WAIKATO ELECTORATE

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1680, 31 October 1925, Page 5

WAIKATO ELECTORATE

REFORM (CANDIDATE. MR STEWART REID AT CAMBRIDGE A good reception was accorded the Reform candidate for the Walikato seat at Cambridge last Thursday evening, when all the body of the Town IHall was crowded to hear an address by Mr D. Stewart Reid. Mr Reid’s remarks were frequently punctuated with applause. The candidate resumed 1 his seat amid enthusiastic acclamation and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence for his able address. His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. F. Richards) presided, and said Mr Reid had been a resident of the Waikato for very many years. The number of important positions Mr Reid held on local bodies stamped him as a man of high capabilities, and he must have fulfilled his various positions worthily, or he would not have retained the trust ■ and confidence that the public had reposed in him. (Applause). In his opening remarks Mr Reid said in his youth he had played many a game of football and cricket with the Cambridge lads. He had also bowled out many a Cambridge boy at cricket, and he was out to bowl out the member for Waikato on Wednesday next. He added that as far as he was concerned there would be no personalities or bitterness introduced into the campaign. (Applause). Mr Reid stated that as the selected Reform candidate for Waikato he was offering himself as a staunch supporter of the party. He did not pretend to claim, however, that the Reform Party was perfect, and never made mistakes, but yet he contended it was the best and only party in the 'House capable of managing the affairs of this Dominica to-day. The strenuous period through which the Dominion had passed while the late Mr Massey was in charge of the finances of the ’country could not be compared with the periods of office of any previous Government. M'oney, wage.s and material were now practically double what they were in the days of Seddon, and £2,000,000 had sufficed then where £4,000,000 was required now. Mr Reid made reference to the question of soldier settlements, and held that the Government had done the right thing in revaluing these lands and placing the soldiers on a sound footing once more. The result was, instead of a band of disgruntled men, they were now contented and satisfied settlers. “No portion of the Empire had treated its returned soldiers better than New Zealand had,” declared Mr Reid. (Applause). Taxation was dealt with by the candidate who said the opponents of the Government were declaring that the country was financially embarrassed, that settlers were being driven off their farms through taxation, and that the Customs duties, which had been nearly doubled, were pressing heavily on the poor man. Mr Reid contended that the country was never more prosperous in its history than at present, and that there had never been a more liberal and humane Government than the present one. A voice: Rot! The candidate: That’s all right, my friend, there’s nothing in the word. Mr Reid combatted' the statement made by his opponent, who was reported as having said, when speaking at Te Awamutu, that the Government had reduced the taxation of the wealthy land-owners and financial institutions, and piled it on to the Customs duties. Discussing the Customs duties he said according to the opposition parties it would appear that Cusoms had practically doubled since 1918. The Customs, however, had not been increased or raised since that date, although the amount collected was nearly double. It would be readily seen that this was due to the prosperity of the Dominion. It might be noted that 61 per cent, of the increase was on luxuries, arid did not bear heavily on the working man. Mr Reid favoured a junior high school being established at Cambridge if the Government were to push on with the junior high school scheme. He also made reference to the operations of the Forestry Department, and predicted that in the future the Dominion would be exporting hard woods instead of importing them as at present. (Applause).

Replying to questions, Mr Reid said the only reason why he thought it advisable to subsidise wheat growers in New Zealand was to safeguard against a drought in Australia. Under normal conditions, it did not pay to grow wheat in this country; it paid better to import it from Australia. The guarantee given to the Meat Control Board was given at a very difficult time, and that guarantee had never been called on. He did not think the same conditions obtained with regard to the Dairy Control Board. At the same time, if such a guarantee were necessary for the industry, it should be given, he thought. Mr Reid said he favoured the term of Parliaments being extended to four years, and the same time between the licensing polls. He favoured a straight out vote between Continuance and Prohibition, with the elimination of the State Control issue. Asked whether he would vote for Mr Isitt’s Religious Exercises in State Schools Bill, if introduced, Mr Reid said he favoured giving it a trial, but reserved the right to change his mind should the experiment prove a failure. He pointed out that all sorts of exemptions were provided in the proposed legislation. The candidate was not at present in favour of Mr Sidey’s Daylight Saving scheme.

Questioned re absolute control being given the Dairy Control Board, Mr Reid said he believed in giving full control, though he was not prepared to say that such was absolutely necessary.