THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22516, 26 September 1938, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTION

31K HOLLAND AT MEHIVALE

Industrial Problems

Discussed

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH SEAT An audience of more than 300 listened on Saturday night to the opening address in the campaign of Mr S. G. Holland, member of Parliament for Christchurch North and National candidate for the seat. The Rugby Street Methodist Church schoolroom, in which the address was given, was not large t-noitgh to seat the electors who came to hear Mr Holland, loud-speakers being used to relay his remarks to those who were accommodated in the adjoining vestry room and outside the hall. Mr Holland was received enthusiastically, and there were few interjections. Mr Holland confined his address, in the main, to an analysis of the broad differences between the Labour and National policies, to a criticism of the Government's handling of industrial problems and to a review of what he described as the highlights trf the National Party's policy. Mr E. H. S. Hamilton, who presided, said that Mr Holland had done wonderful work in the last three years that had marked his first term as a member of Parliament. K was hoped that it would be the first of many terms of icpresenting the electors of Christihurch North.

•1 think I am entitled to say I have no apologies to make to the constituency for my work in the term in which I have represented it in Parliament," said Mr Holland. "I must say I went into Parliament at a good time, because as a member of the Opposition 1 had much greater opportunities j.l making myself heard than I wo' d have had if I had been a member of a strong Parliamentary majority. I would like to acknowledge the help I received in Parliament from my colleagues of the National Party, and I must say, too, that I have received nothing but kindness and friendship from the members on the other side of the House."

When he opened his campaign for Parliament three years ago, he added, he had made several promises. He had said then ttfat he would attend to his duties assiduously. He had tried f o fulfil that promise, and he could say that he had earnestly tried to represent all sections of the community. There was no one who had not received courteous consideration from him and he had. done what he could to further the interests of the constituency. He had promised also to urge always the claims of the district to a fair share of the expenditure of public money and that Christchurch North would be put on the political map. That he had done. He was intensely proud, he added; that he had received at the last election the highest vote of any National candidate in New Zealand. Tribute to Opponent Mr Holland' went on to pay a tribute to his opponent in the coming election, Mr R. M. Macfar lane. No candidate, Mr Holland said, had a more worthy opponent than he had in Mr Macfarlane. . In the last campaign in the electorate there had not been one word said to which objection could be taken. Mr Macfarlane r s fight had been spotlessly clean, and- to Mr Macfarlane he wanted to extend hia cordial greetings and the hope that this campaign would be fought as the last. Mr Hollandsaid he wished to fight the election by himself, but he welcomed the incursion of Ministers because he felt that this waa a compliment and that interest would thereby be stimulated in the campaign. After his speech, he added, he would welcome a vote of thanks, but he did not seek any expression of confidence. That, he felt, could be left to election day. There were two clear Issues in the coming election. Tb«r» .was the Labour Party's polic j-.of unadulterated, revolutionary Socialism, designed to break down the present system; ahd there was the National Party's policy supporting the system of private enterprise but with full Government cooperation whenever that might be necessary. The Labour Party stood for the socialisation of the means of production, ' distribution, and exchange, and that should be clearly remembered by the electors. . It made no bones about its intention to smash the present system, and it stood for a system by which all the people were regimented and became the servants of the State. "For Individual Freedom" "The National Party stands for the individual -freedom that is being niched from the people," Mr Holland went on. A voice: Rot! Mr Holland: The people are going to express in no uncertain terms that they are not going to stand for this filching of constitutional liberty and personal freedom. . He went on to say that already under the Labour administration there had been established the nucleus of State dictatorship. In the Minister for Transport there was a dictator, and similarly in the Minister for Industries and Commerce arid the Minister for Marketing. It was against the principles of justice that any person should be a judge in his own court, but the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Industries and Commerce were such judges. One of the first acts of the National Government would be to restore to the people the right of constitutional justice. "The National Party is determined not to cut wages or pensions. Let me say that quite emphatically. Some of my friends have told me not to burn all my boats; but there is nothing that my political opponents can say that can persuade you that we are going to cut wages. If we find that we have made a mistake and cannot get along without cutting wages we are coming to the country to ask for a fresh mandate."

