THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 16

THE GENERAL ELECTION

MR LAXGSTOXES ADDRESS

“OX FOUXDApoXS OF THE pJsT ”

Policy of Party SIR MORGAN \|}LLIAMS AT KAIAPOI “The Labour Party/,- f or all i ts Socialism, is only buadi ng on the foundations laid by past?governments said the Labour cand|hte for Kaiapoi, Mr C. Morgan Wlnja m ’ s M.P., m an address in Kaiapoi‘last night. ’Mr Williams described the attempts to attack Labour on the ground that it was socialistic as “all moonshine ” and declared that the bogy 0 f Socialism in New Zealand would frighten no one these days. ~j> , Mr Seddon been called a Socialist, and the3i|jhgn a g e used in newspaper articles. describe him then was almost the-safete as that used now to attack Labour;; he said. “I don’t think the' bogy of Socialism should frighten anyone in New Zealand to-day,” Williams. “It should not frighten-, you in Kaiapoi anyway, because you have heard me talking of Socialism for the last 30 years.” The present Government was only building a structure on foundations laid by the Seddon .and Ward Governments, and governments even before theirs. He himself had come to New Zealand in the first place because of the rumours he had heard of the progress in “socialistic” ideas which the country was then said to be making. Mr Williams was given an attentive hearing by a crowd of about 250. Not one interjection was heard, and he ■was finally given a unanimous vote of confidence. The. Mayor of Kaiapoi, the Rev. W. H. A. Vickery, presided. “Different Circumstances” Labour was going ‘to the polls in vastly different circumstances this election, began Mr Williams. At last election the country was still in a depression—a slump which many people regarded as something that could not have been prevented. Three years ol Labour rule had taught the country that depressions could be avoided, Mr Williams went on. During the last campaign all sorts of predictions had been made about the fate of the country if it got a Labour Government. But the actual result had been that the people had faced the future with renewed confidence and hope. “The Labour Party has been lucky. We’ll admit that.” added Mr Williams. The rise in the prices for exports had helped the Government’s financial policy, but it should be pointed out that while the increase in export prices had been about £8,250,000, the national income had increased by some £45.000,000. Thus the rise of prices for goods sold overseas had been-only a minor factor in the coun-, try’s. return to prosperity. The big increase in the national income—which meant national purchasing power—was the direct result of the Government’s actions. 'The Labour Party’s policy of higher .wages, and even of higher payments to tap unemployed, had had the immediate and certain effect of increasing purchasing* power; With a greater purchasing power- went,' naturally, a greater demand for production, and that demand was reflected by the huge rise in the aggregate income total. • Increased Costs “Our opponents emphasise increased colts,” continued Mr Williams. “When ♦hay promise to reduce costs it is always wages they want to reduce.” (Applause:) “You should remember, too. that one man’s costs are another man’s income.” The standard of living enjoyed in New Zealand. was. and always had bpfen. one of the highest in the world, he continued. , ..The' reason for . that was that the country had always been a “high-wage” country. • Dealing with taxation, Mr Williams said that Labour’s opponents said that the Dominion’s taxation, for a; head of population, was among the highest in the world. That was probably so, but when mention was made of increases in the rate since Labour came to office, it should be remembered that the cause of that was that the people had higher incomes, and not that the tax rates had been increased. A huge number of social services were provided out of taxation, too. Mr Williams strongly criticised the statements which he said' Mr Hamilton had made about the National Party’s policy of making advances to workers to enable them to buy their own homes. It was interesting to see what the man who now urged that policy had done when he was a member of the Cabinet in the previous Government* In the last three years of Mr Hamilton’s Igst > Government, the number of advances made for workers’ homes was 206.- In the first complete year.of Labour rule the number of such advances had. increased to 1411—almost five times as many. ’ And, in Mr Hamilton’s day 4000 purchasers of State Advances homes had forfeited their equities: in' their homes. - Claiming that the National Party s - new scheme of lending young married couples £IOO for furniture was probably unworkable, as the' scheme was at present outlined. Mr Williams said that such a plan came very well from a party which complained so bitterly that the Social Security Bill would cost the country far too much money. The National Party’s plan would cost £1.500.000 aiyear. Mr Williams said he foresaw difficulties in- the way of keeping the scheme on a loan basis. The scheme’might be worth considering if the money was a gift, be said. “Contradicting HimSelf” When the Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Adam Hamilton, said that he would not cut . pension rates he was contradicting himself, said Mr Williams. That was so. because Mr Hamilton, in the same speech, had said that if the National Party came to power the Social Security Act. now on the Statute Book, would not come into operation. Would that not mean a 25 per cent, reduction in pensions? - When the .Coalition Government was cutting wages.- on a mistaken policy designed to. deal with a fall in export Income, every drop in wages was immediately followed by a further rise in the number ol the unemployed. Thai was necessarily so. said Mr Williams because one man’s expenditure was another man’s income. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, who was •asily the most honest man in the Opposition. and always said what he thought, was the onW Nationalist candidate honest enough to admit that if be was faced again to-day -with the crisis that came in 1931 he would take the same steps he had then—the cutting of wages and pensions. Other members of the National Party'were not saying that. They were promising that neither wages nor pensions would be cut, but. and in support of this Mi Williams quoted extracts he said were from speeches by Mr S. G. Holland .and Mr D. C- Kidd. the. intention was ,not that the Government should cut wages, but that it should' get someone else—the Arbitration Court —to do it .. ‘ Making an exhaustive survey of tnr provision of the Governments Social Security Bill, the candidate said that tSa measure gave security for everyone.’ There was no one who'would.not receive a benefit. It was not generally realised, he said, that tfte unemployment benefits in- the bill provided for assistance to women as well as men. 1-w‘in every way we are striving to guard- against misfortune—to puL on fife broad shoulders of the whoie community the misfortunes of the individual. We claim that our policy is ap-‘ plied Christianity.” he added.

