DR. THACKER AT WOOLSTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 10

DR. THACKER AT WOOLSTON.

t ?i\ Thackcr > a candidate for tho lyttelton seat, addressed a meeting of electors at Woolston last night. . Mr G. S. Whito presided over a fair attendance.

Tho meeting was a very quiet one until the end, when a gang of rowdy people arrived from another meeting, and, clustering round the door, attempted to upset things. Dr. Thacker announced himself as a Liberal, a Moderate, and the "workers' friend. Anyone who had known him for tho last fifteen years would know ho had always been the workers' friend. (Applause.) When Government and Opposition official candidates had to get splints, etc., in tho way of official support from Wellington, it showed he was the strong man of the crowd. The Government man had "Davy" Jones going round with him in the Peninsula, and everyone knew what happened to him who went'with Davy Jones.

Dr. Thacker considered that twenty real solid men could look after tho business of Now Zealand, but as that could not happen he suggested that there should bo an elective executive, not a Cabinet composed of members of tho dominant party. The chairman of tho Lands Committee should be the Minister of Lands. The chairman of the Education Committee should bo tho Minister of Education, arid so on. Tho Ministry should be composed of the best men in the House. With regard to proportional representation, he would come down one night and explain it to them when he was their member. . He briefly explained some of its features. If there was a quota of 6000 or 7000 people scattered over a city they should have a say in tho government of the country. He did not think the country quota aJ fair thing. As "a democrat he considered all votes should be equal. He believed in the initiative and referendum when .20 per of tjio electors asked for a referendum on any question. Regarding electoral reform, there was a lot of talk about the rich man and motor-cars. If his* opponents would not use motor-cars next week he would not use them. Ho would fine any person eligible £1 for not enrolling, and 5s for not voting when enrolled. This would quickly obviate tho necessity . for motorcars. Ho • owned a lot of land; it had been left to him. Hβ of land; it had been left to him. He believed in the optional, tenure, which he believed was Mr Massey : s idea. This allowed a poor man to get on the land and" acquire it. Hβ had tenants on his land in the Bays. He would give them the right to purchase their land, and in his will give, them the first option of acquiring it when he died. One of the greatest reasons why the cost of living was so high was that all. New Zealand's best products were being exported whilst at the same timo New Zealand was trying to get revenue by putting a. big import tax on tho necessaries of life, like linoleum, boots, etc. They were trying to encourage the manufacture of boots in New Zealand, and yet were exporting hides, with the result that the people wero buying American and shoddy stuff. • The Government should look into the question of placing an export tax on mutton, hides, butter, etc. The people who exported these were the "fat" people, who could well bear a small export tax. He had been informed by a wealthy man on Banks Peninsula that he would not get this, man's vote, "as Dr. Thacker was the biggest Socialist -in New Zealand." The country was throwing away £250,000 a week in maintaining "specials," whereas if the Government and the Opposition had done the' correct thing, there would have been no need for them at all. The strike was a deplorable thing. It only required Mr Massey to suggest to Sir Joseph "Ward that they bring together tho best men on each side, or get Sir Joshua Williams and four men from the employers and tho Federation of labour to come together, and -try to arrange a settlement, and in the meantime tell the strikers to p;o back to work. In this way a satisfactory settlement would have been arranged, and all the trouble and expense of the strike obviated. The shipwrights had a perfect right not to go out to Evans Bay without further pay. New Zeai land at the present moment had acute I aptvendicitis.

Despite all the dearth and tightness of money, he had been amazed at the Carnival week totalizator figures. They could never abolish sport. If he went to Wellington as member for the district, he would see to it that a proportion of the Government's commission on the "tote" should be devoted to assisting charitable objects.- A man should get a good day's wages, the best that could be given him. The Labour movement that was passing over the whole world was ever advancing. " There were the extremists, but there were also the good solid workers, and all these strikes throughout the world were carrying the peopla along. With regard to the waterside workers. North Canterbury had a Harbour Board elected by the people, which had its permanent employees. If he could manage it, ho would sco that the Harbour Board had its permanent stevedores and waterside workers. The Board should have its permanent men to discharge all tho traffic on -the ■wharves, and pay them a good wage. To solve the problem of casual employment, v/hich was the cause of tho present trouble, the Board should have spare list men hue the Tramway Board and pay them a retaining fee sufficient to enable them to live decently and earn a good wage when employed Motor cars were now cutting into the raiiway traffic. Despite this the railways of INew Zealand had been fairly prosperous. Ihe Opposition had put