Mr Holland was emphatic in his condemnation of compulsory unionism. Compulsory unionism, he said, would be wiped off the Statute Book by the National Party. He believed in unionism, but only if it was voluntary. And the National Party would make provision for the retention in awards of the preference to unionists clause. A voice: What is the difference? Mr Holland: The difference it that under the compulsory system the trade union secretaries tell you whom you are to employ; but under the voluntary system the employer will decide for himself. Under the system of com' pulsory unionism there has been built up what is nothing less than tyranny. The National Party was determined to help the manufacturer, who had been "let down" by the present Government, he said. Many manufacturers had voted for the Labour Party at the last election, but they had learnt their lesson and would not so vote again. He believed, he said, that he Minister for Industries and Commerce would have dpne as much as possible to help the Manufacturer: but the "nigger in th# wood-pile" had been the Hon. W. Nash, who had gone to England and "soM" the New Zealand manufacturer. ' !■ '■"■' ",' i

After a review of other points of the National Party's policy, Mr Holland went on to explain his contention that costs could be reduced without a reauction in wages. To-day, he said, "gomow'' tactics were hampering industry. He had been told by a manufacturer that his output had been reduced by vj to 10 per cent., and he quoted figures tp show that there had been a substantial decline in the amount of work done by watersiders. A vote of thanks to Mr Holland, 21i532? d -V? *** c - s - McCully, was earned with applause.

I" A FAKE ISSUE" j i SOCIALISM AND PRIVATE i ENTERPRISE ! HON. D. G. SULLIVAN'S ADDRESS The assertion that the National Party had raised the issue of Socialism versus private enterprise in this election campaign because it dared not right the election on the issue of the legislation that the Government had passed, was made by the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister for Railways, who opened his election campaign for the Avon seat at New Brighton on Saturday evening. "They have conjured up this fake issue to get the minds of the electors off the programme of the Labour Party," he said. The Masonic Hall was filled for the meeting, about 200 being present. Mr Sullivan was given an enthusiastic hearing, and at the conclusion, after answering several questions, was accorded a vote of confidence in his candidature, and in the Government. In his journeys up and' down the country, said Mr Sullivan, he had been stagged by the magnificent accretion of membership in the Labour Party, and by the unexampled enthusiasm of the people for the Labour cause. In the North Island, he had been pleased by the large number of farmers who were members of Labour Party branches. For this increase in strength the Labour Party had to thank the successful accomplishment of the Prime Minister in lifting the gloom from the lives of the people, and also the campaign" of the National Party, which had done much to arouse enthusiasm for Labour. Distribution of Wealth

Everybody would remember, said Mr Sullivan, the dreadful days before 1936, when misery everywhere stalked the land, because of the actions of the then Government. A comparison of those times with the present would show the happiness that had resulted from the Labour Government's redistribution of the wealth of the country. Nowhere in the world had a Government as impressive a record as had the Labour Government.

One of the most frequent criticisms of the present prosperity made by the National Party. was that while the people had more money, the cost of living had risen to a point at which the advantage of the added prosperity disappeared. It was generally admitted that there was prosperity in New Zealand to-day. but it would have been impossible for that prosperity to exist if the cost of living had risen as it was said to have done. "I admit frankly that there has been an increase in the cost of living," said Mr Sullivan. "It would be absurd to deny it. But while the cost of living has risen by 13 per cent, since 1935, the figure for wages and salaries has risen by 23.9 per cent. That difference of nearly 11 per cent, is to the advantage of the worker. It may not apply over the whole field of employment, but in the aggregate it is so, and the workers are 11 per cent, better off." The National Party was anxious to prove that costs had nullified increased Income, said Mr Sullivan, and that the legislative programme of the Labour Party had been a failure. The figures, however, showed that this was not so. Wages had increased since 1935 from £89,000,000 to nearly £100,000,000, and the increased factory output In that time had been readily absorbed. Beside this, savings bank deposits had risen substantially, so that it was impossible to say that the country was not better off. "That will give you an indication of the spirit by which the Tories of the country are actuated," said Mr Sullivan. ''Those are the tactics which corrupt the youth of the country and represent the Fascist spirit. It is calculated to do the party responsible for it more harm than good." The Prime Minister had truly described the selection by the Nationalist? of the issue of Socialism versus private enterprise as rubbish, he continued. Thisissue had been chosen because the National Party did not dare to challenge the. Government on any single item of its legislation. It was true that the objective of the Labour Party in New Zealand as in every other part of the world was socialisation, but nowhere was this objective stated as the socialisation of all the means of production, distribution, and exchange. It was amusing to recall that in every election during the last 40 years there had been charges of Socialism made. The Forbes and Ward governments were described by some of their opponents as Socialistic, and even Mr Coates had been described by the Chamber of Commerce as the leading Socialist of New Zealand. Hallway Earnings Thera had been in Parliament a good deal of talk about the earnings of the Railway Department under the board and under Ministerial control, said Mr Sullivan. It was said that the net revenue from the railway system had declined seriously since Ministerial control was reinstated, but it was a plain fact that under the board's control there had been no real net revenue at all. A nominal aet revenue had been, earned during those four years by a process of • red vicing expenditure, on wages, and by starving the rolling stock and cutting down services, in its. four years of control, the board earned a nominal net revenue of £3,881,586. To do .this it had reduced wages by £2.175,000 ana reduced maintenance by £1,786,000. Those two amounts together gave a total of £3,961,000. The saving haa been made out of the pockets of the workers, and by running the rolling stock oft its wheels, ahd had resulted in an actual deficit of £IOO,OOO.

