MR. KERR AT MOERA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 11

MR. KERR AT MOERA

<500D-MJMOURED MEETING

KEPLY TO CRITICISM

.*.3fr> ; .James;-;Ker"r, the United' Party candidate for Hutt seat, spoke in the: Mpera, ..Hall, last, night. There was a large- 'attendance. The candidate hadi an excellent reception and was accord-ed-a--vote of- confidence amidst loud cheers. .There were some dissentients, and occasional hostile interjections, but hehait'the largo majority of the meeting with him. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Minister of Marine) and the; Hon. P. A. .deWla Perrelle (Minister, of Internal Affairs.) "becupied-seats on the platform. ... .Mr. X.err.began by stating his claims, . us i ..a; resident-of the district, to represent "it" in Parliament. He alluded to the .of the United Party, and;/mentioned; what had been achieved .during;.the year, the Government had "been in office. The policy of Sir Joseph .Ward, and the United Party was,, ho »3serted,\rn. the/true interests of the peppla and of the. country. - ■ - ; , p.A/voice:."Den't'talk Socialism!" ;. .'Mr., l^err: '<! will talk Socialism wiiir.yo.u," or . anyone; but when .; the 'policy^of. the. United Party is given'full .e'ffe.Et to, 'there . Will' be; no need' for "Sociaiisn"]'," .\iir. Coates and: his Government, were defeated after turning tfie/figures';pf the' country's; balance-Blie^t-ffroni'a surplus" to a deficit of £,577,000.: . .The ' country'; then lookedround;.for. a trustworthy : leader,; and they' selected tho only man in whom they, could . place confidence, and to whbin they could look to bring' the country .. back to prosperity—and that jrianlwas" Sir."'Joseph Ward." (Applause.) 7.;.-.. ... A voice: "Just a bit of luck!" Alr.Kerr: "All good things do not come-from: good Juck. It is not the man who talks who brings good things about, but it is the man who thinks and works." (Applause.) He maintained that the policy of the United Party was in tho true interests of the working man. : Its humanitarianjlegislation also was a conspicuous feature of-.its policy. ? WORK POR UNEMPLOYED. Dealing with^ the unemployment diffi■'culty," Mr. Kerr' mentioned that 6000 men. "were Working at a fair rate of pay. instead of walking the streets. ; A;y6ice: "fourteen shillings a day." Mr. Kerr: "Fourteen shillings a day is. better than the 12s and 9s given by Reform." (Applause.) Proceeding, lie said that he had every sympathy for the man who was out of work. "Whenever I have an opportunity I will do my bit to. find work. (Voices: "Oh!") Yes; you will find Jimmy Kerr doing ■that—(applause)—and if you vote for jne you "will vote for a man who truly l-ejpresents Labour." - '"'■ A"-voice: ''You are' on the wrong ;a ; ide."-; .' Mr. Kerr: "I am recognised as being as good a Labour man as anyone in this district—(hear, hear) —and I believe in their hearts all Labour men who know me will admit it. I will give second place to no man in my esteem for the working man. I live amongst you, and I believe the people in this district recognise in me even a bettor Labour man than Mr. Nash. ("Hear, hear," applause, and some dissent.) DENIAL OF PERSONAL ABUSE. A voice1: "Tell the truth." Mr. Kerr: "Here is a niau asking :Sne-to tell the truth. :Mr. Nash is a nian: who .comes into this, district—— (applause and some disorder). Mr. ■2sash is an absentee; I am a resident. I am asked why I am fighting the candidate. lam not fighting the- .working'man. I am fighting in their interests.. The reason why the - Labour; Party, as at.present constituted does-.not. get the .whole-hearted- support of. Labour is. this:. That they.do not function. The Labour Party to-day is out of touch with the working class; and it is the sane Labour vote that ■will put me at the top of the poll." (Loud applause.) "I have been accused in the Press of indulging in personal abuse," said Mr.-Kerr. - '.'!- deny that.. I said when I started the campaign that I would .fight a straightforward fight, and"l will do so'/ - If I-have made any statement that can be construed into personal abuse, I am-a big enough man to withdraw such a statement and apologise. My remarks were aimed at .a party and were-not personal. I will. ' iight.-this.fight straight and clean; and, ; when.-the.fight is over and I am member far- tiiis district, the Labour men .will be- the first.to congratulate me and "say, 'We- have confidence in you, old -man; carry, on your life's, work. : ".and; ,/help tho worker.;and we";will be satisfied-!" -.(Applause.) '."■.".'" '■■ - - After the candidate had answered a ' number' of questions, a motion was .moved., thanking Mr. Kerr "for his ad- " tiress -jbu.t' expressing. Ao-confidence in . Ijhe/;Unite4 P.arty. This was received, witß..loud, cries of -dissent. . ; ...'.', An amendment of confidence in Mr. Kerr was carried amidst much, '. applausej the chairman declaring that ; there was. lio need -to -call for . the "noes," because, he said, the motion was carried almost unanimously.