THE HUTT SEAT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 266, 6 August 1919, Page 10

THE HUTT SEAT

LABOUR MEETING AT PETONE. A rally of tho supporters of tho Labour candidate for the Hutt seat was held at Petono last ovening. Thero was a largo attendance at tho Empire Theatre. Mr. Schofield, in tho eourso of a few introductory remarks, said as a result of tho recent selection ballot taken for the purpose of selecting a Labour candidate for tho Hutt seat at tho coming elections, Mr. D. K. Pritchard had been selected. In his opinion the present Government needed removing.

Mr. D. K. Pritchard said since his selection u$ tho official candidate many inquiries had been made as to ,his identity. He was a Scotsman, born and bred, and ho caino to New Zealand seven years ago. Profiteering, he said, should have been put a stop to long ago. Tho King of Britain had said recently that tho 60cial fabric of tho Empire was shattered. This was a very true admission by the most able and boat educated monarch Britain ever , had. Dealing with tho necessity of Labour representation in tho Ilonso, Mr; Pritchard snid that' tho cost of living question was ouo which needed looking into very urgontly. However, lie did not intend to achieve cheap popularity by taking up a present-day topic; ho was there to emphasise tho Labour Party's platform, wliich was political action. Thoy had reason to congratulate themselves on the present position of the Labour platform. Eight throughout tho Empire Labour was now firmly established, end it remained to bo seen at the coming elections what were the views of the people of Now Zealand on the question. Mr. Pritchard said that they had all eeon tho recent increase in the prico of leather. If the present embargo on tho extent of hides were removed the prico of boots would jump at least Gs. per pair before Christmas. Referring to tho question of strikes labour unrest ho said thero was a vast difference between the two.' At tho present time too much blamo was put on labour unrest. Nothing could bo achioyed until they all got together, and tho rightplaco for them to get together was tho House of 'Representatives. Mr. P. Prozer, M.P. for Wellington Central, in the course of a short address, said lie had thnt evening received ft note nsking if the Labour Party repudiated the idea of war loans. The answer was most decidedly not.

At tho conclusion of the meeting the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That in tho opinion of this meeting in tho Hutt Parliamentary district, tho official Labour candidate, D. K. Prilchnrd, is a fit and proper porson to represent them in tho House."