Since that time, to bring the service back into normal condition and to give the employees justice, it had been necessary to spend £2,000,000, and there were still some classes of railway workers who had not been fully restored to their former position.* In* creased maintenance alone had taken £887,000 ,v year above that provided by the board. So far had maintenance lagged behind that even with the enormous increase that "had been made in workshops staffs, it would probably be necessary to place additional orders overseas.

A voice: Is that why you can build dredges? Mr Sullivan: The people who wanted the dredges built said that if they were not built by the railways, they would be built overseas. We had a written statement to that effect. No firm in New Zealand was capable of building the dredges, and the Government would not have been worth its salt if it had allowed the order to go outside New Zealand. "It appears that what was left of the railways system was being run off its wheels," Mr Sullivan continued. "It looks as though it was the determination of the previous Government to allow the railway system to cease to exist except in skeleton form. It is the determination of this Government 4 to intake the rail transport system -oily this, country one of thp most efficient systems to he found in the world. I have the co-operation of every? part of the service. They share my determination, and there is no reason why we should hot succeed.

"The issue that will ba determined on October 15 will be whether the Labour Party will be allowed to continue its policy, or whether the country will be allowed to revert to the possibility of similar conditions to those existing under the National Government before 1935," said Mr Sullivan in conclusion. "If I know anything of the people of this country, there can be no possible doubt not only that the Government will be returned, but that it will have a greater majority. In my opinion, the present Opposition is in danger of being overwhelmed."

"DAYS OF TORYISM

DEAD"

National Party And

Liberalism

MR K. ARMOUR SPEAKS IN CITY "The days of reactionary Toryism are dead and gone," said Mr K. Armour, National Party candidate for Christchurch East, at the beginning of his address on Saturday night. Almost everyone was a Liberal these days; but most people were not so liberal that they could subscribe to the policy of an experimental and socialistic Government. Socialism was essentially a radical form of government, and he preferred to follow a sound and middle course.

The East Belt Church hall was well filled for the address, and many parts of the candidate's address "were warmly applauded. A minority, who were certainly not supporters of the National Party, made itself heard with very many interjections, however. At one stage, so numerous were the interjections that a man, rising to his feet in the middle of the hall, suggested that the two policemen in attendance might take some action against the loudest of the interruptors. "Time enough for that when I ask for it," said the chairman of the meeting, Mr J. W. Crampton, and Mr Armour himself said that he had no wish for the police to take any action, nor was there any need for them at his meetings. Almost all of the interjections were good-humoured, and the ready retorts of the candidate gained him much applause. His first point of conflict with Labour's policy, Mr Armour said, was that its socialistic policy to a very great extent eliminated private enterprise. Every decent person had an aim for self-betterment, but Socialism did not permit that line of thought. "The State controls all; the State is all," added Mr Armour.

