THE REAL FIGHT

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

THE REAL FIGHT

"BETWEEN LABOUR & UNITED"

The address delivered by Mr. Kerr in the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, was most enthusiastically received by the largest audience yet accorded any of the candidates.

Mr. Kerr said that the difference between the Labour candidate and himseJf was that Mr. Nash was ,a Socialist and he was not.

A voice: "He is a gentleman!" Mr. Kerr: "He is a gentleman, but he is representing a party which does not appeal to the sane thinking people of this Dominion. The Labour Party to-day is not functioning. It is not leading the working men." (Applause.) The fight for the Hutt seat was between Labour and United.

When question time arrived, Mr. Kerr was invited to answer a variety of queries.

"Would you favour giving married -.mployees votes for each of their defendants when they wero voting on* '-c question of strike, i.e., a single man one vote, and a. married man with throe children five votes?' he was asked.

Mr. Kerr said he wished all wives could be given votes on the strike issue and then he was sure there would be fewer strikes.

Mr. Kerr expressed himself as wholly

in favour of fostering secondary industries, and motor-body building in particular.

He did not favour any alteration in the Licensing laws, either by extending the time between polls or granting the bare majority. In answer to .a further question, he said Sir Joseph Ward would yet redeem his promise to borrow £.70,000,000 without placing a burden on the country.

. Mr. Kerr said he resented strongly an assertion that Mr. Wilford had abandoned tho Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Bill. This Bill had been killed by the action of tho Labour members of the City Council, who had used the forms of Parliament to "talk it out." The establishment of the Smokeless Fuel Company would have been a boon, not only to the Valley, but to the whole Dominion, and it was most regrettable that its operations had been delayed for at least a year.

Replying to another inquirer, Mr. Kerr said that Sir Joseph Ward's promise to raise money at 4J per cent, and lend it out at 4$ per cent, was not political bluff, but a promise which would yet be redeemed.

At the conclusion of his address Mr. Kerr was, on the motion of Mr. S. Clendon, accorded an almost unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

Mr. Kerr cordial]} thanked the Mayor of Lower Hutt, Sir Alexander Roberts, for presiding. There were also on the platform Lady Roberts, Mrs. B. B. Wood, Mrs." Kerr, and the Hon. W. A. Veitch, and the Hon. E. A. Ransom.