THE GENERAL ELECTION

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15101, 23 November 1922, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

THE PARTY LEADERS.

MR. MASSEY'S CHIEF ASSETS.

Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, Tuesday

Local interest jn the election campaign centred last week chiefly around the speeches of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition at the Lower Hutt. Early in the week, Mr. Wilford had addressed his constituents, strongly criticising the Government, and on Thursday evening Mr. Massey went out to reply. On Friday evenirfj Mr. Wilford took the platform again and gave back as good as he had,received. It cannot be said that either of the party leaders was quite at his best. The Prime Minister, though his audience was goodhumoured enough, was subject to a considerable amount of heckling and he has not Mr. Seddon's happy knack of turning this sort of thing to account. His arguments, too\ were a little unconvincing. He would have It, for instance, that the fact of Labour members having voted with the Liberals when their views were in harmony was proof of a conspiracy between,ths two sections of the Opposition ta overthrow law and order and bring -about a political revolution. Wheu his audience laughed at this far-fetched suggestion the Minister grew angry.

Divisions. . '■' Early in his speech Mr. Massey, by Way ..of administering a "left hand .compliment" to the Liberal leader, had said that Mr. Wilford and Mr. Holland, were the best assets he had in Parliament and in the country. Returning to the subject after he had attempted . to' establish a connection between the rival opposition leaders he declaimed loudly against any amendment in the electoral laws, that would tend towards a democratic distribution, of Parliamentary representation. Proportional representation, he said, would make it almost impossible to establish a strong and stable Government 1 in New Zealand. It would do away with the country quota and it would split Parliament into groups. It would .create confusion and cause; loss, and he begged the people of the .Dominion, to Have nothing to do with the system. Of course .anyone ..unacquainted with the principle and operation of proportional representation could hold these \;iews quite honestly,, but it is unfortunate for the Prime Minister that the figures of successive elections Sihow that under any system that ensured Parliament accurately representing the will of a majority of the people he and his friends never would have reached office.

Liberal and Labour. Mr. Wilford's reply to the Prime Minister was a little; disappointing to his fifiends. He made a vigorous fighting speech, which vastly entertained a crowded hall, but he dealt rather with the small things of the campaign than with, the great. The electors are not greatly concerned over the monetary assistance given to Sir James Allen in. furnishing his London house and they/ are a little \veafy of the stories of the Government's waste and extravagance. One point, however, the leader of the Opposition made very well. The persistent attempts of the Prime Minister to spread the idea that the Liberals were conspiring with extreme Labour against the best interests of the country were simply contemptible, he said. The Liberals, with much better reason, might say the Reformers were conspiring with Mr. Holland and his friends. Mr. Massey had acknowledged Mr. Holland as one of his best assets in Parliament and had expressed a hope that the leader of "the "Red Feds" would be re-elected. Still more significant, at the last general election the Reformers had openly sided witli Labour a*s against Liberalism. It was to divert attention from his own attitude that Mr. Massey was raising the cry of conspiracy.

The Prospects.

The prospects of the parties much ir jngpre than their policies continue to "engage the attention of the electors " here. It still is opinion of the most observant people that the Reformers will come back with a good working majority/ but not with so large a one as they had-in the last Parliament. Mr. Massey Is embarrassed not only by a .superfluity of candidates anxious to be on'the winning side,, but also by a number of candidates who served him well in the last Parliament, by voting unquestionably at their party's call, and cannot now be cast adrift to make room for younger and more capable men. In this respect Mr. Wilford has fared much better than has the Prime Min- , ister. He has managed to inspire, with .enthusiasm for his cause a number of young men—young that is as politicians go—who are putting up a rare good fight against the better organised forces of the Government; The outcome of it all may be an access of strength to both Liberal and Labour with Reform still holding a clear majority.

THE WAIKATO SEAT.

MR LYE AT CAMBRIDGE.

At the Town Hall on Tuesday even- « ing Mr Lye addressed a large and " enthusiastic audience, about 400 being present, there, being a large percentage, of ladies. Mr Lye seemed to have the support of those present. ~~-.- His Worship the Mayor (Mr S. "" Lewis) occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr Lye, said that whilst tbe people of %k this district had always taken a keen interest in politics they have not yef* had the honour of bringing forward a candidate for Parliamentary honours. He was pleased, to introduce the on© candidate, and congratulated the people upon having at least one from this district. He then called upon Mr Lye to address the electors.

Mr Lye, who was greeted with vigorous applause, said he came to the people with a certain amount of confidence. He felt certain that he was among friends, from the fact that he was a humble follower of the great Liberal cause. It an undisputed fact that Liberalism had controlled the destinies for the last 21 years, and he was proud to have his name associated with such a party. He was not there to boost himself and say what a good fellow he was, and in the course of his address he would find it necessary to hit hard in his criticisms of the Reform Party, but did not want his remarks to be regarded as a personal matter. Personally, said. Mr Lye, "L regard Mr Massey as a strong, robust man, but I cannot agree with his administration." The loyalty of our party bad been questioned, said Mr Lye, but he would say that the Liberal Party had no connection with extreme Labour, and the first plank In"its plalfinrrn was for law and order. .constiiuiiotKil methods, and a united Empire. (Applause). Mr Lye referred to the Liberal-Labour Govern*