"Not British" "I don't think Socialism is essentially British," went on Mr Armour. "It eliminates democracy, which is one of our most priceless heritages.". Mr Armour had trouble with interjectors a minute later when, still discussing Socialism, he said that the letters of the word "Nazi" stood for the German National Socialist Party. In spite of interruptions, Mr Armour went on to say that on the one hand there was a Socialistic dictatorship and on the other the democracy of British people. His second point of variance with Labour aims. Mr Armour said, concerned the Government's monetary policy. It was as well to remember, he said, that one of the most important points in the manifesto issued by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, was that in which the Government's intention was to take complete control of currency and credit. "It sure was." said an interjector. Mr Armour quoted extracts from speeches made oy prominent Labour men, and recorded in Hansard, dealing with Labour's policy of currency control; one of which quoted Mr J. W. Munro as saying "We intend to create money. The economists say it can't done, but we're going to try 'One effect of inflation, Mr Armour said, was that prices were raised, and the majority of people, on fixed incomes, found that they could purchase a lot less for the same money. Insurance Policies A more serious aspect of the same financial question concerned the future of insurance policies. Most people now hold insurance policies. What would happen to a man's thrift if he discovered when the insurance company paid out on a matured policy money that was depreciated? The third disagreement Mr Armour had with the Government's policy was the increase which he.said had taken place in the cost of Government administration. He put the increase at about £10.000,000 in two" years, and said that if there were 1,000,000 wage earners in the country—and there were not that number—that sum would represent £lO more from each of them. An interjector: But look at the results. Cost of Administration The increasing cost of administration, said Mr Armour, came from taxation—and most taxation was passed on to the consumer. . Mr Armour spent a great deal of time, with occasional breaks to deal with a crop of interjections, to setting out the National Party's policy, which lie claimed to be moderate and perfectly reasonable, containing not one election promise that could not be fulfilled. Unemployed would be reabsorbed into industry, instead of spending, as a lot of them now did, their time "scratching the soil round, our public institutions." Dealing with the housing programme of the National Party, Mr Armour said that the idea was well expressed m the slogan, "A home owned is better than a house rented." Much amusement was caused by Mr Armour's references, and those of his interjectors, to the furniture loan proposals for young married couples as set out in the party's manifesto. Mr Armour said that the proposal had in its favour that it was proof of the party's recognition that probably no country was in more desperate need of a rise in the birth-rate than New Zealand. In any case the National-Party considered that the focal point of life in New Zealand was the home, and the party aimed at doing all it could to encourage home life. The proposal, too, would incidentally mean a very busy period for the furniture trade. Reductions in Taxation The reductions in taxation which the National Party promised to effect, if returned t<3 power, were traversed at some length, the candidate claiming that each promise was one that could at once be fulfilled. Returning to monetary policy, he said the party was right up against the Socialist idea of autocratic control of money and finance. The Reserve Bank would be freed, and at the same time made the servant of the people. The National Party's policy towards the future control of broadcasting, and the opinion that two separate systems were entirely unnecessary, were mentioned by Mr Armour. He also discussed the work the Ministry of Social Welfare, an important plank in the party's platform, would do. The defence of the country was one item o* expenditure that might have to be increased, said Mr Armour. Many people felt that much as had been done, more' yet would be needed. One thing was certain, and that was that expenditure in defending New Zealand would be justified. It had been sometimes said, he continued, that the Coalition Government had neglected defence, while a Socialist Government had paid much attention to it; but it should be remembered that until two or three years ago the British Government itself had not been paying SO much attention to rearmament, and there had not been the same emphasis on the need for defence as there was now.

Mr Armour was warmly' applauded when he paid a tribute to the excellent work done in the last two or three years by the present Minister for Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The National Party's attitude towards strengthening the Dominion's defences was outlined by Mr Armour, who said that if a war came he would, as a young, single man, of good' physique, be one of the first to go, and would conceive it his duty to go. The speaker answered a big number of questions after his address, and finally, on the motion of Mr C. C. "Wilson, was given a hearty vote of thanks.

TARANAKI TOUR

MR ARMSTRONG'S PLEA FOR SECURITY PLAN

STATE HOUSES OPENED AT STRATFORD

(fBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.)

STRATFORD, September 24.

The Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) arrived in Taranaki direct from Christchurch yesterday, and "began his district tour by addressing a large meeting in the Stratford Town Hall last night.

Mr Armstrong explained various aspects of the Government's administration.

