GENERAL ELECTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15978, 21 November 1919, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION.

WANGANUI SEAT. ME VEITCH AT GONVILLE. Mr W. A. Veitch, the sitting member for Wanganui, addressed a well-attended meeting of electors in the Gonville Town Hall last evening, when the weather was very unfavourable, otherwise the hall would doubtless have been crowded. Mr J. C. Arnold, chairman of the Gonville Town Board presided. The candidate, after thanking the audience for the very gratifying reception accorded him, stated that he intended to keep clear of personalities, which he regretted were so often brought into political contests. In this connection, however, he had no cause for complaint against either of his opponents. There would be more justification for the other candidates to attack him than for him to attack them, as he was the man with the bat, and who had to defend his wickets. Mr Veitch went on to say that in the course of his address in that hall a few nights ago Mr Cuttle had criticised the speaker’s PROPORTIONAL REPRBSENTA- , TION , Bill, and had declared that the principles in that Bill were not the soundest. He agreed with his critic on that point, but he would like to point out that it was drafted along the lines of existing legislation. In drafting his Bill along those lines he had taken what he considered the commonsense course, though he did not consider it the very best system. The proposed Bill would, however, be a big improvement on existing conditions. It would interest Mr Cuttle to know that the Legislative Council -'Act of 1914 providing for proportional representation of members of the Upper House, and from which he had taken his principles, was placed there by Mr Massey.

RAILWAY SUPERANNUATION SCHEME.

Mr Veitch proceeded to reply to Mr Cuttle’s criticism of the railway superannuation scheme, which he had declared to be unsound financially, because the Government had found it necessary to contribute £75,000 from the Consolidated Fund to maintain the scheme- That, however, did not prove the scheme unsound. The speaker said that he was very prominently connected with the drafting of the scheme as a member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants The original proposal of the Government was that railway employees should pay three per cent, of their wages as a contribution'to the fund and as a set off the Government was to pay an equal amount. This scheme was not adopted as provision was not made for old men ready to retire. It was therefore decided provision should be made for the old employees, and as a set off they did not ask for Government support, but the Government gave a guarantee that the fund would remain safe, it had not failed for want of political foresight, but what had happened had been expected to all. He considered it a fair thing t that the Government should contribute to all workers’superannuation schemes. Every employer Lad a right to contribute to the superannuation schemes of these men who had given them long years of faithful service. Especially did this apply to such a large department as that of the Railway Department, which should show some practical sympathy towards its employers when thqy had grown old in the service. This year the Government’s contribution had been larger *in order to make up for the loss of the contributions of those men who had gone to the war. He could not believe that the public would object to that. They also had to bear in mind the fact that the Superannuation Fund saved the Government a certain amount a year as compassionate allowances. The speaker went on to refer to important amendments which had been made in the Act and which would have f'e effect in the course of two or three years of making the scheme self-supporting. He hoped that it would not be long before the scheme would allow of the payment of pensions to the widows of superannuated railway men. Mr Veitch said that the scheme was an excellent one, and he regretted that ill-considered criticism had been made of it. Such criticism was not deserved, as the scheme had driven poverty from the homes of many who had benefitted under the scheme. His experience in connection with the scheme had tended to make him a still stronger advocate of national insurance for the whole of the workers of the Dominion. Mr Veitch then proceeded to deal with a question which had been raised as to

WHOM HE WOULD SUPPORT in a no-confidence Holland or Massey. He said, let them assume that the new Parliament had met and the member for Wanganui was there. A voice; You’ll be there all right, Bill! The candidate said that he felt confident about that. Proceeding, he said that if Sir Joseph Ward attacked the Government he could not say whether he would support him or not. Everything would depend on the motion. If it was no-con-fidence in the Government as at present constituted he would support it. It did not follow that he would crawl on his hands and knees to Ward for the rest of his life. He did not wish to be misunderstood on this point- He deprecated the journalistic jugglery which was indulged in in connection with political campaigns. A certain journal famous for its truthfulness had declared that the speaker was tied hand and foot to Ward. The reply was, if Ward tried to push him where he did not want to go, he would find he was greatly mistaken. If the no-confidence motion was moved by the speaker—and it would not be against hig conscience to do it—it would mean that Sir Joseph Ward would have to walk into the lobby with him. In that case the public would assume, according to the reasoning of the journal in question, that Ward had accepted him as his leader. It would be a good thing if he did, jocularly added the candidate. The speaker supported the no-confidence motion on the Address in Reply in, 1914, but not the

one against the National Government’s war policy. He claimed a man should follow his conscience and vote for principles. In this connection Mr Veitch dealt with his attitude towards the official Labour Party on similar lines to his Aramoho address. He said if he signed up with the Labour Party he not only bound himself to follow the platform of the party, but also to record his vote in obedience to the decision of the party caucus. There was, in his opinion, nothing so undemocratic as any group of men assuming the right to control the principles and conscience of any representative of the people. He refused to be controlled by anyone but i his own constituents. POSSIBILITIES AHEAD. Mr Veitch went on to say that there was a possibility of Mr Massey’s party and Sir Joseph Ward’s party being returned in equal strength and unable to run a Government without the assistance of another party. (He would like , to see a fusion of all the best democratic forces to build up a strong democratic party. He did not think it would be possible to build up a cast iron political machine with exclusive principles such as the official Labour Party was trying fo build up. He hoped Parliament would resolve itself into a national conference and cast aside all petty differences and bias. He concluded by asking for the support of the electors on the grounds of faithful services, and also because of the exceptional problems with which they would be confronted during the next few years, when experienced men. would be needed in Parliament. Mr Veitch, who was given a very attentive hearing’ and whose remarks were frequently applauded, then resumed his seat. Replying to questions. Mr Veitch said he attended the Liberal caucuses at the time Mr Hindmarsh was chairman of the Labour group. He was not altogether opposed to party Government as some system of party grouping was necessary. He would be prepared to accept the portfolio of Labour with the Ward Government if the Cabinet policy was in conformity with his convictions. He could have bad it before if be had sold his political soul. Mr Holmes proposed a hearty vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Veitch as member for Wanganui. He said that Mr Veitch had shown by his straight dealing and straight going that he could be depended upon to worthily represent them in Parliament. The motion was seconded by Mr James Aiken and carried with enthusiasm, with only two or three dissentients . MR. McILVRIDE AT DUBLIN * STREET. Mr Mcllvride, official Labour candidate for Wanganui, addressed the electors in the Dublin Street Schoolroom last evening, when there was a good audience present. Mr Mcllvride, who was given a very attentive hearing, made special reference to the evil of child labour, the necessity of a State Bank, housing for workers, and education, In reference to the latter, ho thought the North Island, as well as the South, should bo provided with _ schools for backward children. At the conclusion of his address, Mt Mcllvride was given a vote of thankr and confidence., ME McILV RIDE’S MEETINGS, To-night there will be a Labour rally at 8 o’clock at Maria Place, when Mrs J. Aitkeu (a member of the Wellington. •» Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and a lady prominent in Labour circles) will speak, as also Mr Mcllvride. Lady workers and supporters of Mr Mcllvrido arc invited to meet Mrs Aitken in An sky's tea room (Central Hall) to-morrow at J p.m.