REASON FOR ELECTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 189, 5 December 1941, Page 5

REASON FOR ELECTION

LABOUR'S STATEMENTS REFUTED WOULD PREFER TO FIGHT ALONE " * MR W. SULLIVAN AT WH Alv AT AN B The statements being made throughout the electorate by Labour Party members who are supporting their candidate, Mr Chas. Mills, that the National Party had broken its contract or agreement thiat they would not contest seats during the war was strongly refuted by Mr W; Sullivan, National candidate, wheni he addressed a large gathering at Whakatane on Tuesday night. *No such agreement had been made adding that only when it was considered that there might be a general election had it been said that the National Party would not - contest seats which were - held by members serving overseas who Avished to retain their seats. Mr Sullivan continued that in the Waitemata electorate the Party had not nominated a candidate but an Independent had come forward and forced the issue. He claimed that if that man had had the backing of the National Party organisation he woukl have been returned. In the YVaipawa seat, which belonged to National and had become vacant by the death of the late Mr Joll, Labour had chosen to contest, and therefore National was entitled to do as it was now doing. The Bay of Plenty seat until 1935 had always been a National one and the change had been the result of a split vote which was also a minority vote. Again it would never been won in 1938 had it not been for the unfair tactics employed by Labour. Tactics Employed Public Works men had been established in camps in the district So that they could be qualified to vote, and then had been transferred from whence they had come. Labour members had played on the subject of the extension of the Taneatua railway line and by such trick- • ery influenced- the minds of many electors. Mr Sullivan then read to the audience the reply from Mr S. G.i Holland that he had received in reply to a query regarding the alleged agreement regarding candidates. The telegram completely denied any such arrangement. "However, I am Afraid you will hear a lot about that during the campaign," he said. Rather Stand Alone' ''I look upon the by-election as a "test case; —whether the electors approve of the policy of the Labour Party as far as it has gone—and I have found throughout the electorate a definite swing away from Labour," said the speaker. "The Government has not carried out its pledges and has let the country down —and if they are allowed to go on "then they will further let down the country. December the thirteenth will give you the opportunity to help s to clip one of their wings." "In»my opinion we should have -fought this campaign alone and not introduced outside speak- ■ ersi," he continued 1 , "I feel comr petent to fight the seat alone andi have asked for no speakers," he .-added, stating that the issue had been forced by Labour's introduction of numerous Ministers and other members. "However, now all the 'big guns' are to come including Mr Fraser andi Mr Nash. Yes! and 1 they say thiat • even 'big shooter' Bob Seiriple will be included. Well let them all come and we will have a 'ding dong go' as to what Party the people want." 1 Not a Statesman Mr Sullivan continued that he did not approve of the election being held at such a critical time,, but that the Prime Minister had failed as a statesman in not forming a National Government. He had failed to do his duty because he was run by the trades unions. Why had he not done his duty and taken the consequences as a statesman would have done. "They think more of party politics than a 100- per cent, war effort., They are so wedded to the party machine that they are not willing to forgo some of their portfolios." Unfair Prepaganda The speaker continued that the people would not stand for such tactic's as the Labour Party was using by distributing pamphlets of New Zealand's war effort and taking

all credit for this. They had failed in the war effort. Had not allowed funds offered for 'planes to go overseas because Mr Nash had so dissipated the overseas credit that he had to save now. Firms had been refused permission to work longer hours without paying penal overtime rates. This when the men Avere willing to do. their bit and the farm machinery manufactured was essential to the Avar effort. From his experience lie kneAv 90 per cent of the Avorking men avckc "jolly good men" and yet Avere not alloAA r cd to Avork any extra time, when they could be doing such Avork as building mine-SAveepers instead of the West Coast raihvay Avhich was not essential. The Government had been so wrapped up in its socialistic policy that it had not heeded the advice of the "four colonels" and had been behind in preparation, had ignored Lhe R.S.A., and iioav the Home Guard Avas unable to function properly for lack of equipment. Workers Glad to Help "They went so far as to send Mr Semple around the country —ia man with no military background whatsoever. Now if they had sent Jack Lee we couild have taken some notice. We know Mr Semple and saw him collapse like a pricked balloon in this town when he made a rude remark about one of our own returnedl soldiers." The Avorkers generally Avished to do their part he claimed, and should be permitted if they Avished to Avork extra hours at ordinary rates of pay. They iioav Avorked fiAe days of the week and had two days off Avhen they AA-ould gladly do their part and enjoy the extra money. Again the Government had proA-ed that it Avas not sincere in its Avar effort or avliv were not tlie Ministers iioav in this electorate not doing the Avork they were elected to do. Mr Sullivan quoted figures showing that large increases in the cost of liA'ing and taxation, of the failure of the GoAernment to< abolish unemployment, of the increase of 12 millions in National debt. A third of the increases Avas being spent on the Avar and the rest on the bureau of industry—stepping towards the cherished object of Mr Nash —Socialism. The "borroAV, boom and bust" policy could not go on— the people could not carry the burden much longer. They had failed to look after the worker, had reduced the minimum for income tax to include him and also increased the cost of liA 7 ing that he Avas getting Avorse and Avorse off. tn support of this he said that at present application was being made For a further 10 per cent increase in Avages to combat the increase in costs. "Its like a cat chasing its tail—Avages go up, then costs go. up. and then again AA'ages go up. We must stumble sooner or later for it is not sound economy." The speaker added that at the same time the Ministers had seen fit to exempt themselves from income tax; They pooled'their remuneration to share Avith some lesser paid members but did not, as everyone else had to do, pay tax on Avliat they gave aAvay. Stealth and Trickery The Government had failed in its promise to give the Avorker cheap houses, had doubled the promised rents and not giA r en the houses to the Avorker who most needed help. Tt had doubled the Sales Tax —a tax they had described as approximating theft Avhen it Avas introduced by the previous party. The party was noAv on trial in the by-ele,ction for a breach of promise. The bureau of industry Avas introtkicing socialism by a system of Stealth and trickery. The term socialism Avas never heard, but sidestepped, with Walter Nash the champion five-eighths. State control was steadily encroaching and industries taken over Avithout tlie people concerned haA r ing the right of appeal or of the courts. He quoted the method of taking over carriers, of the lemon industry, the fishing industry. Such methods Avere. not in accord Avith British justice and Avere not Avhat our men Avere fighting for. The country he said Avas bound by all forms of restrictions through the failure to maintain overseas credit.