He urged the people to- give due weight to unselfish and humanitarian considerations when assessing the value of the Social Security Act. Persons who themselves might not have occasion to claim its benefits should not on that account seek to withhold such assistance from less fortunate members of the community, to whom medical and age benefits particularly would be a boon. The daily fear of future ill-health which oppressed the lives of many would be lifted, bringing contentment within practicable reach of all. "I am the first Minister for Labour in a position to offer a job to every able-bodied man in New Zealand," Mr Armstrong declared. He ventured to say that New Zealand never had a smaller percentage of population unemployed. This was better than any other country could do. Unemployed Absorbed Unemployment figures given by the last Government were criticised by Mr Armstrong, who contended that many whi were not in full-time employment were not taken into consideration. New Zealand's unemployed were largely being absorbed by private enterprise and industry. One instance of the recovery made was the fact that there were 1125 more factories working today than two years ago. This was a world record. "You can see prosperity all round you," said Mr Armstrong. Other facts given were that 61,200 more people were employed by private enterprise] to-day., than in 1935, and 18,000 more people were employed by the State. More State houses could be built to-day, but there was not sufficient skilled labour. In 1928 there were 10,200 registered apprentices, and in 1935 only 3300. To-day there were 8735, and before long there would be a record, number. A great deal of leeway had to be made up, however, and at the moment New Zealand had more unskilled, labourers than others. The Government was concerned that children should be scientifically qualified for their future work, and vocational guidance was now established in the education system.

State and Private Eenterpriae

The first Sjtate rental houses in Stratford were opened by Mr Armstrong this afternoon. The member for the district, Mr W. J. Poison (National, Stratford), emphasised the value of good housing as part of the environment which built up character in children. He said that the houses were entirely suitable for their purpose and added to Stratford a desirable new suburb, which answered much of the criticism against the State scheme, although he personally favoured private enterprise. The Minister said that it might be true that private enterprise could work wonders, but the fact was that private enterprise had not met the housing needs of the people, and the State had had to step in and do the job. He considered that the State rental houses compared more than favourably with what private enterprise could do. The Mayoress then handed the keys to the first tenant, after which the citizens were invited to inspect one of the houses. Mr Armstrong received civic welcomes at Stratford and Eltham. This evening he addressed a public meeting at Eltham. He will go to New Plymouth on Monday.

STATE AND LARGE FIRMS VIEWS OF MINISTER FOR LANDS (I'itESS ASSOCIATION TELEdKAM.) TAUMARUNUI, September 24. The Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) addressed a crowded and enthusiastic meeting last night. He ridiculed the cry about private enterprise and interference, and quoted figures to show the huge profits made by the metropolitan newspapers and large department chain stores. The chairman of directors of one concern had said the ■< State was a hungry sleeping partner when referring to taxation, but what of the voracious active partner?, asked Mr Langstone. He contended that the railways and other public services were bringing these people customers. They had police protection for their stores, and other public expenditure helped to make their business, and the only sane and logical course was to tax the taxer.

The big daily newspapers were in the hands of the wealthy, and they attacked the Government over the loss on the railways, but 'he contended that it was better to run the service for the community at a loss than to raise freights, and fares. It made little difference as long as they had a good service. Concessions to Newspapers

The big daily newspapers forgot about the concessions they were bleeding from the public. A telegram cost the Postal Department 8s to send 100 words, but the newspapers got 100 words for Is 6d. He considered the newspaper concession oost the country £4OOO a year. The Minister quoted figures showing his predecessors' dealings in estates for the settlement of land. Crown losses in writing-down had been more than £ 12.000,000. He denied that the present Government had increased taxation, except by the reintroduction of the graduated land tax. He laughed at the * National Party's baby bonus and the proposal to remove the gold tax of 12s 6d for wealthy mining companies which got £9 10s an ounce for gold. Mr Langstone defended the public works policy and the guaranteed price, and extolled the Social Security Bill. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried in the candidate and the Government. EDEN ELECTORATE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE U'RESS 4SBOCIATIOM TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, September 25. His intention to contest the Eden electorate as an Independent, was announced by Mr A. E. Robinson, organiser and secretary of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr Robinson contested the 1935 election as a Country Party candidate for Tauranga, and in 1931 opposed the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates at Kaipara as a Country Party candidate. This year he will oppose Mr W. T. Anderton, M.P. (Labour), and Mr D. Pool, the National candidate.