NOISY MEETING AT TE AWAMUTU LAND POLICIES COMPARED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) AUCKLAND, September 27. The Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) addressed a large and noisy meeting at Te Awamutu tonight. He was vigorously heckled. Rival motions of confidence and noconfidence were drowned in an uproar. Eventually the chairman declared the motion of confidence in the Government carried. After discussing the, financial records of the Labour Government audits predecessors, and, declaring that the affairs of N w Zealahd had never been better financed than in the last three years. Mr Langstone derided the use of abstractions in attacking the Government. “All this talk about ‘isms Socialism. Bolshevism, and so on—is just moonshine,” declared Mr Langstone. “The people don’t want abstractions talked to them. They want real concrete things—roads, bridges, shelter, food, wages, and everything else needed for well-being. The Government must deal with real, practical things. All this newspaper talk about ‘isms’ and abstractions is so much balderdash." Reference to Newspapers An assertion by the speaker that the metropolitan newspapers supported vested interests, which were out to exploit the people, -caused loud dissent and uproar.. “Kick up as much row, as vou like.” shouted Mr Langstone above the din, “you won’t disrupt the meeting. You can get up and tear one another to pieces, and it won’t worry me. Don’t think that your croaking and shouting will bother me m the least. When quiet had been restored, the Minister passed on to the purchase of land for soldier settlement by the Massey Government. For 403. estates, he said it paid £5.700,000. and had to writeoff £2.000.000. In one case it spent £12.466 on land for one settler, and made a loss of £9408. In another it paid £215,000 for land ' and stock which proved to be worth £ 100.000, and the Mortgage Adjustment Commission had lately valued the property at £33,000. . , , ... In reference to native land settlement, Mr Langstone said the Government was carrying on development work at a rate never before known. Pakeha land settlement was being carried out mainly by the development of abandoned or forfeited Crown lands, most of which were marginal. This provided work for unemployed, and was bringing in lands that would otherwise be w’aste. AUCKLAND WEST SEAT NATIONAL CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS V AUCKLAND. September' 27. :An intimation that he has reconsidered his decision to accept,the Nations Party’s candidature for the Auckland West seat (at present held by the Prirtu Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. Jhas been handed in to the party s office by Mr H. M. Bagnall. who was selected from three nbinitlatibns a ; fortnight ago. Mr Bagnall’s resignation has been accepted, and a meeting of financial mem bers of the- party in the electorate will be held to-morrow to select another candidate. .jMR A. N. GRIGG’S CAMPAIGN Considerably more than 160 electors were present at the Doyleston Hall to hear an address by Mr A. N. Grigg. National candidate for Mid-Canter-bury. Mr G. Bray presided, and the candidate received an excellent hearing;—On thfe motion of Mr H. T. Fussell, - seconded by Mr W. J. Doyle, a vote of thanks and confidence to Mr Grigg was carried unanimously, with applause. , The presentation of a posy of s P r *nS flowecs to Mrs Grigg was made by Mr F. A. Wagner from the women of the district. The chairman invited all present to meet Mr and Mrs Gngg after the meeting at supper, provided by the women of the district. Mr Grigg gave an address at the Lakeside Hall before going to Doyleston. There was an attendance.'of about 80 electors. Mr H. D. Marshall pre- ’ sided. The address was listened to attentively, and' at the conclusion, a vote of thanks, moved by Mr G. L. Barnett, -was carried with enthusiasm. MB HIRAM HUNTER AT LINWOOD Mr Hiram Hunter, National Party candidate for Avon, addressed a crowded meeting in the Canberra Hall.Linwood. last night. Mr A. ’ Glass presided., The candidate dealt with .thNationalist programme as compared with the policy of the Labour Party. He received an enthusiastic- reception a good hearing; and a vote of thanks on the motion of Mr M. T. Wheeler The meeting concluded with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” MR I. J. WILSON AT OKAIN»S ■ BAY Mr. I. J. Wilson, National Party candidate for Lyttelton, addressed a meeting at Okain’s Bay on Monday evening. Mr P. Moore presided. The Rev F. O. B.- Lane, who proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wilson, congratulated him on giving an able analysis of the present situation, and the National Party’s policy. MB S. G. HOLLAND’S CAMPAIGN Mr S. G: Holland. National candidate for Christchurch. North, continued his campaign last, evening with thia?e meetings, all of which were well attended. In each case Mr Holland received a good reception and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. MR G. C. WARREN’S MEETINGS Mr G. C. Warren, National candidate for Kaiapoi. addressed two meetings last evening. There was an attendance of about 40 electors at Northcote, and Mr R. W. Hawke presided. After his address, Mr Warren answered .a num- ' her of questions, and was accorded a vote of thanks. Later Mr Warren ad- , dressed a well attended meeting in the Winton Street Hall, Mr E. R. Caygill occupying the chair. The candidate again answered questions after his address, and a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. MR T. H. M’COMBS AT ■SUMNER • Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P., Labour candidate for Lyttelton, addressed a meeting of 230 electors in the Sumner Town Hall last evening. The Mayor (Mr J. E. Tait) presided. Mr McCombs received a verif-attentive hearing, and -there were -no interjections Only two questions were asked, and on the motion of Mr L. Cant he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

