PATEA SEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19441, 29 October 1925, Page 2

PATEA SEAT

REFORMER’S CAMPAIGN MB DICKIE AT ST. JOHN’S POINTS PROM HIS SPEECH. Air H. G. Dickie, Iteform candidate for the Patea seat, addressed a meeting of electors on St. John’s Hill on Tuesday evening, there being a good attendance, over whom Mr Lloyd Jones presided. Mr Dickie, after thanking the electors for their attendance, despite coun-ter-attractions, said he was unknown at this end of the electorate, but he had been born on this coast and had served his apprenticeship on various local bodies which positions he had resigned when he went to the war. When on leave in England he had made it his business to make all the inquiries he could concerning the handling of the Dominion’s produce, especially at Smithfield. He also made inquiries about the raising of loans—in fact, during the ime he was England, and his subsu pent visits to Britain and America, he derived as much valuable information

as he could concerning all matters af feeting New Zealand. With the knowledge he had thus gained, he felt himself justified in offering h s services to the people of the Dominion. Support for Mr Coates.

Air Dickie pronounced himself a staunch supporter of Mr Coates, who was having a “ wonderful run” through both the North and South Islands. It was evident that the people o f New Zealand wore going to give him a chance to lead the country.

Everyone knew what the Reform Paity’s land policy was. Many a rr.an, hirmelf included, had used the hold as a stepping stone to the freehold Mr Langstone (Waimerino) hbd alleged that much aggrogatoin was going on, but as a matter of fact there was very little. As far as the Waimarino electorate was concerned, Mr Langstone stated that schools had been closed owing to land aggregation. The explanation was that when the bush had been cut out, saw mills had been closed down, families had moved away and therefore schools had been closed. But there was little aggregation in New Zealand. There was more subdividing and closer settlement. There was no aggregation going on in this electorate.

Referring to the cost of repatriating the soldiers, Mr Dickie described the efforts (and the costs) in England and Australia compared with New Zealand. The men had been settled on a business basis. Mistakes had naturally been made, and the country had cut its loss, but there was every prospect now of the men doing well. Control Boards. Mr Dickie declared that the Meat Control Board had proved a success after three years’ trial. The Dairy Control Act would also work very well. He favoured the Ward system of election. The Meat Board’s allocation of shipments had been splendid. It had made the market stable and prevented “rigging.” The Highway Board was on trial. Ho did not favour the dual control system. One county council, he mentioned had raised a loan of £200,000 in order to take advantage of the grant from the Highways Board. The Government, proposed to set up a Local G'-’’ : " : scrut.inisi 'ie expenses of loeal bodies, and it would ... .... ... amalgamation of some when the administrative costs were too heavy. This cost ranged from 4.9 per cent, in the case of Featherston, to £3(> 10s. That overloading was far too high. Taxation. In regard to the motor vehicles tax. Mr Dickie did not approve of changing plates every year. It was a waste of money —£15,000 a year. He did not favour tho petrol tax, but preferred a tax on tyres. In the former case concessions had to be made to men who used petrol for purposes other than motor cars, and this was liable to abuse. Also, men on bad roads used more petrol than those on good roads.

Mr Coates intended to review the whole incidence of taxation, and it was time this was done. The man on the small area of land should receive exemption while men drawing £3OO were now escaping. “Mr Massey had promised to reduce taxation and he had done so, but not at the expense of the workers. Customs duty had been reduced on tobacco, tea from British countries, and on industrial machinery. The tax could not be taken off boots, or every shoe making industry in New Zealand would be closed very soon. It was the same with textiles. The total amount collected through the Customs was £7,500.000, and very little of that was borne by the breakfast table. There, was a little tax on Australian wheat, or the wheat growers of New Zealand would toon be put out of business. Immigration, Education and Housing. Referring to immigration, Mr Dickie said it was harder to pass the medical test to get to New Zealand than it was to get into the army. The authorities were very strict. He instanced the ease of a young man whom he had nominated. There were some cases where immigrants had fallen by the way, but the great majority would make goo“d. Some 10,000 immigrants were absorbed by New Zealand last year. New Zealand should give British people every chance to come out here and make

good. With regard to education, £3,700,000 was the bill last year. It was a very expensive business, building in brick and concrete. Teachers should be given sufficient inducement to remain in the profession instead of using it as a stepping stone to other avocations. He commended the correspondence system which the Department had introduced.

Mr Coates had adopted the latest methods in road construction, and was applying business principles to the railways as well. There were some “dud’’ lines, but an effort was being made to make the railways pay an average of 44 per cent. The Railways I Board was composed of shrewd men. | In regard to housing, tin' Government 'had electrified this into life. In the Railway Department standardised build- , ings were being provided and the work- ; ers wore being cheaply housed. Under the Workers Dwelling Act it was possible to get an advance of 95 per cent of the cost of the house, the amount to be limited to £1250. But if the Government had to pay more to raise Joans in future it was ujr* to the Govern-

ment to lose a little in order to give the workers cheap houses. “Square Deal” For All. It had been said that the Reform Government legislated for one class only, but Mr Dickie contended that all classes had received a ‘‘square deal.” He referred to the amounts paid to old age pensioners, to the blind, and to widows. He referred to the dental clinic for school children, to Plunket nurses, to the Pure Food and Drugs Act, which all went to make Now Zealand the healthiest country in the world. A “Whole Time” Worker. After dealing with a number of other political topics, Mr Dickie said that if elected on November 4 he would be a “whole time” worker for New Zealand. He would get behind Mr Coates, who would keep New Zealand’s honour bright and her credit good. There was no need for a change. A stable government was wanted and the Reform Party would give that. It had stood the test of strikes, war, repatriation, slump, and recently Mr Coates had taken up a firm attitude in regard to the shipping trouble. It seemed certain that he would get a mandate from the people of New Zealand to “carry on” but the electors would be wise to give him all the support they could by returning Reformers on November 4. A few questions were asked and answered satisfactorily, after which a vote of thanks was carried with applause and a committee set. up to work cm election, day.