THE INDEPENDENT

ATTITUDE

FAULTS OF PARTY SYSTEM

MR SEXTON ADVOCATES REFORMS

(PEE 33 ASSOCIATION TELrtJBAM.)

AUCKLAND, September 25.

| Under the party system legislation could be passed to which the majority !of members of the House were opi posed, said Mr A. C. A. Sexton, M.P. (Independent, Franklin), during an address at Waiuku, which was broadcast through the national stations last night. If a majority vote of a caucus approved of a measure, he said, it became a party matter, and all members of that party had to vote for it. Yet if those members who voted against it in the caucus were added to those voting against it in the House, it might be found that the majority of the House disapproved of it. If a member belonged to a party he was tied by his no-confidence pledge to vote as the party directed, although this might be contrary to his conscience and the wishes and interests of his constituents. Mr Sexton said he sat in the House among the benches of the Labour Party. Its members discussed their views at times with him, and he had moved amendments which he knew accorded with their own opinions, and had remarked that he took it they would vote for those amendments. However, the party had decided against the amendments, and those members had voted against him. Mr Sexton suggested that the Prime Minister should be elected by the whole House, and that the Cabinet should also be appointed in this way, with the use of a proportional representation system. A necessary preliminary to this would be the adoption of preferential voting in the General Election. Mr-'Sexton was given a vote of confidence and thanks. POLITICAL CHAIN LETTER

STATEMENT BY LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTION

The following statement has been issued by the Grand Executive of the Loyal Orange Institution:— "The statement recently issued by the Leader of the National Party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, in which he deprecates the introduction of the sectarian issue into the General Election, requires on behalf of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand the reply that if the issue has been raised we are not aware of it and the responsibility for raising it cannot be attributed to any Protestant organisation. "In a Canterbury electorate the statement has been made that the Orange Institution is circulating a chain letter. This is quite untrue, and we dissociate ourselves from such methods." MR SULLIVAN AT ARGONAUT HALL The Hon. D. G. Sullivan addressed a public meeting in the Argonaut Hall on Saturday. Mr F. Kelso presided over an attendance of more than 400. At the conclusion of Mr Sullivan's address the following resolutions were carried:—

"That the electors of Avon express the utmost confidence in the Hon. D. G. Sullivan as their representative in Parliament, and thank him for his past work. They further pledge themselves to work wholeheartedly for his return, and for the return of the Labour Government, in which they have complete confidence." ■ ' "That this meeting of the electors of Avon, realising' that the Hon. D. GSullivan can render very useful service to. the country by addressing meetings in other parts of the country, agrees to release him from campaigning in the electorate; asks him to carry the election campaign into weaker electorates; and pledges itself to look after his interests while he is so encaKed." The Hon. R. Semple was also present at the meeting, and he spoke brjefly on his present campaign. MR E. P. MEACHEN'S CAMPAIGN Mr E P. Meachcn, M.P., Labour candidate for Wairau, opened his campaign in the Kaikoura County with an address to a large gathering at Aniseed He received a very attentive hearing. Mr J. G. Galliardi moved a vote of thanks to Mr Meachen, which was seconded by Mr L. Bray. Mr Meachen later visited other parts of the electorate on the Waiau road, Kaikoura, and met the settlers at Charwell Forks, Reserve, and Lynton Downs, giving short addresses at each place. He met a large number of electors at the Suburban Hall, Kaikoura, and was given a very attentive ing.Mr Meachen addressed a large gathering at the Drill Hall, Kaikoura, on Thursday. Mr F. J. Monk, county chairman, presided. Mr Meachen had a very warm reception, with very few interruptions. He was given a very hearty vote of, thanks. Mr Meachen addressed the electors at Kincaid and Mangamaunu on Friday.

MR KYLE AT TAI TAPU

•Continuing his campaign for the Riccarton seat, Mr H. S. S. Kyle, National Party candidate, and the sitting member, attended a dance arranged by the party at Tai Tapu on Saturday evening, and was enthusiastically received. Mr Kyle and the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes addressed those present.