DISORDER AT MEETING

MR SEMPLE AND HECKLERS INTERVENTION BY CONSTABLE SECTION OF AUDIENCE WALKS OUT Disorder at a meeting addressed by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, at Tai Tapu last evening, ended in a. man being escorted from the hall by a constable and the consequent departure of a small section of the audience who had engaged in persistent interjection and heckling. About 400 persons were present. Most of the audience showed enthusiastic interest in Mr Semple’s address, applauding particularly the,success of the public works policy, the national safety campaign, and the transport development plan, until the Minister mentioned the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. ‘‘People who criticise the Public Works Department for its expenditure and say how much it' has been increased by us, fail to mention the great new changes: in our development, all calling on increases above the ordinary—; the development of air transport, necessitating the construction of chains of great aerodromes; the crying need for water for drought areas, calling for new irrigation; for new railways following the development of the lands; and the need for new roads, and new drainage schemes. We must have all these to progress.” Exhibiting (during frequent laughter) a map of the “balloon” loop in North Auckland, Mr Semple repeated, his former criticism of this project and the part played in it by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. “The person going up the loop can shake hands with the person going down,” he said. “If you examine the railway system of the world, in the most illiterate countries, you would not find a crime like that. If I had perpetrated that I would not be here looking you in the face, but would be doing the ostrich trick—burying my head in the sand. (Laughter.) “Now Together” “They’re bench-mates to-day,” said a voice when Mr Semple declared that the map he held was brought into the House by the Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom to prove that Mr Coates was squandering public money, when Reform and United interests were opposed. This reference started some interjection. “What about the good works he did,” asked a man. “What about the twitch we grubbed at 9s a day” retorted another man. When the first interjector again started to interrupt there were cries of “get outside”—“go and sit on your flour?”

