REFORM PARTY

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

REFORM PARTY

WELLINGTON

DIVISION-

ASSISTANCE TO iXDUSTrvY

A meeting.of. the Wellington Division of the Keform. Party was held in the Chamber of Commerce last night. The Hon. T '.-■ Shailer -Weston,. M.L.C., presided. . .. Mr. C..A..L. Treadwell jnov.ed "That this Wellington 'division- of the Reform Party, recognising that the welfare of tho country materially depends on peace and progress., in.. its industries, affirms, the principle that it is essentially part of the.Reform Party's platform that the industrial side of tho country's progress -shall receive the constant attention: and assistance of the Government." .-.-■-■ Mr. Treadwell read a letter received . from Mr. Harold F. Johnston, the Reform candidate for Hutt, in which Mr. Johnston said ho took the view that New Zealand's-pr-osp.er.ity now depended upon industrial; progress. By that he meant tho encouragement of What were called secondary industries, which should receive as much attention and assistance as land settlement. He suggested that the term "secondary" should be dropped^ In the pa^t the term might have been useful to indicate tho importance of agricultural development, but nowadays the term was unfortunate, in so far as many people inferred from its use that the industries so called were, of secondary and not of first .importance. -"Unless our industries are increased and-expanded so as to absorb an increasing number of young men, it appears to me the problem of unemployment will grow more and more difficult to solve," said tho letter. ' < The- land cannot absorb tho many thousands.who by; temperament or otherwise are unfitted to make a success of aii agricultural or. pastoral life. Industrial progress is impossible without the goodwill of Labour, and I find that both the Labour, policy and Labour ethics are at. the present time an absolute bar. Until.Labour changes its policy I can see no hope for progress." Mr. Johnston said ho thought | the Reform Party should let the people know that it stood for a."get together" policy to ensure industrial progress. In the letter, Mr. Johnston paid a tribute to the assistance given him in tho Hutt campaign, by the Junior Reform League. Mr.'Treadwell said.the.Reform Party was proud of Mr. Johnston'for'the fight he was putting iip'.' . '" The motion was'carried. V . ' On behalf ;of the 'division, the chairman presented a substantial cheque to Air. K. A. James, who recently retired from the position. of Dominion secretary 'of the Reform/Party after many years' service. "Several . speakers highly eulogised the extremely, valuable and faithful work -that Mr. James" had done for the Reform Party. Replying, iK "James said ;Gtat if he had .]l pt had : .faith in the principles of the Reform Party lie' would not in the early days have taken up the work with Air. Massey. He did not think that in the history of New Zealand any man had made a greater impression "on the lives and progress of.the people than had Air. Massey.. He (Mr. James) had felt that he : was .always., behind the right party.,-..for the advancement- of tho inl-,ercsts"pf".jtlieJ';JJpwinioii.. With respect, to Mr. Johnston,, he said that never hnd there, been' a'■ candidate a more able exponent of the' policy of the Reform Party. Ho thanked the chairman, leaders of the party, aiid speakers, and.said'it .had always been a pleasure ..to. .serve ,'th.c party whoso principle ho had./) endorsed .front tlio .first. .. "". "" ':"* ""' " '■' ■ . Tho following motion with .respect to the Hutt campaign was,-carried: "That this meeting .of the -AY<jlliugton. Division of the Reform Party sends a message of good luck and good cheer to Mr. H., E, Johnston, and congratulates him on the nianner. in which he is carrying the.banner;of Reform in the Hutt .campaign.;.";.;; • '.;, ■-. • ■•_,.-■■ , . .