DOMINION POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18392, 28 July 1931, Page 8

DOMINION POLITICS.

REFORM - CRITICISED. INDEPENDENT’S ATTACK. “ COUNTRY IS DRIFTING." MR COATES AND FUSION. (Special to Times.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. "The Reformers offered no remedies last week-end for the problems of facing the country, but simply made general statements without putting up a good case for themselves." declared Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Eginont, in commencing his campaign on Saturday. The country was drifting, he said, and he asked would any good ever be gained when one set fought another set for office, and then, when in office, concerned themselves only with slaying in office. Dir Massey's manifesto had been, “There should be only one party, a National Party, and that with the object of promoting the welfare of New Zealand.” Mr Wilkinson denied that he was a seeker after office, but asked if the electors wanted him to be a rubber stamp wagging at the tall of a party. Mr Forbes had made a tine gesture to Reform. Nothing could be fairer to Mr Coates, but excuses were offered. "Fusion-is all right provided one party is on top,” he declared contemptuously. Trade With Canada. “The press has been misinformed about it,” declared Mr Wilkinson, with reference to Canada’s barrier against New Zealand butter. “We never had a barrier on our butter in Canada, but we get a preferential duty on it. It was ourselves who put up the duty on Canadian goods ail along the line. New Zealand put the duty on Canadian cars to 56 per cent., then to 75 per cent., before they put a duty on our butter. To-day we are favoured on everything we send to Canada, even on butter at 8 cents. I should like the Government to recognise that we are at fault, and send a responsible person to Canada to remove the difficulties, but we don’t want to go to Canada armed with a stick."

Among the Reform mistakes mentioned was the Auckland railway, costing £1,000,000, or £78,000 per mile. He described as a wicked extravagance Reform spending £1,500,000 on the Auckland railway station. The wheat duties helped the party system, which last election all parties supported. New Zealand must pay £1,000,000 annually by the tax on bread as a result of the wheat duties.

THE GENERAL ELECTION. AUCKLAND WEST. TRIANGULAR CONTEST? (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Tile sitting member, Mr M. J. Savage, will again be the Labour Party's candidate for the Auckland West seat at the general election. The Reform Party condidate will be Mr J. A. G. Allum and this evening a deputation from the United Party is to wait on Mr H. R. Mackenzie to request him to oonsent to nomination In that party’s interest.

AUCKLAND SUBURBS. REFORM NOMINATIONS. Six nominations have been received for the position of Reform Party candidate for Auckland Suburbs. They comprise those of Messrs V. Mullingar of New Lynn, W. H. Potter of Oratia, R. 11. Marryatt, T. A. Bishop, W. A. Bishop and M. Laing. The selection ballot will be held on August 6. THE EDEN SEAT. Mr R. Glover Clark has agreed to have his name submitted to the Reform Party’s selection ballot In the Eden constituency.