HANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 65, 10 December 1919, Page 8

HANAWATU

MR. 13. NEWMAN HITS OUT

Mr. NV.wman met the eleclors at Sanson on Sntiirelay night. There was a large attendance, and llr. Pearce was in the chair. .Mr. Newman referred particularly lo the land settlement of eolfiiers, and also dealt with the subject nf taxation, cost of living, and the Housing Act. He also referred (n certain statements reported to have been made hv Mr. llillier at Bulls, and pointed out that .Mr. Ilillier's statement "that there was 110 room for leaders in the Labour Party" came strangely from a candidate whn was publicly announced as the "official" Labour enndidate, which, if it meant anything, meant that his candidature was approved by the leaders of bis party. His statement "thai: Holland had no more claim of being the leader of the party than the speaker," he (Mr. Newman) thought might ho t-afclv regarded as incorrect. Further, bis announcement that he was in favour of proportional representation meant that |ip is prewired to deprive the country electors of the coiintrr quota. which, be (Mr. Newman) thought would scarcely meet with the approval of the majority of the electors in Manawetu. Aeain. his '•"marks that: he wanted, to build a Parl'amen 1 that would last three years eud then dissolve, and that lie thought that | t!' v ;\tien should be on the unimnroved value of the land seemed when looked at superficially tn be superfluous, peeing that the term of Parliament is already three years in New Zealand, and that taxation is now sunpo-ed t.:» be on the unimnroved value. If is .ratifying to know that" he propose* to tell Messrs. Seniple and Co. io mind their own business. Of course ho assumed that both he and the latter gentleman will be members of Parliament. This presumption anpenrs to be in both cases a risky ouc. Hut the most alarminT. of all the statements made t>v Mr. Hillier was: "He believed in State banks. Private bnnlw mononolised public credit, and exploited public deposits. Sir Joseph Ward hud advocated State bank? and buying banks, but the speaker did not think this the best way. The paying of interest on borrowed, money would be a burden." That is true, said ifv. Newman, but does Mr. Hillier .suggest. that we should, not pay interest on our debts? Such a noliey would _ not. .commend itself to holders of National Wnr Bonds and Post Office Certificate?!, largely held l>v the working neople of the country. Mr. Newman said that he -would refer to further statements of his opponent at a later dale. i