POLITICAL OUTLOOK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 140, 16 June 1931, Page 8

POLITICAL OUTLOOK

MR DICKIE AT WAVERLEY AN ADDRESS TO ELECTORS UNITED PARTY'S MISTAKES A well-attended meeting of Waverley residents was held last Friday night, when. Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P. for Palea, delivered an address. Mr F. Johnston was in the chair. Mr Johnston stated that Mr Dickie was tho most energetic member the district had ever elected. Applause greeted Mr Dickie on his rising to speak. He stated that in normal sessions there was not a great deal of general interest, but at the present time interest had increased a hundred per cent. He went on to give a few facts outlining what had been done in legislation during the past three years. Ho said that Air Coates had given Air Forbes his assurance that his party would co-operate in any measures that would further the credit of the country. The speaker stated that throe years ago New Zealand’s credit had been very high. Then came the grotesque proposal to borrow seventy millions. Thu Reform Party felt that further borrowing schemes were out of the question, and that the country “should cease going to the pawnshop.” Part of the depression was duo to our big cousin across tho Tasman—Australia. Australia, on the other hand, blamed New Zealand. They said that New Zealand started tho Arbitration Court, and when Australia copied it they landed themselves in a mess. Dominion Credit Board. In regard to the loan just floated >n London, newspapers gave it a very good write-up, but it was a fact that only 32 per cent, of the loan was taken up by the public, and New Zealand was faced with the fact that her credit was bad in London. In 1929, when a £70,000,000 loan was attempted, seven millions of this had to be taken up in New Zealand and shipped home to London. This created a high bank rate, and money shortage. In 1929, also, the Dominion’s wool cheque fell seven millions, and was followed by practically all our staple products failing below the prices of 1914, with costs 60 per cent above. Unemployment thus came about.

Prior to 1929, the rate of payment a day was 12/-. The present Government raised this to 14/-, but now owing to the economic pressure it was as low as 10/- a week in same instances. (During the last three years, taxation had been raised by £2,000,000, but it was not until the Ship of State was practically on the rocks that any endeavour had been made to shorten sail. Mr Dickie then gave instances by figures of the increased revenue to the Government. In regard to railways, £3,500,000 had been expended on constructions which will never pay for their axle-grease. An instance of money spent on roadwork was the making of a road up Mount Egmont at a cost of £lO,OOO, while poor baekblock farmers were still using bridle-paths Another piece of extravagance was the Education Commission’s tour round New Zealand. They certainly produced a report, but this alone cost £505 to print. Last year the Labour Party asked that a delegation be sent to Geneva. This was done, and after touring the Continent, returned home. Air Dickie stated that he did not begrudge Air Forbes’ his trip Home to the Prime Ministers’ Conference, but he could not see why he needed to take such a large staff with him. There was far too much spent on that trip. At the conclusion, Air Forbes should have come home through Canada, and fixed up some agreement over our dairy contract. Equality of Sacrifice. Air Dickie said that the Government should endeavour to make the sacrifices fall as evenly as possible. He knew it would not be a popular job. “It is going to be an anxious 18 months ahead for the Dominion,” he stated. On the matter of unemployment, Mr Dickie thought increased land settlement would relieve this to a certain extent. But it was a very difiicult position. Land purchases had been made of 55,000 acres at a cost of £525,000, and 429 settlers put on the land. With necessary building, fencing etc., the average cost per settler worked out at £3523. Thus the cost of land settlement worked out at an enormous sum of money. Land settlement in Perth, Western Australia, twelve months ago, had been worked on the group supervision basis, and had worked very well. The Waikato areas worked on the same basisi would be a great improvement on the community system at present in force. Secondary industries had no market at present outside New Zealand, so there could be no absorption of unemployed in this direction. When ihc Unemployment Board was set up last December, with local committees all over tho country, there was no actual distress evident. But in a very little time the unemployment figures had almost doubled. In Hawera, for instance, there had been 200 men on the books, after 14 days of the Unemployment Board’s schemes, and at last these unemployment committees found themselves as labour exchanges. Money wat spent on unproductive work, and now when winter months had arrived, the board finds itself out of funds, and in fact had used up the levies of the next three months. It seemed that now the unemployed will have to depend on fickle Dame Charity. The question had been aggravated by employers , discharging employees with an easy conscience because they thought that the unemployment, committees would get them work. At present there was a clause prohibiting a man with any money in the bank, or even a few cows, getting work under the No. 5 scheme. This was a wrong measure. The expensive offices hold by ‘he Meat and Dairy Boards could well be merged, said Mr Dickie. The conference to be held in Now Plymouth with in the next month should prove vastly interesting from this point of view. Fusion Proposal. On the question of fusion, Air Dickie stated that an open mind would have to be kept. There had been a good deal of talk about fusion during the past twelve months, but until very recently there had been no mention of it in the. House. The matter would have to be discussed more fully yet. If the United and Reform parties were pre pared to meet and confer, some form

