POLITICAL POINTS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2782, 1 December 1931, Page 2

POLITICAL POINTS

FROM MR LYE’S MEETING-,

“A POLITICAL WEDDING.” “There lias been much talk about a political wedding,” said Mr F. Lye, at the Town Hall on Friday night last. “You can see I am wearing orange blossom in my coat to-night. I am neither, the bride nor the bridegroom, but I am the best-man and will be on December 2.” (Applause). Parliament for History. The candidate said the last Parliament would go down to history as one of the most remarkable they had. had. Between 1928 and .1931 he had sat under three Prime Ministers and four Administrations. Such a thing might never occur again. A., xr the last, election an extraordinary on was called in February for a trial of strength. Reform went out of office and Sir Joseph Ward formed a Ministry. In July, 1930, Sir Joseph Ward died and the I-Ton. G. W. Forbes became Prime Minnie r. “Clumsy Farm Helps.” The two leaders in the House had been likened by a member of the Conntry Party at Cambridge, to a couple of clumsy farm helps, but he would rather be a working fa .m help than a political acrobat, and the man who had made the statement had somersaulted from the Reform Party to the Country Party. Criticism of Captain Rush worth. The Government had saved £500,000 by cutting out non-paying railway lines, stated the candidate. Captain Rushworth, the Country Party representative, voted against the Government, and the candidate presumed the reason was to be found in the fact that Hikurangi, with 800 votes which the Country Party needed, was concerned. No Duty on Ordinary Needs. Dealing with tariffs Mr Lye referred to shoddy footwear imported into the country and then went on to point out that everything a working man needed is already admitted duty free. The Country Party said Britain was wrong in putting 0 n an anti-dumping duty. It had resulted in getting many idle mills and factories in Britain under way again. “It’s the old story of the soldiers who were all out of step but ‘our Jack’,” said Mr Lye. “We are all wrong except the Country Party’s Jack,” added Mr Lye. In further dis--1 roof of the contention that the tariff effected prices to the extent imagined he cpiotcd figures to show that £5,842,000 of goods were imported from Brittain free, over £0,000,000 from foreign countries free, ami £9,277,191 from British countries, provided the goods were of British origin. M ?. and Cost of Living. In reply to the only interjection at his meeting that the cost of living had been felt by everybody except members of Parliament, Mr Lye said: “I got £45 taken off my salary and if the intorjcctor will look up Hansard a little more often he will be able to take a more intelligent interest in his subject.” (Laughter). “I haven’t hail 30/- a week out of my salary this year, but never mind, I’ll go back again after December 2,” said the candidate. (Applause). In concluding his address at the Town Hall on Friday night last, Mr F. Lye said he had stood on the same platform for four Parliamentary elections. He claimed he had been instrumental 1,1 getting Government loans to the extent of £.100,000 for electors. Irrespective of political opinion, ho lmd done his best for one and all.