ment of the past, and the successful measures it wos responsible in placing on the Statute Book. A strong opposition was needed in Parliament to-day. Continuing, the candidate emphasised ■ the need for cheap and easy finance, criticising the apathy of the Advances to Settlers' Department under Reform control. The speaker continued with a strong indictment of / the present banking system, and fully dealt with the apparent evidence of trusts and combines now existent in the Dominion. To demonstrate his point the candidate made reference to the matter of the Cement Trust, dealing with the closing down of the Golden Bay Cement Company, for which that company received the sum of £15,000 per annum from the Millburn Portland Cement Company. Then, in the case of the Napier Harbour Board, they let tenders for 600 tons of construction work, /and received the New Zealand price of 600 tons at £6 19s 10*d per ton. The English price was £5 16s Bd, included in which, wore £f per ton duty, and 4s 2d landing charges, leaving in favour of the imported article £1 3s 2Jd per tori. -On the deal they saved £695, got £6OO in duty, which made- a difference pt £1290, which the New Zealand Trust would have pocketed. If this is not a "concrete" fact he did not know one. (Sustained applause). Dealing with the land question ' and the future development of the country, Mr Lye contended that if the Dominion was to prosper and to stand up to the burden of a national debt of £219,000,000, increased production and closer settlement was essential." This huge indebtedness is too great a burden fora population of 1,250,000, and an efficient system of immigration to secure the best class of immigrant to go on the land is required.- With this scheme should be instituted a roading scheme. It would provide work for. these r imriiigrants, and be assisting them 1 to take up land with good outlets to their sections, and together with their land under their optional tenure, they would have a chance to make good. The candidate dealt with taxation and the need for the prevention of waste in> public, expenditure. Mr Lye referred ! to the Waiuku railway as a sample of gross mismanagement. This line, 12 miles in length, has no less than-five lovely stations. The line cost,. £16,600 per mile to build, and''the average cost per mile completed for the lines throughout the Dominion is £13,200. 'This Fne can never pay, for the opposition modes of transport are too strong, including water service and m< Lor service.

In referring, to soldiers and the land the candidate warmly denounced the attitude -adopted towards . these men, who, a ?hort time ago, were ready to stake their all, in defence of their country. In a few instances, soldier'settlers, through the generosity of land-owners, had been able to secure improved sections at moderate . prices, and as a result are doing well, but the great majority are faring badly. Some have done all possible \r> make a living, but are now down and out, and have their credit r.tjpjMd. These mvi have been placed on sections under conditions that give them no chance to make good, which is a disgrace to the Government. (Applause.) \ A revaluation ' of these sections should be made—and would have to be made. ; The inf.cres*t should he remitted so as to give the soldiers a chance. These soldiers saved our Dominion, and made it sure for us to live in, anud we should not them now. ((Sustained applause.) Mr Lye resumed his seat amidst applause. Quite a number of questions were put to the candidate, which were answered promptly and satisfactorily. The following resolution was moved by Mr A. H. Palmer, and seconded by Mr J. Blackman, "That a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr Lye for his very able address and brilliar.t exposition of the Liberal platform. That this meeting endorse that lie is a tflf and able person to represent this electorate in Parliament. Further, that this meeting do all in its power to place Mr Lye at the head of the poll on December 7 with a bumper majority."

Pickings from speeches.

"The Whito-Haired Boy."

During his tour of the Coast -district last April,, th e Hon. J. G. Coates, speaking at a public function at Porangahau, stated that the member for Pahiatua appeared to be a "whitehaired boy with the backblocks settlers." This was strikingly evidenced when Mr McNicol addressed a political meeting' at Poraugahau (states the Dannevirke News). Prior to Mr McNichol's address the chairman read the following letter from Mr R. B. Ross, a former member for Pahiatua, who contested the seat at the last general election against Mr McNicol as a supporters! the Liberal Party:—

"Dear Mr McNicol, —I am busy shearing, and being short-handed am sorry I cannot go into Porangahau to attend your meeting to-night. I hope you have a good attendance, and the majority of electors will realise as I do, that at this juncture it is in the best interests of the producers, and consequently the Dominion as a whole, to keep Mr Massey in office. The past three 'years have been most difficult ones, and New Zealand was fortunate in having in power a strong Government under the leadership of a Prime Minister who has an Intimate and sympathetic knowledge of the position of the man on the ,land. In my position as Crown tenants' representative on the Hawke's Bay Land Board, I have had ample evidence of what is being done to assist both soldier and civilian settlers. Pldase accept my best thanks for the interest you have displayed in the requirements of this—the remotest portion of your electorate. Wishing you success, —Yours, sincerely, R. B. Ross."

The reading of , this letter was greeted with loud applause.

An Eye For an Eye,

The (Labour candidate for Eden, Mr H. G. R. Mason, in urging the claims of internationalism, said he strongly desired to see a spirit of goodwill fostered between the nations. A/Voice:/ Even Germany? Mr Mason: Yes, even Germany. A voice: I lost six sons there. Mr Mason: 'The principle of service and neighbourly love as taught in the parable of th e Good Samaritan is the gospel I accept. A voice: An eye for an eye and a tootli for a tooth is what I accept.

Heading For the Now Light.

"Our only hope as a national body affiliation with the Bed International of Trades Unions in Moscow," states a manifesto lliat lias been issued to the miners' unions throughout'New Zealand by the recent rimers' conference in Reefton. "The Red Intcrnatioal is our goal. The programme of that body must be ours."—lt is seldom that the Labour extremists arc quite so frank'about their intentions, though Mr Holland and his friends have never been at any pains to disguise their sympathy with, the people who have wrecked Russia.