“FOLLOW BRITAIN’S LEAD”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 278, 26 November 1935, Page 8

“FOLLOW BRITAIN’S LEAD”

ADDRESS BY

MR. N. R. BAIN

APPEAL FOR ELECTORS TO VOTE SANELY WORK OF GOVERNMENT MUST NOT BE UNDONE * “A meeting which ended in cheers."—Such a description aptly describes the gatbeiing of between SOO and 900 which Air. •X. R. Bain. National Government candidate, addressed at the Wanganui Opera House last night. It was a meeting which harboured its expected quota of supporters of the Labour Party, was definitely opposed to the cause of the Democrats and in accord with the candidate except on those points on which he differed from the views of the Labour Party. All the interjections were of a humorous kind, and in many instances enabled the candidate to explain more fully his general policy. Mr. Bain said that he was fully in accord with the humanitarian principles of the Labour Party, but disagreed with that party on the methods by which it hoped to achieve its object. He agreed that Labour had rendered service to the country as an effective Opposition whenever its criticisms had been eon>rtictive. He repeated that he was responsible to no one lor his political beliefs and would not be dictated to by anybody. Whenever lie disagreed with the Government, and there were some things »n « hich he v as bound Io disagree with it. he would vote against it except tvhen he could see that by so voting he would be throwing this country open to the dangers of unstable government. The Democrats Mr. Bain described as being a party without record and nothing Im: a ”vote-splitting machine.” It was claimed by Mr. Bain that it was time this, the fifth city of the Dominion, made a change, and placed somebody in Parliament to represent it who vas "on side.” The speaker appealed for the electors to think clearly before they voted, anil to vote to retain stable government and so profit from the work whieh had been done to bring the country through the depression. In a final appeal to the electors, the speaker asked that they remain as steadfast as Britain, adhering to the National Government wiiich had brought this country through the morass.

The Mayor. Mr. \V. .1. Kogers, pre titled, and in intrtMiuticg the speaker, ocmplimeuled all four candidates in Wanganui on the clean manner in ' whiea thev had conducted their cam paigns. As Mr. Rain rose to speak a mem her of th? audience, who later persist enilv interjected and so earned from ! rhe speaker the title of ‘' my friend on the left,” teteried to the jeported statements of Ah. .Munro, of the Labour Parly tn fhinedin. "'Are they • true or aren’t they?” he wanted lo . Mr. Koger*; Mr. Bain will stand up to all the question? you like tv ask him i ait er ward?. • • M friend ou the Left”: I’m only gelling m early. Mr. Bam proceeded to outline his political views. His honesty of purpose, he said, bad never been impugned. e.tber bv the people, oi by Ins oppoo i ents. His intelligence had been chai lenged. however, and the charge made by Mi. Coiterill that h«* was reaching • toe seer and veliow, and unable lo adjust his mind to these modern times. i Mi. Bain refuted that by saying lhai j he did not feel old and was rertainl- I rust as alive to modern trends as Mr. I t oiterill. ■ Applause . T he speaker oner again tra«-e*l the • historv of the last four year*, and lhe | dire bnaucial position which faced Mi. 1 Forbes as Prime Minister —a condition ' hb’atts biougut about by world-wide | depression, resulting in the primary I exports oi this country failing to find I a market at prices fitly per vent, be- ■ ha tho.-e ruling in the years ju?t before. Mr. Forbes had called the lead- ‘ ■s of the Other political parlies in lhe I House logethei Air. < oates represent ing Ketuiiii, and Mi. Holland repre- .«»•!, ting Labour. Mr. Coates agreed to . sink v. oat ever political differences his ’ party Lad with Mr. Forbes, and to Mr. Kain’s mind those differences were nut ; terv great, and join in a Coalition i I'oveiument. The Labour Party did • n«»t agree to join in, and lhe speaker ■ «as bound to sa ■ that he did not : blame them tor it. Labour prefer:rd ■ to remain in Opposition, and in the I -peaker’s opinion trial party bad done a real service to the »ouniiv ii> that I capacitr whene’er its criti«'i*in was 1 i onsf rticliv r. Sfiung opposition wa* an essential to sound Government. Mr. Bain said that there wo no use j flim-hing from lacts. A great deal <»t the legislation of the pioent Govern < •i»ent had to be experimental. The j . isis whieh disturbed this country Lad Been unprecedented. Nothing like it , had ever bad to be dealt wit it before. ’ Hr asked the electors to consider the crisis the Government bad la«ed and. then witu what it t* to-day. as«»ed I hem-elves whether the Government bad done a good job work. "I. an you doubt- l-iat there are Dgfi,- of r ** turning prosperity? M’. Bain asked. A \ oice: Where? Mr. Bain pointed to restoration oi ruts to an extent <f 7. per cent, re- , *toration of pensions, increased trade, establishment of mote factories ami ; lhe consequent employment of more ( men. lhe vast improvement in railway , finance whereby the public account*, were graduallv being treed of taxation for that form of transport, reduction u the bank overdraft rate and the keeping of farmers on their la mi so as to avail themselves of better prices, as factors pointing to better tia.es. ** lhe trovernmeni has been blamed for everything bad during its term ot office and if it is responsible for any good it is entitled to do credit for it. , said the speaker in pointing out that while the Goveinrt»?nt could not be held directly responsible for the better prices for primarv produi ts at Home it had been the means of keeping the farmers on their land and enabling them to obtain the beneht in increased production. Follow Britain's Lead Mr. Bain pointed to the example of Britain and to the confidence which the British people and the British financial , experts, who were acknowledged to be rhe best in the world, had io New Zen land under its present Government. As tne result of that election in Britain and the return of a National Government Britain was well set on the road io prosperity. Britain had been dragged from the morass of depression