:"You keep your temper and do not make an exhibition of yourself,” the Minister said to him.

The in ter jector; You leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone. The Minister: I’ll leave you alone all right. (Hear, hear.) But if you think you can come here and disrupt this meeting, you have made a mistake.

The* inter jector: You cannot bully me.

Mr Semple: I am bullying no one. man: You apologise. The Minister: No. I’ll not apologise. I’ve said nothing offensive. “He should apologise,” shouted a woman at the interjector. “He has insulted everyone round him.” “I came here to- talk to sensible people,” said the Minister. / “The People’s Freedom”

A few minutes later Mr Semple was criticising the National Party for jts suggestions' that Labour was threatening the freedom of the people. “Whose freedom have we taken away?” he asked.

The earlier interjector rose excitedly, and shouted “Mine.” His other remarks could not be heard, because of laughter. The Minister was applauded loudly when he asserted that the last Government had offended the freedom of the people whfen it added another year to the life of Parliament. , “They did this in defiance of the constitution of the country, and sneered at our democracy. It was the only Government in the British Empire to descend to that denth. There was no reason in the world for them to do it. Then they talk of ‘back to# freedom.’” “What did you do?” called a man at the back of the hall.

There was long cheering and clapping when Mr Semple cried: “We gave the public servants the same right as everyone else.” “How much freedom did the unemployed have during the depression?” the Minister asked, “None! None!” cried voices. “How much did the boys have in the camps?” Cries of “None! None!” again. Mr Semple: They had only the freedom to starve. They were 2000 of the finest lads I ever met. They were employed at 10s a week. Some of them were M.A.’s and B.A.’s. They talk about taxing the young people for social security. But they taxed these young men'earning 10s a week. Homes for the Young There were many cries of “Hear, Hear” when the Minister, talking about the National Party’s scheme for furnishing the homes of young people, declared that the Labour Party believed in giving the young people sufficient money, in wages, to buy their own furniture. “Is the National Party going to turn the country into a pawnbroker’s shop or a great deferred timepayment system?” he asked. ■ ' Mr E. Edridge, of Christchurch, who sat on the edge of the platform, asked what the Labour Party intended to dp about the country quota. . “The Labour Government is not worrying itself a scrap about the country quota.” Mr Semple said. Mr Edridge; Yes. But the farmers a *Mr Semple; If we were going to abolish the quota we would not sneak on the farmers, tye would tell them, M Mr Edridg| a persisted. Then the first up the aisle, and beckoned to the man t0 “1 6 just want the constable to stop that man from going mad,”.Mr Semple SS The constable called on the in terjector to be quiet but he moved into the aisle and was followed out by the constable, the aqdience booing and shouting at him. ... “It’s a pity we cannot get on without this type of unseemly conduct. Mr Semple said. Then about 20 or 30 of the interjectors rose from different parts of the hall and went out. the constable ushering them through the door. . ~ . One man bowed irpnically to a woman who shouted to • him as he strolled deliberately from the hall. In the middle of the uproar, which was directed against the hecklers, a man fainted. . “If these people came to our meetmg to try and create trouble they haye to get it in the neck.” said Mr Semple. With the departure of the interrupters, there was no further interrup--I<The Minister and Mr T. H. Langford, the Labour candidate for Riccarton, were given enthusiastic votes of thanks.

