WELLINGTON SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 49, 21 November 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON SOUTH

—__ i COLONEL MITCHELL AT BERHAMPORE. Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell, D.5.0., addressed a large gathering of the electors of Wellington South at tho Masonic Hall, Bcrhauipore, last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. P. C. Watt, and the speaker received a very good reception, and a most, patient hearing; while thero wero a few interjections there was. a noticeable absence of rowdy element. At the outset tlio speaker gave liis audience to understand that ho was against a general policy of nationalisation, but lie contended that shipping, railways, and the. mines should be State owned, as they were State functions.' In dealing with extremist Labour government, the speaker cited the case of Queensland, and what such a Government had dono for that State, and claimed that it had been an absolute failure. On tho land question, Colonel Mitchell emphasised tho need for a big, bold policy of settlement, stressing 'lis contention that the present legislation was inadequate t<V cope with the demands of returned soldiers. He advocatedjthe opening up of Crown and nativo lands, and the cutting up of tho largo estates. A soldier going on the land should not bo asked to pay the present high prices, but should go oil at tlio IIIU valuation, because, ho maintained, present prices could not stand, and when the fall camo the burden would be on the State. Speaking on tho cost of living, Colonel Mitchell contended that the present high rates were not justified, Dnd gave'as his reasons for it:—(1) Tlio largo amount of borrowed money in tho country; (2) trusts and combines; (3) profiteering; (i) strikes;' (5) general greed of the people; and (G) agitators. Tho agitators were a curso to tho working man of tho "'country. The agitator and extremist put up tliS" cost of lif'insr when they sent four thousand bajrs of sugar hack to Sydney by refusing to unload it at Auckland. Tho go-slow policy put up the cost of living, and as far as the working man was concerned it was the most insane policy ever put into operation. Tlio sufferers were tho working men. (Hear, liear.) Higher wages would not remedy the cost of living, for the higher tho wages went tlio hijjher went tho cost of living. He submitted that greater production, closer settlement, and a better organisation of labour would tend to reduce . tho cost of living. Ho had heard it said that if the electors voted for him they wiuld be voting for slavery, but ho claimed tlmt he. with others, had been, fighting for four and a half years to keep New Zealand from tho slavery which would have eventuated had Gcrnijiny conquered. (Applause.) Ho was absolutely against indentured labour, but favoured immigration from England. As to the housing Di'oblem, he advocated the settlement of new areas and tho extensivo building of houses bv the Government. First of all. however, access would have to be provided for—good roads, trams, and trains. The speaker also touched, on matters affecting returned soldiers, and claimed that there was still much to be done for tho comfort of the crippled and • permanently disabled, also for dependants. The soldiers were quite satisfied with the gratuity, but the pensions for tolallv (lisablod men were inadequate. A vote of thanks and confidence in tho nandidnte was carried unanimously. A motion of confidence in Mr. Seniplo was supported in tho rear of tho hall, but was drowned with" hoots.