by a National Government and wasj now sunning herself on the hill oi prosperity. (Prolonged applause.) ■‘And what of this country?’’ Mr., Bain asked. “We have modelled our selves on Britain, and New Zealand is , climbing rp from the morass of difficulty. What are you going to give this little country now that she is climbing npT Are you going to cast her back into the morass of experiment and doubt with social credit? A majority of the audience: No. Mr. Bain: I say definitely that this country must follow the example o, Britain. Prolonged applause.) The. people of this country nave sufficient intelligence to see that unless thev follow tne lead Great Britain has set they will put bark all the work lhe Government has done. Mr. Bain maintained that the Gov eminent had been a friend iu the working man, to every class in ihr country. There was opposition to him at this stage from the back, and the chairman bad to intervene tor a fair hearing. Mr. Bain said that he would Dm cii ic’Se Mr. Veitch personally, but ht felr that Mr. \ eitch s political career of 24 years was a legitimate subject for rommenf. When Mr. Veitch had •q»ened hi* campaign he had said that he wa* at a disadvantage compared with either Mi. Cotterill or the speaker. He (Mr. Veitch) had been in the House and the speaker and Air Uotierill had nor. Mr. Bain felt tha. if he himself bad had 24 years of experience he would be pro id io come te the people with his record. He contrasted the attitude of Mr. \ ’eitch in apologising for his record with that, of the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, who stad stood up proudly io look back od hi* 27 year* a* a Liberal. Applause. T’np speaker then briefly reviewed rhe policies of rhe opposing candidates in Wanganui. H<- mentioned Mi. Hogan. ami voices from the back called: “H- doesn't count, so leave him our. Mr. Bain contented himself with pointing our that a lower price for bread seemed to be Mr. Hogan's main coinern. if lhe sliding scale ol . wheat duties were removed the speakei 1 showed thal New Zealand would be ar lhe mercy of Australia. When there was a short crop in that country, oi ! the op could find a readier market , ei.*ew hr, *. New Zealand would be The Democrat.* Mr. Bain referred to h- merely a ' ote-.*piitting n achine. li had no record. \ oices: They have gramophone re cord.* anyway. . Laughter. • I'be Democrat*, he said, hoped to .2:«in rhe balance of power in the House in order to force another ele«tion on lhe people of this count ry al a cost o:’ £Sd.»H)ii or £90,090. A voice: Why.' Another voice: it is purely speculation. A tbiid voice; I: ’ll give Bill Veitch , another chance to change his coal, i , Laughter. Mi. Bain den.ed definitely that rhe Government was paying his election) expense.- and that he was being offered' a fee. “I have a fee less brief. ' he j >a.<i. ‘"but I hope t<» obtain a fee in >ervi<-e rendeied to my country and my city.” Applause. Agreed Largely with Labour Deal-ug with Labour the speaker said that he agreed with the humani ■ tarian lines of that party’s policy, but it wa* the method of obtaining those objectives that he was opposed to — lhe method of costless credit, of print ing notes i-n a pnuting machine. Mr. < oiterill had san’ that many depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank had had tfcri- deposits taken from them. That was not so. After 25 tear.*, if an ac-vii.n was not operated upon the bank searched for the depositor. That had been dene, and in G2.00H cases they had not been traced ami lhe amount* held in their names. n most cases less than £l, had been handed to public accounts. It was the depositors who had been missing, not the accounts. Dealing again with costless credit, he said it was about as sensible a proposition as he had heard made recently i —that all the gold in New Zealand be left in the ground and that notes be issued against it. Wherever costless credit, or the printing of money had • »n tried it had been an unqualified failure. Re quoted the present state of affairs in Alberta.