TUNING UP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19436, 23 October 1925, Page 6

TUNING UP

AN ARAMOHO WELCOME MR. COULL IN HIS ELEMENT. INTERESTING ELECTION MEETING. Mr. John Coull, the Reform candidate |for Wanganui, had a good rousing I meeting at St. Lawrence Hall, Aramoho, last evening. It was one of tho that Mr. Coull revels in, and he was seen at his best in dealing with interjections. There was a large attendance, many employees from the East Town Workshops being present*, and a few of them kept up a running tiro of comment right through the address, tho candidate invariably scoring with his repartee. The meeting was notable for the good humour which prevailed on all sides. Most of the ini terjections came from a loquacious supporter of the Labour Party. Taxation Pleasantries. Mr. Coull’s address followed on the linos of other speeches. He referred briefly to the platform of tho National Party, which ran almost parallel with that of Reform, except for a State bank, which was always a debateable policy. He also referred to the platform of the Labour Party, which was essentially socialistic, and he humorously described the attitude of each candidate towards the other and to their respective parties, but he said there was no personal feeling in the campaign. Everyone had a right to vote as he chose, and he would not fall out with anyone who did not vote for him. When dealing with the subject of taxation, a remark that he himself paid very little income tax provoked an interjection from someone in the hall. “Well, go in and make it,” retorted Mr. Coull to the man who had not sufficient income to pay tax on. “I didn’t start from any better base than you, old man.” “I’ve only your word for that.” “And my word’s as good as any man’s,” said the candidate. (Applause). The candidate quoted from tho Customs tariff to show that the tax on necessities had been reduced. “Tea’s gone,up,” said a voice. “Tea’s come down,” said the candidate. “It’s gone up.” “Since when?” “Tea that was 2/2 is now 2/4.” “Go down to the Farmers’ Co-op. and you can get it for 2/2,” said the candidate, amid laughter, which increased when the chairman leaned over and smilingly said in a stage whisper that the questioner could get tea at 2/at his store. “Oh, well, get on with the work,” replied the interjector. Mr. Coull: “This is not work. This is pleasure. I’ve been working all day. ’ ’ The candidate proceeded to quote the things that the Customs tariff had gone up on, notably spirits. The same interjector: “Methylated spirit 1” Mr. Coull: “No, Scotch whisky, gin, schnapps —Oh, you know all tho names.” (Laughter). Another voice: ‘ ‘ How about prams? ’ ’ Mr. Coull: “We have a splendid local industry. They will make the prams if you will keep them full.” A voice: “He’s done that all right.” (Much laughter). All Blacks in Disfavour, roar Mr. Coull stressed tho importance of developing industries, and he emphasised how necessary it was that tho workers should co-operate to make the business a success. To make the workers happy, they should be paid well, and then they would co-operate. Cooperation and team work were necessary to make anything a success. “Take the case of Brownlie, the All Black—” The persistent voice: “Too fiiuch All Blacks.” “It’s the first time I’ve mentioned them,” said the candidate. “Aren’t you proud of them?” “No,” was the reply, and he added something about “Billy” Glenn having been elected because he was an All Black. “And co-operation will put him in again,” said Mr. Coull, who added that it was a poor thing for tho Nationalist Party, when it asked Brownlie to stand for Napier that it would not co-operato with him to win the seat. Tho Labour Party in Wanganui would co-oporate to get Mr. Rogers in. “Not half,” said a voice enthusiastically. Pensions on Population Basis. Figures showing what the Reform Party had done in the way of pensions —increased old ago pensions from £26 to £45 10s, widows’ pensions from £l2 to £52 —failed to convince the diehard interjector. “What’s the population?” he asked. “What has that got to do with it? A widow in 1914 is a widow in in 1925 —except that, some have been married once or twice since then; good luck to them. (Laughter). On your argument a widow" in tho Old Land should be getting £lOOO a year!’ ’ Another man said Mr. Massey had voted against old age pensions. Mr. Coull: “You are only stating part of tho case and I’m not here to go back 30 years. You know Mr. Jim I Hogan?” [ The interjector: “A white man, too.” Mr. Coull: “Yes, nnd ho told me ho always looked upon Mr. Massey as a Liberal. ’ ’ Mr. C«:ll: “The Reform Party represents a fair share of the w-orkers. I The Labour Party has no monopoly of them.” Tho die-hard: “I wish we had.” Mr. Coull: “It would be a poor look out for the country.” The Bread Question. A question was asked about the price of bread. Mr. Coull replied that farmers found it more payable to grow shepp than wheat, and the Government found it necessary to bolster up wheat. He said the Government should take

the duty off wheat and so reduce the price of bread. Not the Lyon of Rangitikei. On the subject of the Labour Party and Communism, a questioner said that Communists were excluded from the party. Mr. Coull doubted it. “Well, they refused Lyon.” Mr. Coull: “What, the Nationalist candidate for Rangitikei?” (Laugh ter). The questioner explained that it was the Lyon who had been deported to Australia. Mr. Coull declared that ns long as the party kept in its ranks a man who said he wanted to see tho Red Flag over Parliament buildings it was no use. saying tho Party barrod Communists. “I am for the Union Jack,” said the candidate. After one or two other questions had been dealt with, a vote of thanks, moved by Mr. J. G. McNaught, was [carried amid much applause.