SUBURBS CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 47, 19 November 1919, Page 8

SUBURBS CAMPAIGN

MR. E, A. WRIGHT AT KHANDALLAH. Jlr. R. A. Wright (Reform candidate for Wellington Suburbs) addressed a meeting last night in tho Town Hall, Khandallah. Mr. C. C. Crump occupied tho chair and introduced the candidate to iv large audience. Mr. Wright, who w-ae well received, spoke on tho question of land aggregation, pointing out that the Act pnssed last session was a most drastic measure. No doubt aggregation was increasing. Owing to the high prices ruling for land, holdera were tempted to soil out. This was not in .the best interests of the Dominion. Tho towns were already populated out of all proportion to tho country. Close settlement must be encouraged by every legitimate means. lie believed the latest amendment to the land laws would have the effect of preventing aggregation. If it did not further amendment would bo necessary. It was unthinkable that our system of close settlement was to bo destroyed through land aggregation- Referring to defence-, matters, Mr. Wright contended that New Zealand had a. large body of trained and experienced men who would provi an excellent defenco force for tlio next ten years. Bearing this fact in mind, he thought the country could afford to curtail defenco expenditure in view of tho heavy financial obligations which had to bo met Mr- Wright received a. good hearing and answered a number of questions. He was accorded a unanimous voto of thanks and confidence. MR. SLOANE AT NGAIO. Mr. Jlunbar Sloane, Liberal candidate for tho Wellington Suburbs, addressed a meeting at Ngaio last evening. He touched on the question of a State bank and tho enormous advantage n sound svstem of State banking would bo to tho people of the Dominion. Talking of Labour, tho speaker strongly couuemned the strike, co-slow, and direct action., Ho recognised the many disabilities under which the worker suffered (and when ho said worker he included everyone who worked for his or her living). It must be recognised that working men and workini women were human eouls with human necessities and rights, ana , wero Hist as hungry in dull times as in times of activity. Tho dreamer, said the speaker, is the employer who persists in tho fallacy that labour is a commodity, and siinplies his business with labour in tho sumo way as with any commodity. Mr.. Sloano believed in the right of Labour and Capital to organise, but authority must be vested in either side to meet half-w.iv and adjust differences. After all sak; the speaker, the war has shown us that with all men there exists a brotherhood. Officers had been brought into close touch with their men, men with their officers. If we could inculcate that feelin? into our business life then the war had dono a great and lasting irood. Mr. Sloans dealt very fully with education, ami urged the tremendous advantages to l>o gained from the simultaneous development of our hyftro-elcctric schemes. Other subjects dealt with were land taxation and cost of living. Tim candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. : : I