MR H. E. HERRING'S CAMPAIGN

Mr H. E. Herring, M.P., addressed an enthusiastic audience of. 120 in the Dunsandel Hall on Friday evening, explaining the Government's legislation. He received by acclamation a vote of thanks, moved by Mr A. Clark and Mr 8.. Ash worth. Mr H. J. Brears preAbout 80 residents of the district attended the meeting addressed by Mr Herring at Chertsey, when he continued his campaign on Saturday evening. Mr W. L. Holland presided, and a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Messrs V. Wilkinson and R. Middlemiss. Mr Herring later Spoke to a small meeting at Dromore. He referred chieflv to the wheat industry. A motion of thanks was proposed by Messrs *". Davidson and Jamison. HON. D. G. SULLIVAN AT GERALDINE The Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) spoke at Geraldine on Friday night. A vote of thanks was passed to the Minister on the motion of Mrs A. D. Sharpe and Mr A. J. Kennedy, and the Mayor (Mr J. R. Lack) was thanked for presiding.

MR SAVAGE'S CAMPAIGN

MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE WELLINGTON EFFECT OF WORLD EMERGENCY (PBESS ASSOCIATIOH TELEGRAU.)

WELLINGTON, September 24. The possibility of not being able to leave Wellington for election purposes in view of the European situation was mentioned by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) in an interview to-day. will carry out my arrangements, of course, if things do not become any worse, but I have to be Prepared for not being able to get away, he said. "I don't want anybody to get the wind up, because everyone will h °P e /fif* something good will come out of the discussions between Mr Chamberlain and Herr Hitler; but it is not encouraging, to say the least. If thingsget any worse, it may be that I will be tied to Wellington for the whole of the election campaign. I. regret that possibility just as much as the people I have arranged to speak to will reSl "But, after all is said and done, the part we can play in war activities, « the worst comes to the worst, must come first. I will get out as much as I can, but I am not going to neglect my responsibilities to the defence of this country unnecessarily. I cannot afford to under-estimate the seriousness of the part I will be expected to play." . ~1 'i_ Mr Savage said that be fully believed he would be able to carry out what he had agreed to do, but. nevertheless it might be that he could not carry out arrangements, and he wanted people to understand that from the beginning. . . The present arrangement is that Mr Savage will leave Wellington on Monday night and speak in Christchurch on Tuesday night. Later he will go on to Dunedin and Invercargill, and return to Wellington on October 4. It was proposed that he would be "in New Plymouth about October 6, Auckland October 11, Hamilton October 13, and return to Wellington for election day. "The Prime Ministers have always been in the capital city on election night, and I think I should be here as well," said Mr Savage. The arrangement at present was that he should broadcast from Dunedin and Auckland, and, if he was unable to leave Wellington, he would still carry out his broadcasts from Wellington. He said there would also be a final broadcast on the night before the election, when the leader of the National Party (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) would also speak. =>

MINISTERS GOING TO TARANAKI SIX ARRANGE TOURS (I'KKBB ASSOCIATION NEW PLYMOUTH, September 25. Six Cabinet Ministers will have visited Taranaki electorates before the brief election period of one month has ended. The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) has just completed a tour of the main centres, and the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) is at present in the province, and will speak at New Plymouth, Patea, and Hawera, on the coming three nights. They will be follqwed by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin), and the Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone), all early in October. Mr Armstrong met deputations at Stratford on Saturday and gave an address at Eltham last night. He spent to-day in Central Taranaki.

ADDRESSES GIVEN BY MR A. N. GRIGG

Mr A. N. Grigg, National candidate for Mid-Canterbury, continued his election campaign on Friday evening at Lauriston, where he addressed an enthusiastic meeting of 90 electors. ,Mr C. A. Fyfe was in the chair. On the motion of Messrs J. G. Marshall and H. Verrall, a vote of thanks to Mr Grigg, and of ■ confidence in him and the National Party, was carried with great enthusiasm. Mr Grigg addressed enthusiastic audiences at Pendarves and Dorie on Saturday evening. At Pendarves Mr r. W. Ironside presided over an attendance of 60. and a motion of thanks moved by Mr W. Lambie was warmly applauded. Mr G. Muckle was chairman at Dorie, and on the motion of Mr H. A. Harrison, a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was passed. About 65 attended.

