SPEECHES IN BRIEF

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1929, Page 15

SPEECHES IN BRIEF

POINTS FROM ADDRESSES

The Empire Theatre, Petone, was packed to the doors when Mr. James Kerr, United candidate, delivered his first public address in Petone. Mr. Kerr, who delivered a fighting speech, had on his platform the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Railways, Mrs. Taverner, and the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Marine, and Mrs. Kerr. Mr. D. M'Kenzie, Mayor of Petone, was in the chair. Mrs. Kerr was presented with a bouquet by the Mayor. Claiming that the good work ,of the SeddonWard Administration in the foundation of the State Advances system had been largely undone by the Eeform Party, Mi. Kerr stated that during the United Party's term of office it had gone a long way towards restoring a more desirable condition of affairs and had cleared up arrears of applications for loans. Yesterday was the United Government's first birthday, and he considered that it had performed such excellent work that everyone must wish it "many happy returns." The party's attitude towards railways was the right attitude. The solution of the country's problems lay in the settlement of more people on the land. The Government's policy, which he considered the right one, was first to roa-d the land, aid the settler to stock and cultivate his land, and start him "n the road to prosperity. Reviewing the position of the various political parties, Mr. Kerr claimed that the- Labour Party was not functioning as representative of the Labour movement and that the workers knew that the party they could trust, and which would deal fairly with them, was the United Party. A great deal of the blame for the present unemployment position lay with the Reform Party, which had brought 50,000 immigrants into the country without reference to New.Zealand's ability to absorb them and without concern for the Labour market. He had an uneasy suspicion that some of the men responsible for this thought that New Zealand workers would be easier to handle if there were more men than jobs. Replying to questions, the candidate said if faced with an alternative vote he would vote with the Labour Party. The candidate was accorded a vote of confidence by an overwhelming majority. At noou yesterday Mr. Kerr addressed the employees of, General Motors, Ltd.

Mr. Harold F. Johnston, Beform candidate, spoke at Eastbourne and at Waiwetu. Mr. Johnston, who dealt with general questions along the lines of previous addresses, denied the suggestion of Mr. Kerr that he (Mr. Johnston) wished to stop land settlement. "That is quite untrue to make that statement," added Mr. Johnston. "What I say is that land settlement must march had in hand with industrial progress." From the statement made yesterday by the Minister of Lands tho electors themselves could judge whether Mr.l Kerr was right in his assertion that the Government was vigorously prosecuting land settlement. When the Land Laws Amendment Bill was bofere Parliament last session it was pointed out that the measure did not contain one provision that was not already covered by the existing legislation, and now the Minister was telling the country not what he had "done, but what he proposed to do. His statement showed that out of 800 properties offered the Government had acquired only twenty-five. No indication was given, however, of the numbers of people settled. Mr. Johnston doubted whether the number of men settled would total more than three score. Mr. Johnston said he was receiving communications from all over Now Zealand supporting his policy for industrial progress. At both Eastbourne and Waiwetu, Mr. Johnston received votes of thanks and 'confidence. At Waiwetu, Mr. M. Denniston presided, aud at Eastbourne Mr. G. H. Andrews.

Mr. W. Nash, the labour candidate, spoke at Blaekbridge, Mr. J. Gumming presiding. The candidate described the Labour Party's unemployment insurance scheme, and said his party desired the establishment of a basic wage, which would ensure a decent standard of living. Full wages should be paid to injured workers, and the restriction on the personal earnings of old age pensioners should be removed. He favoured reciprocity in old age pensions between Britain and New Zealand. The old age pension should be increased and the qualifying age reduced. Regarding widows' pensions, Mr.-Nash contended that all restrictions on the widow's own earnings should lie removed. He suggested that tho amount of the pension should be readjusted, and that a widow should be paid tho same rate for her children as the State paid to a fos-ter-mother who would look after a child or children, in the event of the mother's death. He was certain that the interest on State Advances could be reduced at an early date. In the last eight years the Public servants had not been receiving the wages they ought to have received. Mr. N«h received a unanim" ous vote of confidence.