Statement Untrue Referring" to Social Security Mr Sullivan said that the Hon. Mr Nordtaeyer was busy telling people that if the National Party was in power it would not operate social security. "Now he is a Reverend gentleman and we should be able to expect something approximating the truth from him. The National Party recognises as every sane person does that those that can should help those unfortunately placed"

The speaker continued that the National Party would, adopt ami maintain a system and year by year extend it in keeping with, the Dominion's ability to pay for it. Old age pensions had been introduced in 1898 and surely the Labour Party did not claim credit for that. The 1/- in the pound tax did not (jay for the scheme and money was being taken from the Consolidated Fund—the people being taxed by invisible means. "We should pay for the less fortunate at all times," he said,, "but should get the scheme on a basis on which it can be maintained at all times." No Land Policy Mr Sullivan criticised the Government's lack of land policy other than endeavouring to socialise the farmer and rob him of all incentive. The Government was not prepared to freehold land for the men when they returned- —tlicy would have to be State tenants for the rest of their lives. Mr Barclay was the only farmer in the Cabinet and the Avhole of the Party included only six while the National Party had sixteen. The country needed a vigorous land policy and the National Party wanted more intensive settlement on good land so as to increase the population of the Dominion. If the popu-

lation was not increased someone else might wish to do it. He criticised Mr Nash in fixing a Guaranteed Price ignoring the industries recommendations —failing to give them the rights of arbitration similar to that had by other industries. Mr Nash dictated the policy. Mr Sullivan briefly said that thf* Party would maintain the Arbitration Court. Its abolition before had been an error and he was. of the opinion that it was needed as where most employers fair and just other were not. Party Comes Second He continued that Party politic? would be secondary with. him. He would do what he thought fair all along. "If I think the Party is wrong then I will go my way and Mr Holland is aware of that position." He continued that Trades Unions were dieating the policy of Labour. Laws should be made and then could be applied by the Labour Department. "In the Trades Union you have dishonest men —they destroy the feeling of good fellowship and co-operation in industry." He added that he felt that the workers did not want the Unions and would throw them out if allowedRepeating that he would have preferred to fight the election without' the interference of other speakers as he did last time, Mr Sullivan stated that he was still a young man full of energy. "I have been with you for a long time," he said, ' and if I am returned will live and work in the electorate." j Questions Asked "That's a very touchy subject," replied the speaker when he was asked how many people voted twice in the last election. He knew that 250 were wrongly on the roll and IGO voted while it could have been easy for Maoris to vote twice. However, he had refused to endeavour to upset the last result and did not now wish to enter upon such a discussion.

In reply to the same questioner he said that he to stand for the United Party in 1931. He had always considered his politics Liberal and if it was remembered the Coalition came into operation just prior to those elections. The National Party was endeavouring to represent the cross section of the community. "In fact I' do not care much about Party politics at all," he concluded. That the Party's policy was that workingmen's homes could be built cheaper and faster under a system of private enterprise was another reply given. Present State dwellings would be when possible made available- at a price to be arranged. "it is a great thing to be able to say 'I own this little place'," he said amidst applause, adding that it cultivated pride and happier family life - In moving his motion of confidence Mir Loane remarked that he did not want it thought that because he had been employed by Mr Sullivan's firm that he was doing so. He or others had never been induced to support Mr Sullivan, but he felt that whatever his party Mr Sullivan would be the ideal man for a representative. In return Mr Sullivan thanked the speaker and said that it was correct that he would and had never induced them to vote for him.