it.”—Mr C. S. M’Cully, Coalition candidate for Christchurch South. sc a Dish Washing Difficulties. “ As to the amusing dish washing difficulties mentioned by my opponent, my only comment is that it is surprising how some people can fill their minds with trifles when there are great national issues to be considered.”—Mr J. M’Combs, at Sumner.

A Few to Spare. “ Our free education system is a fine one, but there is a fault in that a scholar may, by just putting in time, earn the same privileges as the one with a brain,” said Mr M’Lachlan. “As a result, there are too many professional men, too many doctors and too many lawyers, so much so that they might spare one or two for politics.” 8 8 8 Verdict Ignored. " In putting Mr Coates again in office in charge of the chief spending departments, Mr Forbes has ignored the verdict of the people given at last election. when the people, by a two to one vote—more than two to one in the Lyttelton electorate—rejected the Reform Party.”—Mr J. M Combs, at Sumner last evening. 8 8 8 Beginnings of Toryism. “ There is still a slight trace of Toryism in this country,” said Mr A. A. M’Lachlan last evening. “ The first of them came out in a ship called the Tory in the forties, but now 80 per cent of *the people of the Dominion are Liberal at heart. The Liberals had families of thirteen or fourteen, while the Tories had one son, a dog and two motor-cars.” S 8 8 A Farming Cabinet. “ There are nine farmers in the Cabinet and only one city man,” said Mr E. J. Howard last evening. “It stands to reason that the farmers are going to look after their own. I don’t blame them.” K 8 8 “Can Read it for Himself.” “ Mr Holland is reported to have said that he did not believe the Government contemplated another reduction in wages and that when Mr Howard and I said so, we were wrong. He might as well have said that we were liars,” said Mr H. T. Armstrong, speaking at an open-air meeting. “Perhaps Mr Holland is ignorant of the fact that on page four of the Supplementary Budget he can read it for himself.” “Don’t Think of Mon. - “ Don’t think of men when you go to the poll, think of your country,” said Mr R. W. Hawke. “Use your own- judgment. You want the men and the policy that is going to help New* Zealand in a time of stress. If you do what is right and what is just, my confidence will be justified. 8 8 8 Can’t Afford It. “ I’m not in favour of it at present because the country can’t afford it.” said Mr F. W. Freeman at Reddliff* last evening, when asked if he would support the construction of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. " As a South Islander,” cpntinued the candidate, " I want to see the South Island given justice and fair play, and I want to see more money spent her*?, but the financial position of the country is such that we can’t afford to spend the ny>ney at present.” 8 “ Too Much of a Luxury.” “ Mr Coates is too much of a luxury for this young country. He is not worth a fraction of the money he is now costing the Dominion, and the Dominion will have to carry the burden for the next half century. It is because he fears criticism he is asking for' 100 per cent of the representation.”—Mr J. M’Combs, Labour candidate for Lyttelton, at Sumner. 8 8 8 School Days Recalled. “ I am opposed to cuts of any kind; I have been ever since I was at school,” said Mr F. N. Bartram, Independent Labour candidate for Grey Lynn. “ I do not believe that even the salaries of the highest paid men should be cut. Such fortunate people should be got at through their incomes.” “ Abolished Sweated Labour.” “ The Arbitration Court should not be abolished. It was brought to being by the great need of doing away with sweated labour, and it must stand till there is something better to put in its place,” said Mr M’Lachlan. “ Not to say,” he added, “ that it might not be amended.”