?£V ci ? strong .fight against Mr «.ne> s appointment as general manager. II the Government was going to import and improve the stock of the country, why not import a general uptonlate railway man to improve the railways? The railway to Lyttelton \ a3 and out-of-date,, therefore if Mr Hiley was up-to-date ho should soon effect such improvements as would enable a lady to go through to Port with absolutely white Kid gloves. What had local members of Parliament- done to improvo railway facilities here, or anything in regard to the strike? There were in Canterbury too many "yes-no" men; too many rail-sitters. The Union Company's fleet should belong to the people of New Zealand. If it did, there would be no fear of a strike. Ho believed in free secular compulsory education, and did not think any religion should be taught in mixed schools. Ho would give tho children plenty of air space with cubicle adjustable desks. School teachers were tho worst paid and the worst treated of Government servants in Now Zealand. They should be tho best paid. Ho had no tickets on tho Massey Government. If sent to Wellington ho would, vote straight against the Massey Government. Take the Royd Garlick business. Mr Garlick was not an expert in Swedish drill, which he was to teach. He was a friend of the Government. Tho job should havo been put up to public competition. With regard to the Defence Act, if tho groat bulk of I tho male members had to bo trained to defend their country, those who refused should do equivalent service, and if they absolutely refused to do drill at all, let them pay £5 into the Defonco Fund of New Zealand and go free. The girls should be traineu to cook for military encampments, to nurse, and if they objected to military service, they could be trained to go and look after tho children and homes of those at the front. In reply to questions, Dr. Thacker said he did not bcliove in any present liquor law in New Zealand. He believed in State control and pure liquor. Barring that he believed in a 55 per cent, majority for National Prohibition and a three-fifths majority for local option. About JCSOO.OOO a year was derived from the land tax. and the men who paid that paid a million n year in Road Board taxes, and also another half million in hospital, charit-ablo aid, and other taxes. A man paying ~-J a year graduated land tax paid really £200 a year altogether in taxes. Tho man at the bottom with the least wages had to pay all the time, as ho had to pay more for his mutton and butter owing to the taxes. He "would kick old Massoy out for what he.had done to Lyttelton." He had proof that something funny had been done, because jiis committee were going to secure wo hall in Lyttelton tho night before tho election, and as soon as tiie writ was issued they went to get the hall and found tho Government candidate had already secured it. Now', how d tho Government candidate know which was the last night? In reply to another question, tho candidate said he was like a big bluo-bottle in a room. If he wont .to Wellington, he would make himself felt.

"How much better could Dr. Thacker represent Lyttelton than Mr McCombs?" was the nert question. "If I represent Lyttelton the watersiders will get a drink. If Mr McCombs represents Lyttelton it will go thoroughly dry." In reply to further interrogation. Dr. Thacker said he had nothing against Mr McCombs, but he could not understand why men who took their thimbleful of beer were going to elect a talking machine. Let them elect a man. A female member of the audience asked what was .the-true position in regard to the closing of tho rolls, as the Government Party had lost votes through it.

Dr. Thacker said he did not want to libel Mr Massey. The facts would, however, come'out some day. Further questioned, he said he would vote against Mr Massey every day. Hβ had shown his support of land nationalisation by nationalising*his own hind. Hβ was "to the death'? on :beer monopoly i,and thought that the men who brewed the beer had . New Zealand in their grio.He was not prepared .to say what majority should • prevail on a referendum. Hβ had not looked into it enough. Personally, he was quite willlinß to abide by the bare •••mojoriiy.' Asked why the bare majority should not prevail upon the prohibition question. +ho candidate said it would not permit of- any permanent settlement. A vote of thanks was accorded the candidate for his address.