PROGRESS OF CAMPAIGN

MR HAMILTON IN OWN ELECTORATE

CANDIDATES* ADDRESSES IN OTHER CENTRES (press association telegrams.) The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), who is the member for Wallace, addressed three well-attended meetings in his electorate on Monday at Pahia, Orepuki, and Tuatapere. At Tuatapere there was an attendance of more than 250. A number of questions were answered, and the following resolution was carried; That this meeting of electors representative of Tuatapere and the surrounding districts has every confidence in Mr Hamilton as the member for Wallace and Leader of the National Party, and assures him that, in our opinion, he will again be returned at the head of the poll with a bigger majority than before; and that, after listening to the radio speeches, we are satisfied there is no man in New Zealand better qualified to lead the country as Prime Minister than Mr Hamilton.” Thames Mr W. A. Clark, National candidate for Thames, addressed a Te Aroha audience of 300 on Monday evening. He denied a rumour that he was withdrawing from the contest, and said he would go right to the poll. The National Party stood for freedom and liberty, against Socialistic domination A vote of thanks and confidence, and in the Hon. Adam Hamilton as leader, was carried by acclamation. ■Wellington South A defence of the Labour Government’s administration during the last three years was combined with an attack on the National Party’s policy by Mr R. McKeen, Labour member for Wellington South, in opening his election campaign on Monday night. Mr McKeen spoke about conditions in New Zealand when the present Government took office, and claimed that widespread improvements had been brought about since the 1935 election. Marsdcn The Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) addressed a crowded audience in the Whangarei Town Hall. He discussed mainly the guaranteed prices and social security. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Labour Government was carried. Egmont The election campaign in Egmont, where the sitting member, Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Independent) is opposed by Mr T. E. Trask, a Labour candidate, is in full swing. Both candidates have addressed almost half the scheduled meetings. Mr Trask has had the assistance of four Ministers of the Crown. Three more are scheduled to speak, as well as four Labour members. Added interest has been shown in the Labour candidate’s meetings by the presence of members and Parliamentary members of the party. Mr Wilkinson is fighting a lone battle. He has had good meetings. Both candidates have had quiet hearings. Waipawa A statement that the cost of the social security scheme would mean 5 per cent, out of the wages of all civil servants was made by the National Party candidate for Waipawa, Mr A. E. Jull. when addressing electors at Havelock North. Mr Jull said that civil servants would have to pay into the scheme, and yet they would receive no benefits from it. He was given a good hearing during a review of the National programme, although there were continual interjections from one or two members of the audience. Most of these were made in a friendly manner. The meeting carried a motion expressing confidence in Mr Jull and the National Party. Hutt The largest political meeting in the Hutt Valley for many years was held in Lower Hutt last night, when 1000 electors assembled to hear the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Mr J. W. Andrews, open his campaign in the National cause in the electorate of the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash). A small section of the audience kept up a continual barrage of interruption. At one stage stones were thrown on the roof At the conclusion of the address Mr Andrews was given a great ovation, and accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the acclamation of 90 per cent, of the audience, followed by cheers and musical honours. Eden In the presence of about 700, Mr W. T. Anderton, M.P., Labour candidate for Eden, opened his election campaign in an address, which, with questions, lasted nearly two and a half hours. Mr Anderton received an excellent hearing, and was rarely interrupted. Votes of confidence in the speaker and in the Labour Government were passed amid prolonged applause. Waitemata An attack on the Government’s Social Security Scheme, for the manner in which it would impose severe taxation on four classes of people who could not afford to pay, was made by Mr J. E. Close, National candidate for Waitemata, when opening his campaign. He. said persons under 20 would contribute, under the Is in the £ tax, £200,000 a year, domestic workers £75,000, other women £ 225,000,' pensioners £550,000. What was the use. he asked, of giving pensioners a better scale when they had to pay for it in increased taxation. The candidate was given an enthusiastic hearing by more than 500, who carried a vote of thanks with acclamation. Kaipara Speaking at Dargaville last night, the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) said the.United Party had_ destroyed the functions of the Arbitration Court. . , , A voice: We will destroy you, too. Mr Nash; We are carrying on where Richard John Seddon left off. This was received with jeers, and Mr Nash replied that every word being said by their opponents had been said against Seddon, under whom New Zealand enjoyed the best years of- its history. Seddon had swept the. polls, and he hoped the Labour Party would do the same thing in a fortnight’s time. All that they were saying was that those who were not well off were being made better off. If doing that was being Socialist, then he was a Socialist. Dunedin South Mr J. A. Lee, Government member for Grey Lynn, addressed a packed and enthusiastic meeting in the South Dunedin Town Hall last night. He reviewed the achievement of the Labour Government to date, quoted figures showing the rise in the production of commodities since 1935, dealt with the Government’s housing operations, and, touching on Socialism, said the only type of Socialism he advocated was complete control, in the interests of the people, of money power. He was given a vote of thanks and confidence. Dr. D. G. ‘ McMillan, Government member for Dunedin West, (addressed a meeting in the Dunedin Town Hall last night. About 2500 electors were present. He confined his address to the social security scheme, and dealt with objections to the scheme by the Opposition and the British Medical Association. The speaker’s remarks were frequently applauded, and a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