MR T. D. BURNETT SPEAKS AT WILLOWBY

Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P. for Temuka, addressed electors at a meeting held in the Willowby Hall on Saturday evening. Mr G. H. B. Lill presided over a good attendance. The policy of the National Party was presented by Mr Burnett, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr Bratley. MR I. J. WILSON'S ADDRESSES On Friday Mr I. J. Wilson, National candidate for Lyttelton, addressed a meeting of 47 electors at Wainui. Mr L. D. Stanbury presided. The candi-> date was given an enthusiastic reception, and, on the motion of Mr R. Mould, he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. A further motion of unanimous approval and confidence in the Hon. Adam Hamilton as leader of the National Party was carried unanimously. At Duvauchelle Bay on Saturday Mr Wilson addressed a meeting of 118 electors presided over by Mr S. J. Vogan. On the motion of Mr D. Kay, seconded by Mr O. Thelning, a vote of thanks for his address was carried by acclamation.' MR T. H. M'COMBS AT PORT j LEVY Mr T. H. McCombs, the Labour candidate for the Lyttelton seat, addressed a meeting of electors at Port Levy on Saturday night. Mr E. W. Coop pre- < sided over an attendance of 30. At the conclusion of his.address, the candidate answered a number of questions. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

MR J. A. KEARTON SPEAKS AT MOUNT SOMERS

Mr J. A. Kearton, official Labour candidate for Temuka, addressed a well-attended meeting of electors at Mount Somers. 'Mr T. Kerr presided, and the candidate received an attentive hearing. He answered questions and was given a vote of thanks, proposed by Mr G. Morgan and seconded by Mr C. Syme.

NATIONAL POLICY ATTACKED MR FRASER'S CLAIMS RIGHTS OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE (F*ESS ASSOCIATION TELBGKAJi.) AUCKLAND, September 25. "The published reports of the broadcast of the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) on Friday night suggest to me that he h as evaded the issue whether the National Party would again reduce wages, salaries, and pensions if world depression came, and whether his party would again make the people of this country the sufferers they were before " stated the Minister for Health and Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) during- speeches at Takapuna and Milford on Saturday eV Mr Fraser said that there was neither justification nor excuse for the low standards of living created by the National Government during the last degression. Instead of helping the farming community, the National Government had reduced the incomes of everybody else, and the farmers suffered heavily. As far as he could see there was no assurance that the .Nationalists would not do that again u similar circumstances arose. "One sees in the newspapers and on hoardings the statement that the real issue at the coming election is between private enterprise and State ownership," Mr Fraser continued. "That is sheer nonsense, because, if you are to have private ownership only on the one hand, and State ownership on the other, you get something that is postulated only in people's imaginations. Private ownership will do well in some instances, and inefficiently in others. There is no general definition of private ownership. . "What does the National Party really mean by that advertised alternative.' The right of ownership to any person who has been running a/ business has always been recognised by the Lanour Government. It is more than our opponents did. Business was never•better than it is to-day, and the farmers income has grown enormously. Mr Fraser said that the National Party would do away, with the guaranteed price. In spite of what Mr Hamilton had said wages would be lowered, and social services " duc A d - It was Labour's policy to maintain the essentials of life in the face of depression, and to uphold the standard of U Votes of thanks and confidence in the Labour Government were passed at both meetings.

ELECTORAL BOLL FIGURES FOR DOMINION APPROACH 1,000,000 (P*B8» ASfOCIATIO* MUOEAM.) WELLINGTON. September 23. More than 100,000 electors are on the main and supplementary rolls for toe six Wellington electorates for the ,IMB General Election, the increase since 1935, when there were five electorates, being approximately 26,000. The main Parliamentary rolls *°r Wellington closed on June 30, with, 84,478 namw, compared with 51.802 in 1935, when an extensive purge was carried out. Since June 30, more than 22,000 applications have been made for inclusion in the supplementary r°K»£ompared with approximately 30,000 in 1935. -._ „ . . When the main roll for the Dominion closed on June 30 it contained 865,742 names. 134.258 short of the million mark. The final figures for the Dominion are expected to be known next week, when all the supplementary roll figures have been received by the Department of the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr G. G. Hodgkins. Judging by Wellington's total and Auckland's estimate of an additional 25,000 names, there appears to be every prospect of 1,000,000 being reached. The progress total was 925,798 on August 31 after two months' additional ments. The rush for inclusion on the supplementary rolls in most centres was exceptionally heavy during the final 22 days of September.