STREET MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19443, 31 October 1925, Page 8

STREET MEETINGS

CANDIDATES ON THE STUMP MESSRS VEITCH AND ROGERS. FREE ENTERTAINMENT. An open air address was given by Mr. W. A. Veitch in Maria Place last evening. From the point of view of raising the prestige of the candidate, it was hardly a success. There were very many interruptions, interjections coming from all sides simultaneously sometimes. In an effort to score politically off his Labour opponents, Mr. Veitch somewhat exaggerated the bad time he was having and he appealed to the crowd for a fair hearing so that he could have <a chance to explain the policy of the Nationalist Party. At the conclusion of his address, however, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate, Mr. John Morrison, chairman of Mr. Veitch’s committee, said "a real good hearing” had been accorded. How the loc*al Nationalist organ will describe the reception is a matter for conjecture. Mr. Veitch’s speech followed upon the usual lines, but rambled more than usual and reached nowhere. Ho set out to tell what the Reform Party should have done, and did not do, in its term of office, but drifted into the iniquities of party government, immigration, and developing secondary industries. In regard to the last point he spoke of the very cheap power which the Nationalists would supply by hy-dro-electricity (which has been installed throughout New Zealand by the Reform Party). On the question of party government, he expressed his firm conviction, after being fourteen years in the House, that party government, especially the three-piarty system, was not a success. None of the audience disputed that assertion, but his proposal to solve the whole trouble by returning the Nationalists, and especially himself for Wanganui, mot with distinct disapproval. It seemed to bo the opinion of a large section of his audience that if the Nationalists were again returned as a small coterie between the Reform and Labour Parties the three-party system would be as acute and as iniquitous as ever. Mr. Veitch endeavoured to persuade his Labour hearers that Mr. Rogers had little chance in this election and that a vote for Labour was a vote for Reform. Voices: "No, No” and "That worked last election, but it won’t work again.” Awkward Comers.

Coming to the end of his speech, Mr. Veitch said ho was satisfied the great majority w r ould (approve of the line of constructive policy he had laid down (but in reality, while he had eulogised the benevolent national theories of the National Party, he had quite omitted real practical politics, except, ol course, hydro-electricity and forestry, which have been planks of the Reform Party’s pltatform for many years). This oversight on the part of Mr. Veitch was brought out in bold relief when ho said: "The principal difference between the Reform and National Parties is that the Nationalists propose to do things and the Reformers propose to investigate.” Fusion occupied some time, Mr. Veitch trying to explain his attitude to Sir Joseph Ward in 1911, and his present attitude, land Sir Joseph Ward’s opinion of the Nationalists. "Why did not Joe Ward join the Nationalists?” asked a voice.

"He will take his place with his old party,” replied Mr. Veitch. "But he’ll be the only one in it,” said the persistent voice. This produced another long explanation from the candidate, who left it quite in the air (as to whether the Nationalists who got into the House would form a small Liberal-Nationalist Party or would throw over their present sobriquet. "Would you join Mr. Coates?” asked someone. "No,” said Mr. Veitch decisively. "I will follow my own pferty. If Mr. Coates likes to come over and join us he can.” (Laughter). The candidate added that he hoped there would be men from the Reform and Labour Parties among the Nationalists. The title "National” caused Mr. Veitch some trouble in another direction. A returned soldier, with a grievance because of b misadventure in farming, blamed Mr. Veitch as a supporter of the National Government which brought dear land, for his ruination. Mr. Veitch did his best to explain that ho was not responsible for any mistakes that were ever made by Parliament. A vote of thanks was passed, with counter cheers for Mr. Rogers. At the conclusion of Mr. Veitch’s address, the majority of the crowd surged across the Avenue to the other corner, where Mr. Rogers set forth the policy of the Labour Party, and was accorded a good hearing.