RECORD OF REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 12

RECORD OF REFORM

CAUTION IN FINANCE

MR. JOHNSTON'S PRAISE

That interest in the Hutt by-election campaign is being well sustained was shown by the large attendances at the meetings held by the three candidates 3ast night. Mr. H. F. Johnston (Reform) spoke at Blaekbridge, Mr. J. Kerr (United) at Lower Hutt, and Mr. ,\V. Nash jabour) at Eastbourne.

The record of Reform during its sixteen years in office prior to the last election was pointed to with pride by Mr. Johnston at his Blaekbridge meeting.

Sixteen years, said the candidate, was a long period in the life of a political party, and gave many opportunities for adverse criticism. But at the end of that time, including as it did the war period, a period of great depression, when the Reform Party had gone out of office it left the credit of .the country at a higher level than it had ever reached before —a remarkable achievement of which every Reformer should be proud. This splendid record was largely due to the cautious and prudent financial policy of Reform, which had made it -possible to extend considerably the social services in ISlew Zealand. Keither of the other political parties had the slightest idea of prudent finance. If Labour were put into power the credit of the country would be,so lowered as to result in a depression which could only result in increased taxation to make ends meet. Increased taxation would not increase the wealt 1 of the country. On the contrary, the best way to make the country wealthy and economically successful was to decrease taxation and lower the cost of living. Everybody knew that the immediate effects of the return to power of the United Party were increased taxation and a. rise in the cost of living. This increased taxation was made possible only by the assistance of the Labour Party, the members of which, in voting for the increased primage duty, were throwing overboard the principles they had preached for years. "And the price paid for the Labour Party's support," said Mr. Johnston, "was some absurd railway in the South Island that as far as we know won't return a penny of profit."

As further ©videnco of the incompetence of the United Government, Mr Johnston instanced the refusal to restore the salary "cuts," the £100 "grab," and the failure of the Hutt Gas Bill. For all these things,the party sitting on the Government benches had to take the responsibility. Mr. J. Weir presided at the meeting, »nd at the close Mr. Johnston was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.