ME SEMPLE AND WAE

ATTITUDE OF 1914

DEFENDED

STORMY INTERLUDE AT TAI TAPU

An interjection about ■ the attitude of the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, during the last war, led to easily the most heated interlude during his address at Tai Tapu last evening. Mr Semple was referring to his general programme when a question was asked about his actions in 1914. He answered warmly and the interjector replied; but in his defence Mr Semple was time and again warmly applauded. The Minister’s declaration that there would be no profiteering in a war under Labour rule brought enthusiastic approval. Mr Semple was discussing transport policy when the interjector asked }£ tlie Minister’s attitude in 1914-13 was mainly in the mind of the Minister. “They .insinuated that I was in opposition to the war and to the British Empire,” the Minister said, in reply to the first interjection. “That is not true. I got to grips with the then Government because I was opposed not to the war, but to the conscription of the flesh and blood of the country without the conscription of the profits of the wealthy. (Warm applause.) I was opposed to the ruthless profiteering of 1914 and exposed it. I was imprisoned for the things I said, on the grounds that my attack had brought the Government into ridicule and contempt. That was the sedition law of the country then. It came to this—l thought that if I had to take the risk of gaol, by exposing a Government that was shanghai-ing the best of a manhood into the war and staying behind to rook their mothers and fathers, then I would go to prison. I say this, too; if the same thing went on again I would act in the same way and I would do it again. (Loud applause.) And you can take this from me. If a Labour Government is in power and war comes (God hope it will not), then there will be no profiteering” (Applause and cries or hear, hear.)

“When I came out of prison I sent a challenge to the Government. I was earning £7 a week and had five small children. I told the Government I was prepared to put half my salary into the hands of an approved committee, to help the widows and orphans of the soldiers killed at the war, if they would hand half of theirs into the fund, too. This, to give them a chance to prove that their cry of ‘equal service, equal sacrifice.’ was genuine. Not one member -answered the challenge.” A voice, apparently from the first interjector: They never asked men with five children to go to the war, so keep quiet. Mr Semple (hotly): I did not say they asked me to go. “Then shut up,” said the voice. “I did not say they asked me to go,” Mr Semple repeated. “I wanted to prove their genuineness. They refused to do it.”

“If war breaks out again, then you will see who has the courage,” Mr Semple said. “Under the Labour Government no one will be bled white by this country while their sons are bleeding to death at the front.” (Enthusiastic applause.) There were jeers at the interjector, particularly from the women in the big audience, when he cried: “No, but they will, by taxes.” That ended the incident.

MR T. D. BURNETT AT HINDS

Mr T. D. Burnett, National candidate for Temuka, addressed a full and representative meeting in the Hinds Hall recently, and was given a cordial reception. Mr C. W. Keeley presided. Numerous questions were answered'. On the motion of Mr Studholme, a hearty vote of thanks was given Mr Burnett.