of policy would probably result, of which both parties would approve. But they were not going to let a lot of floaters-about-the-House decide it for them. Reform was the strongest body in the country to-day. (Applause). In 1929, when the £70,000,000 loan policy was proposed, some thought that it was madness, but nevertheless, it worked like yeast in flour. Some thought that if the boom returned we would not get caught again. In 1928, tho balance of exports over imports totalled £12,00Q,000. Next year people imported to cover the boom, and imports exceeded exports by £130,000, and this again helped to create money shortage. Air Dickie said he had heard it said I that Reform was all right, but Air Coates was not. After being connected with Air Coates for over eight years, Air Dickie said he could not see what tho objections were. Air Coates was a glutton for work, not always as tactful as ho might be, but the warmest-heart-ed person in the world. The speaker had never known him turn down an appeal for help yet, and he had travelled many miles with him. The wonder was tha J any credence should be given 10 such talk. In reply to a question, Air Dickie said he was in favour of the exportation of third class lambs, under a proper grading system. Quite a good business could be built up without depreciating our name or business overseas. West Coast third grade was better than second grade Poverty Bay lamb. First grade on this coast wag a supergrade, and other parts should be com polled to grade to this standard. West Coast lamb was at a premium on the markets. Black-faced lambs should be in a grade very little lower than our second. Freezing Works. In regard to freezing works, Mr Dickie replied to a questioner who asked whether it would not be better if New Zealand purchased works in order to keep them going instead of having them lying idle and tho farmers shipping or railing stock for distances. Mr Dickie said that farmers of the district had the first cull, then other Dominion firms, and failing these, there could be no question of refusing an outside company.

Air Juhnston moved that tho meeting uphold Air Coates in hi« attitude towards the question of fusion. Air O. Hawken, former member for Egmont, seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Hawken, in seconding the resolution, stated that all the old men who had been in the game were against fusion. Reform was asked to fuse with a party that had made nearly all the mistakes they could make. They had accentuated tho position by their slowness when action wa: needed. Before they finished the Uniteds would have a lot to do. Business men, as a rule, looked with favour on fusion, but most electors did not vote on business considerations. But this next election would see many taking this view into consideration. Reform had always been a solid party, loyal to each other and never ashamed of being of that party. (Applause). Its principles would stand the light of day at any time. Fusion was undesirable as tar as Reform was concerned and as far as the country was concerned also. (Applause). The committee for the year was then elected as follows: Chairman, Air F. Johnston'; secretary, Air S. Aiken; committee, Alcssrs F. C. Afatthews, A. G. Wallace, C. D. (Dickie, H. Middleton, G. Spratt, Adlam, P. and AL Bremer, W. Muir, W. Alatthews, C. Dickie, D. Stewart, W. MacFarlane, JS. Here, N. Hughes, H. Aluldrock, C. Southcombe, 1\ J. Davies, E. Aiken, G. Walkinton, J. Newland, E. Mason, C. Hyland. A. McPherson, A. Symes, W. H. Watkins, G. McGregor, Robt. McDonald, W. Walls, Bayne, Alex. Christie, J. Lupton, Dr. Duncan, F. li. Palmer, P. Ten went, O. Hawken, C. E. Johnston, A. Smith, (I. Hawken, A. Alexander, with power to add. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Air Dickie for addressing the meeting and it was hoped that next election would sec Mr Dickie returned for Pa tea; The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Air Johnston for taking the chair.